When we mention technical footballers, we talk of those 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, relied upon power, pace and other physical attributes – in combination with his technical qualities – to reach his peak.
The most technical players, on the other hand, make the difficult look easy – players who have complete command of the ball and a profound understanding and appreciation of the players and space around them at any given time.
Sometimes these are players who fulfil their vast potential. Sometimes they do not, even if they do still achieve some incredible moments that other players can only dream of. With this in mind, the following rankings reveal the 15 most technically gifted players in football history.
15 Roberto Baggio
Italy
Roberto Baggio was a supremely gifted individual for club and country. He played during a time when Champions League places weren’t handed out as easily as they are today with a top-four finish in the league. Yet there is a strong argument to suggest Baggio is the finest Italian footballer of all time.
Football – Manchester United v Newcastle United Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 10/11 – 16/8/10 Dimitar Berbatov celebrates scoring the first goal for Manchester United Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason Cairnduff
Dimitar Berbatov was the embodiment of elegance in football – a player whose technical ability often made the game look like an art form. With a sublime first touch, immaculate close control, and a rare ability to slow time in the box, the retired Bulgarian international demanded attention from fans across Europe. He scored 94 Premier League goals, many of them with a nonchalant grace that defied belief.
One of his most famous moments came in 2008, when he effortlessly plucked a ball from the sky and backheeled an assist for Cristiano Ronaldo – a clip that still circulates as a masterclass in control. During the 2010/11 season, he became the Premier League’s top scorer with 20 goals, which included a memorable hat-trick against Liverpool. Berbatov rarely ran, but never needed to. His game was dictated by his supreme intelligence in the final third, despite his 6ft2in frame often acting as a mask to that pure ability.
Who has the best first touch in football history? The likes of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane make the top 15.
13 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden
Speaking of players you’d be foolish to judge by appearances, Zlatan Ibrahimovic stood at 6ft 5in – yet moved with the finesse of a nimble winger, the vision of a sharp-footed playmaker, and the audacity of an acrobatic, gravity-defying centre-forward, all rolled into one. Over the course of his career, he scored more than 560 goals, many of them solo masterpieces worthy of a ‘Nessun Dorma’ soundtrack.
None, however, showcased his technical genius quite like that jaw-dropping bicycle kick against England in 2012 – a 30-yard overhead volley from an improbable angle, widely hailed as one of the greatest goals in football history. He’s the only player to score in the Champions League for six different clubs and has won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and France.
From no-look backheels to thundering volleys and spellbinding solo runs, Zlatan’s technique matched his ego – supreme, spectacular, and unforgettable. A true footballing phenomenon, whose glittering career lacked only one thing: a Champions League winner’s medal.
12 Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp was renowned for having one of the best first touches in football, a skill he showcased brilliantly at the World Cup in France. His exceptional vision allowed him to execute pinpoint 40-yard passes with ease and score stunning long-range goals. Bergkamp’s ability to read the game made him a unique talent in an era when forwards usually used their strength and power to get on the scoresheet.
Thierry Henry famously referred to him as ‘Arsenal’s Zidane,’ acknowledging that no one could match Bergkamp’s capacity to perceive and react to the flow of the game as quickly. His combination of technical skill, intelligence, and creativity is what led to one of the most famous goals in Premier League history against Newcastle and the Dutchman is more than deserving of his place among the most technically gifted players in football history.
11 Andres Iniesta
Spain
At a time when Barcelona and Spain ruled football, Andres Iniesta lived, breathed, and bled tiki-taka elegance with his imperious displays in midfield alongside compatriot Xavi Hernandez. His most famous moment, though, came in 2010 as he scored the goal to win La Roja their very first World Cup.
If his impact on Spanish football somehow wasn’t written in the history books without that 116th minute strike, then that goal ensured that the playmaker would be seen as one of the greatest Spain internationals in history. His 35-trophy haul includes nine La Liga titles and four Champions League mantles, also ensuring he’s not only Spain’s most technically gifted son, but also his nation’s most decorated footballer.
10 Garrincha
Brazil
Garrincha, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest wingers and often cited as perhaps being better than Pele by some, was a footballer whose style and story were unlike any other. Born with physical challenges – a deformed spine and a leg shorter than the other – he defied medical expectations to become a footballing genius.
