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In X: Men Origins: Wolverine, Colonel William Striker embarks on a mission to create the perfect mutant – an amalgamation of the best attributes of the mutant superheros the Marvel franchise have to offer - the healing factor, speed, strength and agility of Wade Wilson (Deadpool) is augmented with aim (Agent Zero), teleportation (John Wraith), optic blasts (Cyclops) and admantium katanas inside his arms (Wolverine) to create the ‘perfect mutant’.If Colonel Stryker ever felt the need to create a new kind of footballing superhero, or if we did and had somehow found access to Project X, he/we might want to look at incorporating the best qualities of the best footballers on the planet to create one unstoppable phenomenon – the perfect modern day footballer.*Authors note – I have only used players who are currently active. The views expressed are my own. Would love to hear your pick of athlete/attribute in the comments section
#11 The unpredictability of Zlatan Ibrahimovic
How do you defend against something when you are not really sure what is going to get thrown at you? As shown by any number of action movies, if ever as humans have to off against Skynet's cyborgs, unpredictability is the greatest asset that mankind has in its arsenal to emerge victorious.
And Zlatan Ibrahimovic is nothing if not unpredictable. Capable of scoring with anything from powerful headers to acrobatic flying taekwondo kicks, from thunderous volleys to insouciant chips, Zlatan does what Zlatan wants to do.
A larger-than-life personality both on and off the field, Zlatan uses his exceptional physical attributes (flexibility, agility, strength), amazing footballing abilities (he can kill a bullet dead in its tracks with one lazy flick of his boots, he has the accuracy and power of an intercontinental missile launcher in both his legs and he has the control of a wizard when on the ball) and arrogant self-confidence to construct in reality what happens in that mega PlayStation game that is his footballing brain.
Attributes to be picked up – Unpredictability, Larger than life personality, Taekwondo black belt, All round awesomeness
#10 The tackling of Mats Hummels
For all the positional awareness and speed in the world, sometimes the only that stands in between the glory of triumph and the tragedy of defeat is a perfectly timed tackle.
Few players on the planet tackle with such precision as Mats Hummels. The German uses his exceptional athleticism and agility along with his ability to read the movements of the opposition’s attack to great effect as he covers the net and protects his goalkeeper with the passion of a Rottweiler protecting his home.
Similar to Thiago Silva, Hummels displays exceptional composure in possession and has the ability to play the ball out from the back with ease and to great effect.
Attributes to be picked up – Tackling, Reading of the game, Composure
#9 The positional awareness of Thiago Silva
When Franco Baresi, arguably the greatest defender the world has ever seen, calls someone his natural heir, you knowhe issomething special. Coached and guided by the Milanese defensive legends Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta in his time at AC, Thiago Silva has matured intoquite possiblythe best centre-back in the world today.
A natural born leader, there are few people today who can read the game with the ease and expertise of the Brazilian captain. His exceptional speed over short distances aids him in closing down spaces quicly and lets him make the most of his tremendous positional awareness
Calm, composed and skillful on the ball, Silva is the alpha maleof a new breed of defenders who are comfortable in possession and create attacking opportunities from the back.
Attributes to be picked up Positional awareness, Leadership abilities, Composure
#8 The aggression and fight of Javier Mascherano
Everyone talks about the players that go and win matches with consummate skill, flair and an abundance of attacking talent – cavorting around the pitch like ballerinas on a dance floor. Very few acknowledge the guy who works behind the scenes, mopping up behind the superstars, staying put in his own half, protecting his goal with a ferociousness of a wolverine protecting its kill.
Javier Mascherano is one of those unheralded wolverines, his exceptional discipline allowing the more talented and flamboyant talent around him to do as they will - knowing fully well that he has their backs covered. Willing to lay body, mind and soul on the line for his team, the man will quite literally tear his backside before he lets a shot on goal or a key through ball be taken/made without some kind of a challenge being thrown in at the person who has the temerity to attempt such a thing in front of him.
Constantly snipping away at the heels of his opponents, the combative Argentine epitomizes the fight that is needed to succeed in football and in life.
Attributes to be picked up – Aggression, Fight, Positional discipline
#7 The power of Yaya Toure
Nobody owns a football pitch like Yaya Toure in full flight. Tall, powerfully built and blessed with speed, stamina and exceptional ball control, the Ivorian is a beast of a player. Watching him sometimes is like watching a grown man playing with schoolchildren; such is the utter dominance he displays on the football pitch.
As hard as it is to deal with a big guy, the task becomes almost impossible when you combine that with his speed and propensity to drive powerfully through entire teams with those long, purposeful strides of his. Shrugging off challenges from strong, top-level athletes with the same annoyed ease with which the likes of you and me swat away flies, the sight of Toure on the rampage is a sight to behold.
His willingness to run across the pitch – from one end to the other – and to keep at it all day allied with a powerful, yet uncannily accurate, shot make for one helluva player.
Attributes to be picked up – Power, Strength, Drive, Stamina
#6 The space-interpreting ability of Thomas Mueller
He calls himself Raumdeuter German for interpreter of space. Often times ungainly and clumsy looking, Mueller makes upfor any aesthetic deficienciesthrough the stereotypically traditionalGerman way of not giving a damn about aesthetics and focusing on the performance.
In a world of constant high-pressing and well-drilled defensive units, space is the most valuable asset a footballer can find on the field of play. And no-one finds space better than Mueller. Capable of playing anywhere across the front (attacking mid, wings, second striker, target man, you name it) Mueller has an almost supernatural ability to sense exactly where space is bound to open and place himself in the ideal position to make something out of that space.
