In brief
The elite are frequently separated from the good by football intelligence.
Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are generally regarded for their exceptional on-field intelligence.
Paul Scholes, Andres Iniesta, and Andrea Pirlo are also featured.
One of the most valued skills in the beautiful game is football intelligence. Some players are amazing; they can perfectly follow their manager’s instructions. Some are more versatile, playing spontaneously and producing a magical moment out of nothing, while others are more maverick.
The ability to consistently make the proper choice is what sets the smartest players apart from the others. These players know their teammates so well that they can predict the outcome of the game before it even occurs, and they analyse the opposition every second. When they have the ball, they always search for space and execute the best move possible.
4 10 Andrea Pirlo’s clubs include Juventus, AC Milan, Reggina (Loan), Brescia, Inter Milan, and New York City FC.
Central midfielders are frequently mentioned when talking about clever players, and Andrea Pirlo is a prime example of this. The Italian, who is a true creative threat and a good defender, could play any position in the midfield. Because of his exceptional passing range, which allowed him to spray passes around the pitch, he was primarily used as a deep-lying midfielder for his nation.
The former Juventus player’s penalty in the Euro 2012 quarterfinal penalty shootout against England may have been the apex of his sheer brilliance. The Italian calmly dinked the penalty down the middle to help secure their spot in the Semi Final despite the high level of stress and England goalie Joe Hart’s frantic attempts to offput Pirlo.
Career Statistics for Andre Pirlo
Looks
756
Objectives
73
Helps
134
9Paul Scholes
Clubs: Manchester United
One legend of Manchester United is Paul Scholes. With so many skills at his disposal, the England midfielder played a crucial role in the Red Devils’ success during that era.
He was the perfect central midfielder; he was persistent and diligent off the ball but smooth and accurate with it. Throughout his illustrious career, Scholes scored numerous long-range goals and had a sharp eye for a wonder goal in addition to being the best passer of the ball. Because of his amazing skill on the ball, Scholes is a true football genius, and any player who has played with him says he is among the best they have ever seen.
Career Statistics for Paul Scholes
Looks
713
Objectives
153
Helps
81
8Philipp Lahm
Clubs: Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart (Loan)
In addition to possessing excellent skill with the ball, clever players also comprehend the game and can play a variety of positions. Throughout his career, Philipp Lahm performed at a world-class level as a defensive midfielder and full-back. This demonstrates how intelligent the German was because he was able to be among the finest in the world in a variety of roles due to his exceptional comprehension of these various roles.
The fact that Lahm never received a red card during his career was his most amazing statistic. Because he was always in the proper spot and had a level head, this statistic shows how smart he was on the pitch.
Statistics for Philipp Lahm’s Career
Looks
660
Objectives
23
Helps
77
7Thomas Muller
Clubs: Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller, Lahm’s colleague from Bayern Munich, is the epitome of underappreciated. Like his German opponent, Muller is extremely selfless and capable of playing a variety of positions in both midfield and attack.
Muller is highly regarded for a number of qualities, chief among them being his positioning. Despite his lack of speed, the German always appears to be in the correct position to either create a chance or convert, which shows how well he understands the game.
Thomas Muller has amazing football intelligence, and his goal and assist totals are nearly the same, demonstrating his versatility as a player and how much he enjoys setting up opportunities for his team in addition to scoring goals.
Statistics for Thomas Muller’s Career
Looks
787
Objectives
286
Helps
274
6Luka Modric
Clubs: Dinamo Zagreb, Zrinjski Mostar (Loan), Inter Zapresic (Loan), Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid
Luka Modric may have been saddened by the fact that he was chosen as the season’s worst acquisition when he joined Real Madrid in 2012, but Modric was unfazed. As Madrid won the Champions League three times in a row from 2016 to 2018, the midfield maestro established himself as a mainstay at the centre of the team’s midfield.
The Croat dominates every game he plays in because he is inventive, tactically aware, and elegant with the ball. His national team’s accomplishments elevated them to the status of one of the top international teams in the world, and they even made it to the 2018 World Cup final—a tremendous accomplishment for a small country like Croatia.
