Top 5 footballing wizards - based on how they manipulate the ball at their feet

The Football world has seen several exceptional players over the years. From the likes of Pele, Di Stefano, Diego Maradona, Ferenc Puskas, Johan Cruyff to the likes of De Lima Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the footballing world has continued to amaze us with beautiful talent.

We have already seen lists of players based on how much they dominate their positions, their goal-scoring efforts, their dribbling skill and lots more. But today, we are going to look at the finest players in the world, not based on the number of goals they score or their dribbling skill, but based on how they manipulate the ball with their feet. These players are referred to as the football magicians.

"If you look at certain players, you will discover that football is an art and it is full of magic, the ability to do something quite unimaginable." -Unknown

Therefore, let us look at the top 5 football wizards in the world right now:

#5 Luka Modric

Luka Modric has been the heart of Real Madrid's midfield since 2012

When the Croatian playmaker switched from Tottenham to Real Madrid in the summer of 2012, many questioned if he was brilliant enough to play for a team of Real Madrid’s calibre. Although he had been a star for the Spurs and was heavily linked with moves to Manchester United and Chelsea, Real Madrid is definitely in a league of its own as far as the individual quality in the squad and the pressure on the team.

However, the midfielder proved his critics wrong and evolved into one of the best playmakers in the world. Modric's knack to link play so efficiently, and be equally the armor and supply line, is borne out of his perfect technical skill.

With the ball at his feet, the playmaker does so many unbelievable things, dictating play with his adept ability at passing, dribbling, and manipulation of the ball. Besides, his efforts to regain the ball when his team is not in possession is what adds to his ability to make him invincible.

"Not only is he a very hard worker, he has a good brain and he provided some calmness and composure to the midfield. His passing was neat and his contribution was outstanding. He was not only winning the ball, he was passing well. We thought that he was very influential. He did not just work hard, he made the other people play well around him." - Gerard Houllier

#4 Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is an artist with the ball

One of the pioneers of Barca's golden age, Andres Iniesta is truly an artist with the ball. The La Masia graduate initially started his career as a defensive midfielder, but his balance, vision, versatility, ball control, agility, and creativity coupled with his skill on the ball made him progress and evolve into an attacking midfielder.

The Spaniard, alongside Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets, formed a formidable Barca midfield under Pep Guardiola that conquered the world with one of the greatest football displays in history.

He can dribble perfectly, pass efficiently, create chances, split defenses and score goals. Most memorable of his goals came in the UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Chelsea in 2008 where his distant shot decided the game in the injury time.

What makes the midfielder so special is his complete understanding of the game. He knows what to do, how to do it and when to do it.

"The one who plays this game the best is Iniesta: he knows exactly when to go forward and when to drop back. He picks the right moment to do everything: when to dribble, when to speed things up and when to slow things down. And I think that’s the only thing that can’t be taught or bought. You can learn how to shoot and how to control the ball, but being aware of everything that’s happening out on the pitch – that’s something you’re either born with or you’re not." - Juan Roman Riquelme

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo - the Real Madrid icon is pleasure to watch

The current winner of the 'FIFA World Player of the year' award, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest wingers in the history of football. Apart from being a goal machine, what the Portuguese icon does with the ball at his feet is also amazing and purely magical. His hard work, talent, and incredible ability has secured him a place in the history books.

Ronaldo became known for the step-over during his time at Manchester United, his flamboyant style those early days made him look more like a freestyle player. Over time, he has improved a lot to become the best in the world and the dictator of Real Madrid's fortunes on the pitch.

The Real Madrid star is the definition of a complete player. He is tall, strong, skillful and intelligent. He has all the basic qualities of a footballer. His electrifying dribbling skill, pace, tricks, feints and his ability to decide the game is awesome.

He can attack from both the left and right wings, split opponents to open up spaces and finish perfectly.

Besides, when it comes to holding onto the ball, the Portuguese is a specialist. He uses his incredible pace to take on players, doing crazy step-overs at high speed and cutting through defenses.

Off the ball, his movement and positioning ability is the best in the world, the winger is two-footed, never gets tired and remains the best aerial player in the universe at the moment.

#2 Neymar Jr

Neymar - his pace, tricks, and skills are quite unmatchable

Brazilian wizard Neymar is arguably the most skillful player on the planet at the moment. He has all the tricks in the book, he can dribble really well, has good speed and even better acceleration.

From his childhood days, the Selecao star has been really impressive. He broke through the ranks in Santos to become the best player in South America. When an 18-year-old Neymar put up some overwhelming display, South American journalist Tim Vickery was forced to say;

"The 18-year-old is a magnificent prospect. He is so sleek and very skillful, able to beat defender on either side, capable of combining well, and full of tricks he can put to productive use in and around the penalty area."

He always enjoys as he plays the game with his care-free Samba style. The most creative winger in the world for the past few years, Neymar has been a real force and a constant threat to opposing defenses. His awesome pace, along with his incredible ability to cut inside, dribble with flair, create chances and score awesome goals have been so fantastic.

He was the most fouled player in La Liga last season. This tells us more about the attacker's incredible talent and constant threat as he single-handedly tears defenses apart.

#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is arguably the best playmaker in the world

Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer the world has seen. The Barca legend is perhaps the most talented player in history. People find it very difficult to qualify the Argentine. Maybe that is the reason why Italian goalkeeper, Buffon was quoted ahead of the Champions League final in 2015 saying:

"Messi is an alien that dedicates himself to playing with humans."

Sincerely, there are no words to qualify the Argentine anymore. What he does with the ball at his feet is pure magic. Leo knows how to manipulate the ball more than anyone in the world today.

Just give the ball to Messi and watch him take on many defenders, dribbling as if the ball is glued to his legs as he maneuvers his way past the opposition, tearing them apart, creating chances and scoring unbelievable goals.

His passes are so precise that one might be forced to think that he has a measuring gadget in his eyes. His style of play is unique and at times difficult to understand. After the Argentine scored 4 goals against Arsenal in 2010, Arsene Wenger was forced to say:

"Messi is the best player in the world by some distance. He's like a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make."