Adriano the star but Nakamura and Sanchez shine

Brazilian striker Adriano kisses the golden boot that is awarded to the higher goalscorer in the Confederations Cup. Adriano was the undoubted star of the Confederations Cup playing a pivotal role in his country's second success.

Brazil striker Adriano was the undoubted star of the Confederations Cup playing a pivotal role in his country's second success, but some lesser known stars raised their profiles.

Adriano top-scored in the competition with five goals to pick up the player of the tournament award after scoring twice in the 4-1 final win over Argentina on Wednesday.

The Inter Milan marksman had single-handledly crushed German hopes in the semi-finals scoring twice and setting up another in the 3-2 win.

The powerful Brazilian forward was well known from his explosive performances with Inter in the Champions League last season, but that cannot be said of Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

Fiorentina midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata is the golden boy of Japanese football but he could have a new rival with Nakamura the driving force for Japan in this tournament.

Brazil went on to win this trophy but they could so easily have crashed out at the group stage at Japan's expense.

Nakamura came so close to masterminding the downfall of the five-time world champions in the final group game using his left foot to pull Japan back into contention at 2-1, and then thumping a free-kick against the post allowing team-mate Masashi Oguro to equalise at 2-2.

Brazil held on in the closing stages with Japan left rueing a late chance that would have seen them reach the semi-finals instead of Brazil.

Nakamura, who also scored the winning goal in the 1-0 triumph over Greece, is looking for a move from Italian side Reggina midfielder and his agent could be busy after his performances here.

Sanchez, 31, has long dreamed of moving abroad from Guadalajara and that move could materialise after some stellar displays in Germany.

Mexico produced the biggest shock of the tournament by defeating Brazil 1-0 at the group stage and that was in no small part to Sanchez who formed a formidable barrier between the sticks.

Sanchez won the man ot the match accolade and picked up the same award after Mexico's 0-0 draw with Greece, leaving German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, considered one of the best in the world, singing his praises.

"Sanchez has got better with every match," lauded Kahn. "He has been brilliant in the Mexico goal."

Mexico lost out to Argentina in the semi-finals on spot-kicks but Sanchez was one player to come out of the tournament a winner.

Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was the star of the group stage scoring in all three matches, including a sensational free-kick in the 2-2 draw with Germany.

"A Riquelme free-kick is like a penalty," concluded German goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

The Villareal midfielder was overshadowed in the final against Brazil and Adriano stole the limelight and underlined why Premiership champions Chelsea want to buy him.

"Now he is showing he is a proven goalscorer," said Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.