His dribbling ability was unmatched, turning defenders inside out with unpredictable movements and extraordinary balance, often toying with opponents before leaving them in his wake. The Rio-born magician played with a sense of joy and improvisation that broke away from tactical norms. He prioritised entertainment as much as winning, often beating the same defender multiple times just for fun.
Garrincha’s joyful style inspired reams of poetry and weighty tomes full of legendary tales. The two-time World Cup winner, who scored 12 goals in 50 caps, is rightly crowned football’s greatest dribbler – though his end-product and playmaking ability leave him looking upwards on this list.
From Lionel Messi to Ronaldinho, there have been some incredible dribblers over the years.
9 Neymar
Brazil
There are those out there who believe Neymar has not fulfilled his potential. The man who played beautifully alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi for Barcelona; the man who crowned that partnership with a goal to seal victory in the 2015 Champions League final over Juventus.
Neymar has sometimes been seen as something of a prima donna and diver during his career. Yet he was surprisingly humble when describing the five players he believed had more technical prowess than him. Neymar has also scored more goals for Brazil than both Pele and Ronaldo Nazario. His 79 goals for Brazil put him at the top of a heady list of scorers, making him the country’s all-time top goalscorer.
Divisive traits aside, there’s little doubt that peak Neymar could do just about anything he wanted with a football, with tricks, flicks and curled finishes all a customary part of his repertoire.
8 George Best
Northern Ireland
George Best burst onto the scene with Manchester United in the 1960s. He is without a doubt one of Britain’s most creative ever players. By the age of 22, he had already won the European Cup and been named winner of the Ballon d’Or. His individual United goal in that final at Wembley against Benfica remains an iconic moment for the club.
Best was able to cover great distances while dribbling the ball. This was a time when defenders were allowed to be far more physical with attacking players than they are today. Best’s greatest skill was a body feint and a dummy. Alongside Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law, Best made up the holy trinity at Old Trafford and will forever be a legend of British football.
7 Pele
Brazil
Pele is seen by many as the greatest footballer ever. He was the leader of the famous Brazil side who dismantled Italy 4-1 on their way to winning the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. As one of the most charismatic players in football history, Pele brought joy to millions of football fans around the world for his vision, skill and finishing prowess.
Wherever Pele found himself on the field, he always seemed to have a good first touch. This set him up well for whatever outrageous piece of skill he was about to unleash on spectators. He always played with a sense of having a fraction more time to think about what he was doing than the average footballer, and that all came down to a combination of perfect technique and incredible football intelligence.
Cruyff was the playmaking mastermind of the Ajax and Netherlands side of the 1970s, who introduced the world to the ‘Cruyff turn’ – a simple yet highly effective piece of skill which gave the defender no chance of winning the ball. Completely comfortable in possession, Cruyff insisted football was a game you played with your brain, probably because technique came so naturally to him.
Later as a coach, he laid down his vision of how he wanted football played with the Barcelona team that won the 1992 European Cup Final.
Switzerland and Qatar served up one of the most dramatic openers of the 2026 World Cup, with a 94th-minute header from Boualem Khoukhi snatching a point for the 2022 hosts in San Francisco.
But long before that late equaliser, Group B’s curtain-raiser had already generated its share of chaos, centred on a penalty incident in the 17th minute that left broadcasters, pundits and former officials demanding answers.
Some of these will stay in the minds of fans forever.
Remo Freuler latched onto a headed ball inside the penalty area and attempted to deftly lift it over the advancing Qatar goalkeeper, Mahmud Abunada. The challenge that followed was heavy enough to keep both players on the ground. Honduran referee Hector Said Martinez had made his call immediately: Penalty to Switzerland. Breel Embolo stepped up and converted without any fuss.
FIFA Slammed Over Switzerland vs Qatar Decision
Carlos Barria via Reuters
Replays appeared to show Freuler in an offside position as he received the ball, and VAR duly initiated a review. What followed frustrated everyone watching. No offside lines or semi-automated graphics were shown. The review concluded, the penalty stood, and viewers at home and inside the stadium were left entirely in the dark.
Watch the incident below:
Gary Neville didn’t hold back: “They’ve got the evidence of the automated decision — why are they not showing us?” he said, comparing FIFA’s approach to a “dictatorship.” Ian Wright was equally damning, calling the lack of transparency “scandalous.”
ITV commentator Lee Dixon, who had been convinced VAR would intervene, said: “There must be something wrong with my monitor.”
