Messi, Ronaldo strikers most searched online during the FIFA World Cup 2014

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) They may not have won the World Cup for their countries but Portuguese star Christiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi topped the online searches for the best strikers during the World Cup.

They were followed by Brazlian star striker Neymar along with Netherland's Arjen Robben, said Google in a release Friday.

The search engine major also revealed that there were more than 2.1 billion tournament-related searches on Google during the World Cup.

American Tim Howard was also the most searched goalkeeper ahead of Germany's Manue Neuer, who was adjudged the best keeper of the World Cup by FIFA.

"Howard's 15 incredible saves not only ensured that he kept an out-matched United States team in the game but also that he zoomed in search rankings by fans across the world, who recognised him as the best goalkeeper on Google search."

"Although Germany's Manuel Neuer won the World Cup Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper, Tim Howard beats him with more searches on Google to win the honour of being the top searched in his category," the release said.

The Brazilian star pair of David Luiz and Thiago Silva were also the most searched goalkeepers.

"Moving to the midfield, fans have chosen an excellent mix of attack, skill, technique and aggression with the Japanese-Chilean duo of Atsuto Uchida and Gonzalo Jara respectively, who enjoy the most searched epitaph in the midfield defence positions. They're followed by German mid-fielder Sami Khedira and Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, both of who play forward attacking midfield positions," the release added.