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It is always a spectacular sight to see a player perform some of his favorite tricks on the football pitch. A player with a magical footwork always amazes the crowd and adds life to a game. The beautiful game has seen many players with magical footwork. The players also understand the delight of the fans when they pull off some of the great tricks during a match. Some players use their skills just to impress the crowd while others use them to change the game instantly.
The players with great footwork are often an asset for the team. They produce chances out of nowhere and prove to be great play-makers. They often score some really spectacular solo goals and bring glory their side. They enjoy a huge fan following and media attention. Some possess deadly finishing abilities to add to their brilliance, and go into the history books with loads of individual awards. The fans keenly wait for their star to turn on the style throughout the game. Every dribble and lightning footwork brings a smile on the face of the spectators. Teams invest millions on such talented players to ensure the happiness of their fans and to attract appreciation from experts.
Some of the players with magical feet are listed as follows,
1 – Diego Maradona - He is undeniably the greatest player of all time with Pele. His touch on the ball was exquisite and his dribbling ability was the best the world had ever seen (Until Messi). His footwork was special enough to beat the entire defense in a single run. He scored ‘Goal of the Century’ against England, which never fails to make you smile. He dominated the field completely and often had the teams in sixes and sevens. He ran past defenders like they were school kids and used to tear apart defenses single-handedly.
2 - Ronaldinho - One of the most gifted player ever to grace the football field. His energetic game left the spectators speechless and the opponents puzzled. His footwork and unique collection of skills were simply too much to handle. He had a very unique style of running with the ball and suffered maximum number of fouls. The video galleries have thousands of videos showing his brilliant freestyle tricks. He displayed some innovative skills which left the crowds staring at him in disbelief. He was an exceptionally gifted footballer, a born legend.
3 - Lionel Messi - The 3 time Ballon D’or winner is considered as the new Maradona by his countrymen. The whole world has witnessed his magical skills with the ball and his amazing dribbling ability. Messi often looks a xerox copy of Maradona on the field. His stature and style of playing is very similar to that of Maradona. The way he dribbles and darts through the defenses is great to watch. He is faster than Maradona as many coaches and experts have pointed out. He has quick and flawless feet, which often work wonders for his teams. He has scored some great solo goals. His greatest ever solo goal is almost a carbon copy of Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’.
4 – Cristiano Ronaldo - The best player in the World for one half of the globe. Cristiano is one of the most glamorous and stylish footballers the world has witnessed. His skills are really attractive and his style is unique. He is the ultimate entertainer. Although, I am a die hard Lionel Messi fan, but, the quality of Cristiano is undeniable. As long as he is on the field, you won’t find a more exciting player to look at. His charm and brilliance lights up the entire field throughout the game. He is a precious asset for his country and club. He wins matches with sheer pace and trickery.
5 - Johan Cruyff - The great Dutchman was one of the greatest players ever. He has a skill named after him – Cruyff turn. He lead the Dutch and Barcelona side into many competitions and entertained the world with his artistry. He had brilliant ball control, which helped him dictate the games single-handedly. He fooled opponents with great ease and created beautiful chances for strikers. He was one of the most important players ever for FC Barcelona.
6 – Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima - One of the greatest strikers of all time. He is the original Ronaldo. He lead the Brazilian side to World Cup glory in 2002. There is no denying the ability of Cristiano, but it is he, who is responsible for making ‘Ronaldo’ a household name. His dribbling abilities and skills on the ball are known to all. A string of injuries led to his early retirement and loss of form.
7 - Pelé - Arguably the greatest footballer ever. He displayed spell-bounding dribbling abilities when he was young. He would twist and turn several times, while being surrounded with opponents, to score a fantastic goal. However, such extravagant displays did not last long in his career and he started playing more safely. That is why he drops down to 7th position in this list. Otherwise, he might have threatened the position of Maradona.
8 - Zinedine Zidane - Three time FIFA world player of the year and Ballon D’or winner. Arguably, the greatest midfielder ever. With a rock solid physique and a silk smooth touch on the ball, the legend was good at everything. A very skilled footballer and an apt leader. A graceful presence on the field.
9 - George Best - One of “greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland”. He played for Manchester United and won a Ballon D’or. He is more like the greatest tragedy in football for me. A genius who was destroyed due to alcoholism and excessive stardom. A very talented player who showed his colors at the age of 15. He displayed some magnificent football in his brief career at Manchester United.
10 – Neymar - The young Brazilian is the most sought after footballer in the world at the moment. At this young age, he has already established himself as one of the most skilled and brilliant dribbler in football. He performs tricky skills with natural ease. He has already dazzled the Brazilian league with his mastery. The only reason he is in the 10th position is his age and lack of European experience. Once he brings his genius to Europe and gains experience, he will only climb up in the ranking charts. Pelé already considers him the greatest player in the world (I choose to disagree).
Honorary Mentions : Garrincha, Sir Stanley Matthews, Xavi Hernández, , Andrés Iniesta, Kaká, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Juan Román Riquelme, Dennis Bergkamp, Robinho, Thierry Henry, Luís Figo, Zico, Giuseppe Meazza, Enzo Francescoli, László Kubala, Romário, Deco.