The first player on this list to win a Ballon d’Or is Modric, who did it in 2018 with great style and at a fair price. He plays for one of the greatest clubs in history and is among the best midfielders of his generation. His brilliance will always be remembered.
Statistics for Luka Modric’s Career
Looks
793
Objectives
86
Helps
131
5Dennis Bergkamp
Clubs: Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal
Dennis Bergkamp has one of the highest footballing IQs. When he was on the pitch, he appeared to have eyes in the back of his mind, constantly aware of his surroundings and the locations of his teammates and defenders.
He frequently made amazing split-second choices that confused opponents and gave his team opportunities. The Dutch attacker and Thierry Henry had an incredible partnership while he was with Arsenal. Their connection was nearly telepathic, and the Gunners won the Premier League title without losing.
Bergkamp’s goal against Newcastle is the first thing that comes to mind when supporters think of him. With his back to the goal, the former Ajax player received the ball, flicked it around the defender without even looking, and then slotted it in. Some doubters claim he didn’t intend the contact, but that only serves to emphasise the man’s brilliance.
Statistics for Dennis Bergkamp’s Career
Looks
737
Objectives
269
Helps
146
4Xavi
Clubs: Barcelona, Al Sadd
The Barcelona team, led by the brilliant manager Pep Guardiola, featured some of the game’s smartest players, none more so than Xavi.
When seeing the Spaniard, it is noteworthy how frequently he scans the pitch, looking at every player on his team as well as the opposition. He always knew where he could make an opportunity and where his next pass might go.
Xavi was at the centre of Guardiola’s Barcelona team’s obsession with holding onto the ball and making deft, tiny passes around their opponents. When he did have the ball, he was extremely smart and always found a teammate in the best position to advance the play. He also rarely gave the ball away.
The Career Statistics of Xavi
Looks
929
Objectives
112
Helps
217
33. Andres Iniesta
Clubs: Bareclona, Vissel Kobe, Emirates
Many people consider Andres Iniesta to be among the greatest and smartest midfielders of all time. With remarkable levels of balance, ball control, and poise to support their ‘tiki taka’ style of play, Iniesta and Xavi were the beating hearts of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona squad.
When Iniesta scored the game-winning goal for Spain in extra time of the 2010 World Cup final, he cemented his place in football history and will go down as one of the greatest of all time. Iniesta was a little more attacking-minded than his colleague, Xavi.
Career Statistics for Andres Iniesta
Looks
885
Objectives
93
Helps
161
2Diego Maradona
Clubs: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newells Old Boys, Boca Juniors
Diego Maradona was a visionary. He had unmatched dribbling ability, slicing past opponents at breakneck speed and typically finishing to match.
He is celebrated as a club idol in almost every team he has played for for a reason, and his influence on the clubs endures to this day. Maradona was a hero, not simply a football player.
Perhaps his iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal against England best captures Maradona’s character as a player. It demonstrated Maradona’s will to succeed, his creativity, and his sheer brilliance in trying something no one else would. The maverick Diego was unfazed by the goal, which obviously shouldn’t have stood, and Argentina went on to win the World Cup.
Career Statistics for Diego Maradona
Looks
343
Objectives
159
Helps
103
1Lionel Messi
Clubs Played For: Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami
Many people believe that Lionel Messi is the best player to have ever played the beautiful game. The Argentine superstar has won everything. His elegance, creativity, skill, and other worldly goal output are truly amazing.
Lionel Messi is from another planet, having won a World Cup, three Champions Leagues, and eight Ballon d’Ors.
He creates chances for others, dances through gaps that don’t seem to exist, skips opponents like no other, and still manages to score absurdly high totals of goals, such as 91 goals in a single calendar year in 2012. Lionel Messi’s brilliance is almost terrifying, and we might never see a player as good as him again. The great Argentinian will always be loved and remembered by football.
The Career Statistics of Lionel Messi
Looks
904
Objectives
735
Helps
355
