The channel has named an 11-man squad of emerging players to have impressed with their on-field exploits in Russia.

Leckie didn't miss a minute for Bert van Marwijk's side and shone particularly brightly in a man-of-the-match performance in Australia's 1-1 draw with Denmark.

The Melbourne-born 27-year-old has played in Germany since he was 20.

He joined Hertha Berlin a year ago and played 26 Bundesliga games in his debut season for Die Late Dame, scoring five times.

He has 56 caps for Australia.

Two of Leckie's Asian Football Confederation peers were also named in ESPN's line-up - Japan craftsman Takashi Inui and South Korea goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo.

Inui was the lightest player at the World Cup, but the brightest player for Japan.

The midfielder, who plays his club football for Eibar in Spain, chipped in with an assist and two goals - one in a group stag draw with Senegal and another in the Blue Samurai's 3-2 defeat to Belgium in the last-16.

Though South Korea failed to make the knockout stage, finishing third in Group F behind Sweden and Mexico, Cho was a standout player for the Taegeuk Warriors.

He put in three flawless displays, capped with a clean sheet against Germany that eliminated the World Cup holders.

The 26-year-old has spent his entire club career in the K-League with Daegu FC.

ESPN's 2018 World Cup 'Breakout XI':

Goalkeeper: Cho Hyan-woo (South Korea)

Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (France), Morteza Pouraliganji (Iran), Harry Maguire (England), Lucas Hernandez (France)

Midfielders: Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay), Denis Cheryshev (Russia), Matthew Leckie (Australia), Ante Rebic (Croatia), Takashi Inui (Japan)

Forward: Artem Dzyuba (Russia)