When we consider technical footballers, we talk of individuals 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, relies upon power, pace and other physical assets – in tandem with his technical talents – to reach his peak.
The greatest technical players, on the other hand, make the tough look easy – players who have perfect command of the ball and a thorough grasp and awareness of the players and space around them at any given time.
Sometimes there are players who fulfil their tremendous potential. Sometimes they do not, even if they do still achieve some spectacular moments that other players can only dream about. With this in mind, the following rankings reveal the 10 most technically skilled players in football history.
10Neymar
Brazil
There are many who think Neymar hasn’t reached his full potential. The player who complemented Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi brilliantly for Barcelona, and who sealed the win against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final with a goal to cap off that partnership.
Throughout his career, Neymar has occasionally been viewed as a sort of prima donna and diver. When discussing the five players he thought possessed greater technical skill than he did, he was unexpectedly modest.
In addition, Neymar has scored more goals for Brazil than Ronaldo Nazario and Pele combined. He is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals for the national team, placing him at the top of a formidable scoring list.
Despite his divisive qualities, Neymar was able to do almost everything he wanted with a football at his best. Tricks, flicks, and curled finishes were all standard parts of his repertoire.
9Roberto Baggio
Italy
Roberto Baggio had exceptional talent for both club and country. Places in the Champions League weren’t given out as frequently as they are now with a top-four league finish, when he played. Nonetheless, there is compelling evidence to support the claim that Baggio is the greatest Italian football player of all time.
Baggio nearly single-handedly led Italy to the World Cup Final in 1994. Unfortunately, he missed a vital penalty in the final shootout against Brazil. In most cases, however, Baggio knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the ball. He was capable of doing so, frequently with disastrous results.
8Zinedine Zidane
France
The technique of Zinedine Zidane was astounding. He was particularly good at using the outside of his boot to make passes. He ran with the ball in a lucid manner that was nearly as wild and unrestrained as Ronaldo Nazario.
With Zidane, it was easy. As a midfielder, he would zigzag and pirouette around opponents as if they weren’t there, frequently in the most crowded area of the field.
Naturally, Zidane is most recognised for three things. He scored two headed goals in the final to help France win the World Cup in 1998. Eight years later, he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final. Additionally, Real Madrid scored a spectacular volleyed goal in the 2002 Champions League final.
There was some flawless skill in all three of those items. But there are only two of them to be proud of, Zidane.
7Johan Cruyff
Netherlands
As a coach and player, Johan Cruyff was an expert in the sport. He was adamant about the proper way to play football. He listed his all-time eleven in his book, excluding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cruyff, the playmaking genius of the Ajax and Netherlands team of the 1970s, is credited with introducing the world to the ‘Cruyff turn’, a straightforward but incredibly powerful move that denied the defender any chance of winning the ball. Probably because technique came so easily to him, Cruyff, who was totally at ease in possession, maintained that football was a game you played with your brain.
Later, as a coach, he outlined his preferred style of football play for the Barcelona squad that advanced to the European Cup Final in 1992.
6George Best
Northern Ireland
In the 1960s, George Best made his debut with Manchester United. He is unquestionably one of the most inventive players in British history. He had already won the European Cup and received the Ballon d’Or by the time he was 22. For the team, his individual United goal against Benfica in that Wembley final is still a memorable moment.
Best was able to dribble the ball over long distances. Defenders were permitted to use much more force against attacking players back then than they do now. Best’s strongest strength was a dummy and a body feint. Best will always be remembered as a British football great, having formed the holy trinity at Old Trafford with Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law.
5Ronaldinho
Brazil
Ronaldino was usually beaming while he played the game. Given his exceptional skill as a player, this may not come as a surprise. Even the tightest defence was no match for his ability to dribble. Lionel Messi, who included Ronaldinho in his top eleven of former teammates, has a great deal of respect for him.
Ronaldinho was the greatest player in the world for a while, from about 2003 to 2005. Through sheer boldness and talent, he was able to create a way out of any kind of tight space. When he scored an incredible goal against Real Madrid, he even received a standing ovation from the team’s supporters. With the ball at his feet, Ronaldinho had very little, if anything, he couldn’t do.
4Pele
Brazil
Pele is recognised by many as the greatest footballer ever. He was the leader of the famed Brazil squad which crushed Italy 4-1 on their route to winning the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. As one of the most charismatic players in football history, Pele provided joy to millions of football fans around the world for his vision, skill and finishing skills.
Wherever Pele found himself on the field, he always seemed to have a good first touch. This set him up perfectly for whatever incredible feat of talent he was about to unleash on spectators. He always played with a sense of having a trifle more time to think about what he was doing than the normal footballer, and that all came down to a combination of flawless technique and incredible football intelligence.
3Ronaldo Nazario
Brazil
Ronaldo was extraordinary. One of the best attackers of the twenty-first century, he helped lead Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup Final after recovering from a career-ending injury. Because of his ability to outmanoeuvre the opposition, he occasionally gave the impression that he had rubber legs. He made an impression at PSV Eindhoven after travelling to Europe as a teenager. After that, he relocated to Barcelona, where he excelled at Camp Nou.
At Inter Milan, Ronaldo kept football ablaze until a severe knee injury raised doubts about his future. The striker was acquired by Real Madrid, and despite some changes to his style of play, he was still able to produce and looked very at home with the Galacticos. However, he is most famous for his two goals in the 2002 World Cup Final, which helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup.
2Lionel Messi
Argentina
One of the sport’s global icons is Lionel Messi. When he guided Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup Final, he finally won the trophy that had eluded him for so long. Messi’s first World Cup was that one. By that time, he was in his mid-thirties and could no longer rip up the pitch the way he had when he was younger. He thus needed to apply his football brains and untapped technical skill even more.
Messi performed a masterclass against Croatia in the semi-final. Despite his advanced age, he managed to get the ball on the right wing and speed in front of Josko Gvardiol. In many respects, his touch and technique were just as important as his speed in helping him defeat the large Croat.
Messi has been amazing to see with the ball at his feet over the years. He is still regarded as one of the most significant figures in football history. His amazing ability to create is on par with his ability to score. He is among the top three players in the all-time Champions League assist record and was among the fastest players to reach 50 goals in the competition, demonstrating his exceptional technical skill.
1Diego Maradona
Argentina
To put it plainly, Diego Maradona was able to accomplish with an orange what most of us couldn’t with a football. He was gifted with exceptional dribbling skills.
Maradona excelled at free kicks as well. He didn’t have to worry about the position of the wall or the goalie. All he could do was aim the ball in the desired direction. He was unique in many ways and one of the most innovative players in football.
In 1987, when the league was regarded as the most competitive in the world, he led Napoli to their first Serie A championship. In 1986, he led Argentina to the World Cup. Four years later, despite carrying an injury, he managed to lead Argentina back to the World Cup final.
Something about Maradona was special. He obviously didn’t follow the rules; the Argentine’s presence made even warming up an odd and amazing show. With the ball at his feet, the Argentine was capable of anything.
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