Few players in international football, both current and former, can teach you the art of perfecting a first touch, and stars like Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, and Dimitar Berbatov are available to do so.
You can accumulate as many goals, assists, and trophies as you like, but it will all be for nothing if you don’t master the fundamentals, especially your initial touch in this instance. Nonetheless, there is a select group of people who like picking a ball out of thin air as if it were second nature.
Although it’s a prerequisite for becoming a top-tier professional, keep in mind that not all football players are as fortunate. It is a fundamental aspect of the game that is greatly underappreciated by young players who aspire to succeed; if it can be mastered, it will be crucial to their success.
Let’s examine the top 15 first-touchers in the history of the beautiful game, arranged in order using the following ranking criteria, before you go to YouTube and watch videos of first-touch skill.
Ranking Elements
First touches and memorable performances.
a reputation for being tightly controlled.
Teams and levels of competition (both club and national).
first-touch contribution to the team’s success.
Football players with the best first touches in history
Rank
The player
Famous Clubs
Country of origin
1.
Ronaldo
AC Milan, Barcelona, and PSG
Brazil
2.
Bergkamp, Dennis
Arsenal, Inter Milan, and Ajax
Holland
3.
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami, PSG, and Barcelona
Argentina
4.
Berbatov Dimitar
Manchester United, Tottenham, and Bayer Leverkusen
Bulgaria
5.
Zidane Zinedine
Real Madrid, Juventus, and Marseille
France
6.
Neymar
Al-Hilal, Santos, Barcelona, and PSG
Brazil
7.
Cruyff, Johan
Feyenoord, Barcelona, and Ajax
The Netherlands
8.
Mesut Ozil
Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Schalke 04
Germany
9.
Maradona, Diego
Barcelona, Napoli, and Argentinos Juniors
Argentina
10.
Marcelo
Olympiacos, Real Madrid, and Fluminense
Brazil
11.
Iniesta Andres
Vissel Kobe, Barcelona, and Emirates Club
Spain
12.
Riquelme, Juan Roman
Barcelona, Villarreal, and Boca Juniors
Argentina
13.
Ibrahimovic, Zlatan
PSG, AC Milan, and Inter Milan
Sweden
14.
Mahrez Riyad
Manchester City, Leicester City, and Le Havre
Algeria
15.
Silva, David
Real Sociedad, Valencia, Man City, and Celta Vigo
Spain
15. David Silva
Manchester City is the team I play for the most.
David Silva, often known as El Mago, was a wizard and is sometimes regarded as one of the most underappreciated players in Premier League history because of how star-studded Manchester City was when he was playing. The Spaniard made the challenging part of the beautiful game appear so easy while tricking the opposition and occasionally even his teammates.
His Velcro-like touch was part of that. The delicate playmaker, who could grab the ball from any height, was a memorable asset to the English top flight and one of the best foreign players to have ever played there. His style of wafting over the pitch was both exquisite and tenacious.
14 Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City is the team I play for the most.
One of the greatest first touches in contemporary football is probably possessed by former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, who has relocated to the Middle East to demonstrate his skill in this area. Although all of his touches were executed with such grace and acuteness, none of them seem to be the same.
His ability to position himself in a way that could result in a goal-scoring opportunity is what makes him so exceptional. His first touch undoubtedly contributed to his long-term significance in Pep Guardiola’s teams. Without a doubt, his divine first touch has accompanied him to Saudi Arabia, where he is currently working. The truth is, you never lose it.
Riyad Mahrez with a stunning touch and finish 🪄 pic.twitter.com/1wlkNO7LdT
— GOAL (@goal) January 27, 2025
13Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Most games played for: Paris Saint-Germain
For the tall Swede, many parts of football are quite easy, and a precise first touch was one of them. You can stop chasing him now if you want to be a focal point who can hold the ball aloft with his flawless touch. When he was at his best, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the one to call.
You wouldn’t be smart to wager against the journeyman being able to control it and already searching for his next port of call, which was frequently the overlapping wide players who had just played the pass, regardless of whether the ball was pounded on the floor or rifled to his midriff.
12 Riquelme, Juan Roman.
Boca Juniors won the majority of the games.
Juan Roman Riquelme, the quintessential enganche, personified all that was joyful about football: his touch-tight dribbling, his meticulous attention to style, and his otherworldly imagination. By the end of his career, he had made just under 300 appearances and was regarded as a Boca Juniors legend. So much so that he is currently the President of the top-tier Argentine team.
Riquelme, who was neither swift nor interested in covering every blade of glass, had to rely on his technical skills even in the latter years of his career when the Argentine’s physical prowess was waning, but this was rarely an issue like it was for other players. The word is cultured.
11 Andres Iniesta Played for Barcelona the most games
You could be sure that Andres Iniesta would be able to keep it close, regardless of how long the pass was. It may appear simple to watch from home because he and many others make it appear that way, but for other players, it would be a reason for concern.
Whether or not he was in a difficult circumstance, Iniesta would always give his teammates a way out, and his unwavering first touch is attested to by his pure comprehension of how football operates. The first question during the interview stage was, “As a true orchestrator in Barcelona’s heyday of tiki-taka, you have a delightful touch?”
10 Marcelo played the most games for Real Madrid.
Although Marcelo is most remembered for his strong left-wing connection with Cristiano Ronaldo during some of Real Madrid’s heyday, it would be a mistake to undervalue his first-touch skills. In actuality, it’s the stuff of dreams.
The Brazilian frequently took control of the left side and was talented enough to leave supporters speechless after another brilliant touch. He would frequently stop the ball dead when it was fizzed at him or if a teammate played a cross-field ball, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. The Los Blancos legend is among the finest in the game when it comes to first touches, even if they are not forwards.
