With the World Cup kicking off today, as well as England's first game taking place this Saturday (against Italy), what better way to celebrate the spirit of the game than looking back on the best World Cup adverts to have ever graced our televisions?

Beats by Dre: The Game Before the Game (2014)

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The ad starts with Brazil's Neymar Jr receiving an inspirational pep talk from his father on the phone: 'Run like you're a crazy man chasing happiness. Run for your family and your friends'. The speech is intermittently cut with panoramic sweeping landscape shots of the favelas in Rio, the Brazilian rainforests, and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue - not to mention an incredible soundtrack.

Pepsi: Oktoberfest (2006)

By turns bizarre and hilarious, Pepsi's 2006 World Cup ad sees a young David Beckham, Thierry Henry and other footballers pitted against Lederhosen-clad Germans. When initially underestimating their traditionally-dressed rivals, the Germans end up scoring a goal to the embarrassment of the professional footballers. Cue a lot of eccentric dance formations, and a topless Beckham...

Adidas: The Dream (2014)

This year, official World Cup sponsor Adidas presents an ad depicting various players - including Argentina's Lionel Messi, Brazil's Dani Alves and Uruguay's Luis Suárez - literally living, breathing and dreaming the game, pre-match. Plus, the whole thing is set to the soundtrack of Kanye West's beat-heavy single, 'God Level'. An energy-inducer.

McDonald's: World Cup (1993)

Endearingly simple and charmingly British, this McDonald's ad sees a young boy playing a game of 'keepy uppy' in a plush English back garden. Throughout the clip the dimmed roaring of crowds can be heard in the background until his mother hails him to go to McDonald's. The boy continues to play with a voice-over essentially citing 'practice makes perfect'.

Nike: The Last Game (2014)

Another offering from Nike presents an impressive digitally animated ad. It starts with a turtlenecked football manager character giving a speech in a high-tech MI5-style room, then pitting perfectly faultless clones against their real counterparts (Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Neymar Júnior, Zlatan Ibrahimovi? included). We won't spoil the ending for you, but let's just say the best team wins.

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