Former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld claimed the Bundesliga were the real winners of the FIFA World Cup.
Hitzfeld won the Bundesliga on multiple occasions for both Bayern and Dortmund, while he also claimed UEFA Champions League titles with the two German clubs, and the now-retired manager believes the German top tier emerged as the best league in the world after Brazil 2014.
Players from the Bundesliga scored more goals at the World Cup than any other league in the world, while the German first division had the most players in Sunday's final as well.
"In my view there's one winner in particular - the Bundesliga," Hitzfeld told Bundesliga.com.
"It was Bundesliga players in particular that were great in Brazil. Even the Premier League and Primera Division's [La Liga] stars couldn't keep up."
In FIFA's Castrol Index Top 11, six players from German clubs were included, including five from Bayern and Hitzfeld said the Bavarian club, who have won the past two Bundesliga titles, enhanced their reputation in Brazil.
The six Bundesliga-based players in the all-star team were Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben (all Bayern), plus Dortmund's Mats Hummels.
"There were more Bayern players at this World Cup than from any other club," the 65-year-old said.
"It wasn't only their German players who did well though. Look at Arjen Robben's displays for the Netherlands, he showed his great form in every single game.
"Daniel van Buyten and Xherdan Shaqiri also did very well for Belgium and Switzerland respectively.
"They're all crucial players for their countries. Bayern's players scored by far the most goals in Brazil, which tells you they're the most important players in world football."
Germany won the World Cup with a 1-0 triumph over Argentina in Sunday's final and Hitzfeld claimed Joachim Low's team were by far the best side in Brazil.
"None of the other sides were able to keep up with Germany," the former Switzerland coach said.
"The pressure was on them and the team had a lot to lose as for some of the players it was possibly their last chance to clinch the World Cup.
"This side has matured and showed they were ready. Their quality is huge, it was their turn to win it."