9. Diego Maradona
Napoli played the most games.
Diego Maradona captured all the happy aspects of football, whether it was through goal scoring, a crazy dash, or a first touch from the heavens. The small Argentine was a master of poise, and his quick reflexes made bringing down a ball effortless. You’ll understand if you watch any footage of the former Napoli star juggling a ball.
It was the kind of stuff you could see repeatedly without becoming bored. He was hailed as one of the best midfielders in the history of the game because of his unparalleled ball control, which frequently resulted in an incredible move. If his initial contact didn’t confuse you, his subsequent actions most definitely did.
8 Mesut Ozil
Most of the games that I played for: Arsenal
The smooth German was a real star while he was in England, but only then could he be bothered. Mesut Ozil was compared to a genius in his day, and it was clear from his first few Arsenal games that the Premier League would soon be enthralled with his first-touch skills. And it wasn’t until he left for Fenerbahce eight years later that people began to recognise the play’s actual magnificence.
The playmaker’s first-touch magic has been impressive ever since he made his debut for Schalke 04 back in the day. Ozil has credited his training regimen, which included juggling medical balls, with giving him exceptional technique throughout his career. Mental, we know!
7.
Cruyff, Johan
Ajax is the most played game.
“Touching the ball is the highest form of technique,” the Dutchman himself stated. However, you must have touched it 100,000 times throughout training in order to touch it flawlessly once! Furthermore, Johan Cruyff had undoubtedly perfected the art of the first touch. As seen by his impact on football and its philosophy, the sparkling forward was also the forerunner of the legendary “Cruyff Turn.”
The Amsterdam-born sensation, who is regarded as one of the best football players of all time, had no trouble regularly turning opponents inside out, and his tight control was a major contributor to that.
6 Neymar played the most games for Barcelona.
When you can add a little flair, why do it the same old way? Neymar has one of the greatest first touches in the game right now, but what really makes him stand out on this list is the boldness with which he executes them. You will be in complete wonder after watching his highlight reel.
The ability to bring the ball down so near to his body is a very useful skill, particularly when he and his teammates are coming into attacks at the speeds they do. Defenders find it difficult to get the ball off him because of this.
5 Zinedine Zidane played for Real Madrid the most games.
When given the duty of a right-footed first touch, this man was the definition of cool. He was regarded as one of the finest midfielders in history, and his skill with the ball was unmatched, especially considering the next action was equally incredible.
When it came to using his feet to control the ball, Zinedine Zidane was one of those players you could fully rely on. When you combine it with his high level of in-game intelligence, it was a match made in football heaven. Not to mention that he was everything but small. They just no longer manufacture people like Zizou, a large-framed player who is compared to a ballerina.
Zidane’s first touch was a piece of art 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/V6Yna0ajGi
— Old Days Football (@OldDaysFootball) August 19, 2019
4Dimitar Berbatov
Most games played for: Bayer Leverkusen
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Dimitar Berbatov’s skill was what attracted attention, despite the fact that he was not generally recognised as a strong goal scorer. But he flourished in the Premier League’s long-ball strategy, where his first-touch skills were on full display for ardent English top-tier viewers.
The former Bulgarian international was among the best in the division at quickly bringing the ball under control. Most astonishingly, it was incredibly easy. It was practically a party trick, and Berbatov was the only one who could pull it off. calm, composed, and cool. And don’t forget that his Instagram tutorial allows you to learn from one of the greatest.
https://www.instagram.com/berbo9/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=5db211c7-16f7-4586-9909-2ffc769c502f
3Lionel Messi
Most games played for: Barcelona
Lionel Messi has an extensive list of football-related accomplishments. His superb passing, his cool demeanour in front of goal, and his artful dribbling. His dexterity and easy ball handling are sometimes underappreciated. It’s simply pure magic, but if you follow the Rosario-born talent closely, you will see that this has become a common occurrence.
The images of Messi in total control despite being surrounded by innumerable opponents paint a thousand pictures, and it nearly seems as though the ball was glued to his feet. Because he frequently used a delicate, sensitive touch to turn nothing into something, teammates could and still trust the talented Argentinian.
2. Dennis Bergkamp
Most of the games that I played for: Arsenal
Dennis Bergkamp, who was frequently praised as a genius when he received a pass from a teammate, was able to catch any kind of pass and bring it down with a great deal of pressure. And the goal against Newcastle United, when the Dutchman’s delicate touch enthralled onlookers, sums up his impact on Arsene Wenger and the Premier League period in general.
Usually overlooked by Thierry Henry’s speed and strength, Bergkamp was the driving force behind the north Londoners’ success under Wenger’s guidance. Being a part of some of their best teams ever, his skill was unrestricted, as evidenced by his spectacular first touch.
Dennis Bergkamp is the GOAT. 🐐
This is why.
🗓 #OnThisDay in 2002… pic.twitter.com/XgOHmv8LKz
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 2, 2019
1Ronaldinho
Most games played for: Barcelona
The historical film that follows, which will undoubtedly stand the test of time, is the greatest way to explain Ronaldinho’s first touch. And even though you might remember it from your early football fandom, there’s no denying that as you get older, it elevates to the highest level of “impressive.”
The unafraid Brazilian repeatedly thumps the ball across the upright, receives it flawlessly, and then does it again. It’s the perfect example of a first touch. It makes sense that it broke the Internet at the time. He is the only explanation for why so many people enjoy playing football. Ronaldinho is the only football player who will ever be like him.
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