The obsession with passing is not a modern phenomenon. This fascination with how players caressed a ball and those who excelled in this particular discipline has existed since the first international football match in 1872, more than a century before possession statistics became available.

England were held to a surprise goalless draw by their hosts at the West of Scotland Cricket ground in Partick. While the visiting side were taller, faster and stronger, Scotland emerged with a clean sheet thanks to their ‘pattern-weaving’ style. This would be the first domino in a sequence of tactical schemes that has given birth to tiki-taka and the way most elite teams play to this day.

Over the subsequent 150 years, the game has been littered with passing maestros. These spiritual descendants of those Scottish weavers have come in all forms from every corner of the globe, underscoring the universal value attached to the most basic element of any football match; the pass.

Ranking Factors

• Assists – The final pass before a goal is the most important in football.
• Influence – The best passers can control their entire team based on how they shuttle the ball around the pitch.
• Accuracy – Pass completion rate taken in isolation can be grossly misleading. This metric is only considered when presented in an adequate context.
• Longevity – Those who have remained an expert in any discipline for an extended period are always more impressive.
• Level – To be able to stand out among the best players in the world is the mark of a legendary individual.

20

Roberto Baggio

1982-2004

A true Italian icon and football cult hero, Roberto Baggio is perhaps best known by the more casual fan for his standout ponytail. But while his hairdo might have attracted some obvious attention, there was no questioning the immense talent he possessed on the pitch. A gifted playmaker who not only wore the no.10 shirt but who played the role itself to perfection too, Baggio had tremendous creativity and an eye for goal. Indeed, in almost 500 total career appearances, he scored over 200 goals, but it was his passing and ability to thread a ball through the eye of a needle that caught the imagination.

19

Wesley Sneijder

2002-2019

One of the modern game’s great playmakers, Wesley Sneijder really came into his own at Inter Milan where under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, he inspired the Nerazzurri to a famous Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich. Able to dictate the game from deeper in midfield, and also to cut through a defence when playing further forward, Sneijder’s IQ and game intelligence made Inter tick night-in and night-out. In 2010, the Dutchman was named the UEFA Midfielder of the Season as recognition for his achievements that calendar year.

18

Juan Roman Riquelme

1996-2015

Because Juan Roman Riquelme really enjoyed his best spell as a footballer out in Argentina with his beloved Boca Juniors, where he played over 250 games in two separate spells, some fans might not recognise the greatness of the mercurial midfielder. Riquelme played the role of an ‘enganche’, tasked with creating chances and being the fulcrum of his team’s attacks. Indeed, in 2008, he would captain Argentina to gold at Olympics, leading a team that also featured Lionel Messi.

17

Sergio Busquets

2007–Present

During the glory days of Barcelona’s tiki-taka domination, the players communicated with their passes; the direction, spin and speed of each ball was laced with information. No one was more fluent in the rhythmic language than Sergio Busquets.

The gangly, one-paced, holding midfielder is nobody’s vision of an athlete. But few could manipulate the ball like Busquets. As the former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque once supposedly said: “You watch the whole game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game.” The mesmeric minimalist who won every major trophy for club and country was plucked out of the Spanish third tier by Pep Guardiola, the player that Busquets most admired while growing up.

16

Wayne Rooney

2002–2021

One of the rare strikers on this list, Wayne Rooney certainly made a name for himself as a goalscorer, but it’s fair to say he was a complete footballer. His ball-striking technique was so good that he was able to adapt it a little, allowing him to spray passes to teammates instead of shots at goalkeepers.

As he got older, he dropped into more of a playmaker role in midfield, showing how his high footballing IQ was. He finished his career with a whopping 189 assists in total, which highlights the other side of his game. His passing ability maybe underrated by some, but not here.

15

Xabi Alonso

1999–2017

Now the current manager of Real Madrid, it was a true sight to behold when watching Xabi Alonso rake 40-yard cross-field passes from the centre of the pitch to the winger. A supreme technician, Alonso sparkled for Liverpool under Rafa Benitez, forming a formidable midfield trio alongside Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano. Then, when he went to Real Madrid and later Bayern Munich, Alonso became his manager’s on-field coach, dictating play and issuing instructions from the centre of the park.

14

Zinedine Zidane

1989–2006

Zinedine Zidane was such a wonderfully gifted player that his range of passing is masked by a staggering array of alternative attributes. Blessed with perhaps the best first touch of any footballer ever, the ultimate big-game player was defined by his goals in the finals of World Cups and Champions Leagues.

Peering beyond the glare of his brilliance, Zidane’s mastery of passing becomes clear. Capable of using the instep and outer edge of both boots, the French maestro was effectively four-footed. Perennially surrounded by a fleet of snapping tackles, Zidane had to conjure increasingly creative ways to get the ball to his teammates, who were all too keen to get it back to the number 10. “When we don’t know what to do,” Zidane’s France teammate, Bixente Lizarazu, once said, “we just give the ball to Zizou and he works something out.”

13

Cesc Fabregas

2003–2023

Those who got to watch Cesc Fabregas in his prime will know exactly why he makes this list. Coming through La Masia’s fabled academy, he was blessed with immaculate technique but truly flourished when he came to Arsenal as a teenager. In north London, he quickly asserted himself as one of the best passers the Premier League has ever seen.

He later rejoined Barcelona and won a host of trophies in his home nation, having also lifted the 2010 World Cup, before returning to England, this time with Chelsea. With the Blues, he grabbed arguably one of the finest assists in the history of the sport, setting up Andre Schurrle in glorious fashion against Burnley.

12

Glenn Hoddle

1975–1995

Glenn Hoddle was one of the most technically gifted footballers England has ever produced. Winning major honours at Tottenham Hotspur and Monaco during his esteemed career, the Englishman was always a joy to watch.

One of his strongest skills was his fabulous passing range. As such, it’s little surprise that this attribute was directly mentioned when he was inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame, which noted his “sublime balance and close control, unrivalled passing and vision and extraordinary shooting ability, both from open play and set pieces.”

11

Michel Platini

1972–1988

Michel Platini was a wonderful footballer. He absolutely dominated the 1980s, winning the Ballon d’Or three times across a spectacular decade of sporting brilliance. He was vital to France as they won the European Championship in 1984, scoring nine of his team’s 14 goals in just five games.

That goalscoring triumph should not distract from his passing ability, though. Indeed, some of Platini’s best work came as he threaded key passes through for teammates time and time again. For those old enough to remember, the Frenchman’s vision was on a different level.