Inter’s Champions League triumph last month did more than simply elevate manager Jose Mourinho higher into the pantheon of great managers – it took the headlines away from some of the game’s other stars.

And, though the possibility of a Real Madrid-Barcelona final or a repeat of the 2009 finale were mouth-watering prospects, the World Cup could be the biggest beneficiary of the fact that Inter and Bayern Munich outlasted some of this year’s favourites. Those disappointed stars want the attention back.

The ten biggest names heading into the World Cup include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney. However, no one is quite sure on the order, especially considering injuries and erratic form. And the most intriguing part about all these stars coming together this summer is that they all have a lot to prove.

None of the group reached the Champions League final and only Messi won a league title, meaning these hugely talented match-winners headed to South Africa hungrier than ever for silverware and media attention. They all have their eyes on the big prize to make amends for shortcomings at club level.

Take Messi as an example. Pundits cannot agree on how far the Diego Maradona-led Argentines can go in the tournament, but all are in agreement over the expectation on Messi to perform. For all his brilliance for Barcelona, the FIFA World Player of the Year has not yet wowed fans on the international stage when it counts. He has received seemingly endless plaudits this year, especially after his four-goal masterpiece against Arsenal, but now he must take the next step and etch his name into the World Cup history books. Defeat against Inter in the Champions League semi-final will spur him on all the more.

Then there is Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the talk of last summer. He had a fine season on a personal level, but Real Madrid failed to break Barcelona’s domestic stranglehold and suffered an embarrassingly early exit from the Champions League. With an £80M price tag, he took his share of the blame, particularly after Lyon dumped the new Galacticos out of Europe in the second round. He will be the key man for Portugal and has the chance to put his woes behind him. It is very much his team now – and he must lead by example.

Kaka suffered the same disappointments as Ronaldo in Madrid – but without making the same level of contribution, partly due to injury. The Brazilian has plenty to prove this summer. Can he spearhead the Brazil charge? Can he return to the form that made him such a revelation for AC Milan several years ago? More questions will be asked if Brazil flop in South Africa and Kaka fails to shine in the playmaker role.

Fernando Torres is another elite player facing question marks as he prepares for the World Cup. Torres was Spain’s match-winner at Euro 2008 but endured a turbulent 2009/10 campaign as Liverpool failed to finish in the top five and he failed to stay fit. With suitors lining up to snatch the striker away from Anfield, he will receive his fair share of attention and is probably more eager for the tournament to start than anyone on this list. Not so long ago, he was the undisputed number one striker in world football – and he must get back to that lofty perch.

And Rooney has his own demons to face after his red card in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final. For much of the Premier League season, Rooney looked capable of driving Manchester United to a league and Champions League double. Though his breakout campaign as United’s star man was impressive, he finished the season with only the League Cup to show for his efforts. England are leaning on Rooney as heavily as Argentina are relying on Messi and the disappointment of missing out on the big prizes will be fueling the United man. If England go deep in this tournament, it will be thanks to Rooney’s clinical finishing.

So none of the star attractions can afford to coast this summer. Whereas Ronaldinho entered the 2006 World Cup having just won the Champions League, none of the stars have that luxury this time. For many, their reputation is at stake and they know that there is no better place to hit top form than in front of a huge global audience at the World Cup.

This delicate situation ensures that motivation will be at an all-time high as players strive for greatness in South Africa. By the end of a pulsating month of football, we may be able to rank the big names a little more easily.