10 Most Technically Gifted Players in Football History [Ranked]
When we talk of technical footballers, we talk of those blessed with pure unadulterated footballing ability. Those who are the greatest players ever aren’t necessarily always the most technical. Someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, relied upon power, pace and other physical attributes – in combination with his technical qualities – to reach his peak.
The most technical players, on the other hand, make the difficult look easy – players who have complete command of the ball and a profound understanding and appreciation of the players and space around them at any given time.
Sometimes these are players who fulfil their vast potential. Sometimes they do not, even if they do still achieve some incredible moments that other players can only dream of. With this in mind, the following rankings reveal the 10 most technically gifted players in football history.
The most technical players, on the other hand, make the difficult look easy – players who have complete command of the ball and a profound understanding and appreciation of the players and space around them at any given time.
Sometimes these are players who fulfil their vast potential. Sometimes they do not, even if they do still achieve some incredible moments that other players can only dream of. With this in mind, the following rankings reveal the 10 most technically gifted players in football history.
10 Neymar
Brazil
Neymar has sometimes been seen as something of a Prima donna and diver during his career. Yet he was surprisingly humble when describing the five players he believed had more technical prowess than him.
Neymar has also scored more goals for Brazil than both Pele and Ronaldo Nazario. His 79 goals for Brazil put him at the top of a heady list of scorers, making him the country’s all-time top goalscorer.
Divisive traits aside, there’s little doubt peak Neymar could do just about anything he wanted with a football, with tricks, flicks and curled finishes all a customary part of his repotoire.
9 Roberto Baggio
Italy
Roberto Baggio was a supremely gifted individual for club and country. He played during a time when Champions League places weren’t handed out as easily as they are today with a top-four finish in the league. Yet there is a strong argument to suggest Baggio is the finest Italian footballer of all time.
It was Baggio who took Italy, almost single-handedly, to the 1994 World Cup Final. Sadly, it was he who skied a crucial penalty in the shoot-out in the final against Brazil.
But Baggio almost always had a clear picture of what he wanted to do with the ball. He had the skill to carry that out, often with devastating effect.