A statement has been released by the kit manufacturer after FIFA banned the kit design on the eve of the tournament
Former FIFA Referees Offer Contrasting Views
Darren Yamashita (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Former referee and PGMOL boss Keith Hackett went further than most. Responding on X to former Norway international Jan Aage Fjørtoft, who’d questioned why VAR was reviewing a penalty rather than the apparent offside. Hackett was blunt: “This goal should have been ruled out for offside. Technology fail.”
ITV’s referee analyst Christina Unkel offered a different perspective. She explained that under FIFA’s protocol, semi-automated offside graphics are only shown when a review results in an overturn, which is why the lines and the graphics never appeared. She also defended the technology itself, insisting it operates at a precision far beyond what the human eye could ever detect:
“The technology that’s been implemented in this World Cup is at a higher level so it’s going to be even sharper and crisper.”
He is currently in Boston but will not be able to travel to Canada for his team’s opening game.
Qatar ultimately had the last laugh, with Khoukhi’s late header denying Switzerland all three points. But the questions raised around the penalty are unlikely to disappear quietly.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Tommy Fury defeated Eddie Hall in their bizarre exhibition contest in the main event of a Misfits Boxing card at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night.
Billed as ‘The Beauty vs The Beast’, there was a massive 108lbs weight difference between the two participants, with former World’s Strongest Man Hall enjoying a massive weight advantage.
The fight was signed over six two-minute rounds, in a marked departure from the three-minute rounds typically seen in boxing.
Hall made an impressive start in the first, constantly pressuring his smaller opponent and finding success with a big right hand towards the end of the session.
‘The Beast’ continued his good work in the second, using his imposing frame to prevent Fury from getting into his rhythm. His exertions in the first four minutes looked to have taken their toll on Hall in the third, as he was noticeably feeling the pace. Tommy was able to use Hall’s tiredness to land a few stiff shots and find his way into the fight.
Fury again used his movement well in the third, although Hall still found his way through with a few blows. Ultimately, though, the extra weight Hall was carrying was reflected in his cardio.
Although he swang heavily up until the final bell, Hall couldn’t find the blow he needed to end the fight, with Fury taking the win on the judges’ cards.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
James McClean has always been one to speak up when he believes a moral line has been crossed.
The former Republic of Ireland international, who earned 103 caps for his country, has spoken out in a characteristically forthright fashion following a decision that had Irish fans up in arms.
The context is the FAI’s confirmation that Ireland’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Israel, scheduled for the 4th of October, will be moved to a neutral venue and played behind closed doors, rather than at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
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The organisation cited operational challenges and potential disruption as the driving factors behind the decision, with UEFA approving the request following consultation with various stakeholders, including the Palestinian Football Association, which expressed its appreciation for Ireland’s stance on the conflict while respecting the FAI’s course of action.
McClean Accuses FAI of Cowardice
For McClean, the compromise satisfied nobody and stood for nothing. “I think we’ve missed a massive opportunity here,” he told RTE Sport (via the Irish Mirror). “I think the decision to move to a neutral venue behind closed doors, of all the decisions we could have made, is by far the worst one.
“The FAI have missed a massive opportunity to stand on the right side of history.”
“If you’re going to go ahead with the game, at least have the courage to face the backlash that was going to come with it being played in Dublin. But to move it away is a cowardly move.”
The Irish pair have finally swept their different under the carpet after a lengthy feud.
The Derry City man also drew on Ireland’s own history to make his point: “If there’s one country that can relate to the oppression and famine and what’s going on in Gaza, it’s the people of this country.”
The FAI’s lengthy statement on Saturday made clear that the decision wasn’t taken lightly. They’ve been engaged with UEFA on the issue for almost two years and submitted a formal motion in November 2025 that called for the suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions. That motion was passed at the FAI’s general assembly, but UEFA’s competition rules left the association with limited room to manoeuvre.
The former Wrexham man, who has recently joined Derry City, couldn’t help but rile up the opposition fans one last time.
Had Ireland refused to fulfil the fixture entirely, the consequences would have been significant: Six points forfeited, potential relegation to League C in the Nations League, damage to UEFA and FIFA rankings, and perhaps most frustratingly, a boost to Israel’s own competition standing as a direct result.
It’s a seriously difficult position, and the statement reflects an organisation trying to balance sporting obligation against increasingly vocal moral pressure. Whether moving the game to a neutral venue reads as a reasonable compromise, or a failure of leadership, will depend largely on where those who read into it stand. McClean, for his part, has made his view rather clear.