He backs this incredible ability upwith awin at all costs mentality and a calibre of clinical finishing that would have made Gerd Mueller proud you soon start to understand why he has scored 10 goals in two World Cups before he turned 25.
Attributes to be picked up Space interpretation/finding, Goal poaching,Predatory Finishing, Win at all costs mentality
#5 The technique of Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta is one of the greatest pure technicians to ever set foot on a football pitch. With near perfect ball control, deceptive acceleration and the uncanny surety ability to make the right decisions at crucial junctures , the innocuous looking Spaniard is a case-study on how one does not need size to boss around on a football field. When watching Iniesta play, the shiver of anticipation/dread (depending on one’s point of view) that it sends down the spines of the opposition/viewing public is almost a visible physical phenomenon.
His constant movement, off the ball running, and eye for a killer pass make him a potent menace regardless of the opposition he faces. His technique was so perfectly fine-tuned at that hallowed institution of higher learning – La Masia – that he has had an aura built around himself despite being the humblest of characters.
His composure on the ball is second to none (it is composure built out of years of believing in the superior ability of oneself) and his ball control at times makes it look like his boots are made of the softest velvet, such is his ability to kill a ball dead at his feet.
Attributes to be picked up – Technique, Short passing, Movement, Killer ball
#4 The passing and vision of Andrea Pirlo
Where most people see a football pitch, Andrea Pirlo sees a canvas on which to paint some of the most imaginative works of art ever seen. Always capable of the slide-rule pass, Pirlo eschews the constant movement and little triangular passing of tiki-taka. to opt for a more magisterial approach sitting back, just in front of his defence,and pulling the strings like a master puppeteer controlling the movement of all those ahead of him. Pirlo, the artist, paints with a bolder flourish than tiki-taka allows, his sweeping cross field balls and visionary through balls combining with his incredible reading of the game to create magic on a football field.
Tothisskill, addballs of steel, and you get his approach todeadball situations(see, Panenka against England, Euro 2012). His deliveries from set-pieces are usually deadly and eerily accurate. As for direct shots at goal from dead ball situation, after studying the great Juninho Pernambucanos free-kick technique, Pirlo has now developed in to the best free kick taker in the business with his own unique style.
Attributes to be picked up Vision, Passing, Dead ball expertise, Legendary beard
Honourable mention for Xavi Hernandez and his expertise in short passing and eye-of-the-needle through balls
#3 The controlled pace of Arjen Robben
If there is one thing no defence in the world will be comfortable with is, it’s extreme pace. When a footballer runs at them, or behind them, there are a few defenders who can handle the heat that it brings. There may be footballers faster than Arjen Robben, but arguably no-one with that kind of top-line speed has as much control over it. His incredible body balance and ball control allow him to stop, turn and twist with (and without) the ball at his, at barely conceivable speeds – a real life human F-22 Raptor.
This was most recently in evidence against Spain, where he ripped apart the Spaniards like a Katana going through paper. He also seems to be bestowed with longevity – the older he gets, the better (kid of natural – he’d be wiser) and faster (not natural at all– can’t really be explained) he is.
Although surrounded by controversy due to his willingness to go down at the slightest touch, Robben’s undoubted qualities make him one of the best players in the world right now. Everyone knows what he is capable of. Drive down the right wing, before cutting back in and shooting powerfully with his left foot, the quickness of his feet, the pace of his movement and the fear in his skill to find a killer pass with considerable ease – mean that defenders can often do very little to stop the flying winger.
Attributes to be picked u – Extreme pace (and the ability to control it), Longevity
#2 The athleticism and aerial ability of Cristiano Ronaldo
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s Ronaldoooooo!
With the physique that could make Adonis go green with envy, Cristiano Ronaldo is as close to physical perfection as any athlete has reached in this great sport. He always had the willingness and the ability to run directly at opponents at extreme pace but when he gradually developed the physical strength we see today, he became unstoppable.
With his powerfully direct running, and limitless bag of tricks, Ronaldo is the stuff of defenders’ worst nightmares. His athleticism also translates a powerful jump that elevates his already brilliant aerial ability into a force of nature - Often times (as depicted in the pic above) his leap is so high that more than half his body can be over the head of his covering defender.
His footballing intelligence and clinical finishing are abilities that he has in come with the aforementioned Leo Messi.
Anyone with some spare time on his hands should give this a watch – science being used to try and explain just how incredibly awesome Cristiano Ronaldo is.
Attributes to be picked up – Powerful running, Athleticism, Aerial ability, Directness, Clinical Finishing
#1 The dribbling and ball control of Lionel Messi
There are few things in world sport more beautiful than the sight of Lionel Andres Messi running at the opposition, a whirring machine of menace - his little legs pumping on overdrive and his incredible balance enabling him to change direction at high speed, all the while with the ball at his feet acting as a veritable yo-yo in the hands of a master, going exactly where he wants it to go.
Trying to take the ball from Messi is like trying to get an ancient Spartan warrior to surrender, an endeavour that almost inevitably ends in the humiliation of the person trying to do so. His low centre of gravity, balance and incredible toughness enable him to ride past challenge after challenge, the ball tethered to his feet with an invisible but all powerful string.
This mastery over the ball extends naturally to another important attribute of any great player, ball control – Messi’s first touch is velvety and is perfectly weighted to let him shoot, dribble or pass as his footballing supercomputer of a brain sees it. Add to this a ruthless inevitability about his finishing and you have more than enough attributes that may be picked.
Messi’s wonderful tendency to just pick himself up after a rough challenge and get on with it, without resorting to anger, frustration or just plain drama, also set him apart from the rest along with his more tangible footballing abilities.
Attributes to be picked up – Dribbling, Ball Control, Ruthless Finishing, Ability to man up and get on with it
