When Mario Gotze was coming through at Borussia Dortmund back around 2009 and 2010, the World Cup-winning hero was considered to be among the 10 most promising players in world football.

Regarded as a 'German Messi', the 22-year-old was tipped for greatness even though no one at the time would have guessed that he would turn out to be his country's hero in the 2014 final.

But back in April 2008, on his ascent to the elite of world football, Gotze had already seen the Kingdom before wearing the World Cup crown.

Ireland's Shane Murray and Germany's Mario Gotze during an international friendly in Listowel ©INPHO/Getty Images

And for those acquainted with Xabi Alonso's backstory, you may have heard that the 2010 World Cup winner with Spain also graced the sports fields of Meath as a teenager - although it was Gaelic football in the former Liverpool midfielder's case and contrary to myth he did not play any official matches.