The role of playmaker is ever-changing and has adapted to shifts in style of play in recent years. From Baggio to Zizou, these players rank amongst the most memorable and skillful, playing an integral part in their team’s fortunes.
Although the finer aspects of the role evolve, the main characteristics of the playmaker are fixed, someone who pulls the strings and provides assists. An attack-minded player often in midfield who is at the centre of his team’s offensive movements.
Attributes include vision, passing and confident positional play. Zinedine Zidane possessed all of these qualities and is without doubt, the finest playmaker in recent memory, or in my opinion, of all time.
Below I list my 5 favourite playmakers who are still playing at a high-level of football.
1. Xavi
Xaavi was instrumental in Barca’s unprecedented treble success last season, the Spanish midfielder provided assists for 7 goals in the Champions League and 20 in La Liga. He picked up Man of the Match in the Champions League Final in May and was consistently brilliant in all competitions.
He is in my opinion, the best playmaker in the world right now and a true asset to Barcelona, he will play a crucial role this season if the Catalan giants are to retain any of their honours.
2. Kaka
Kaka has almost become synonymous with AC Milan in recent years and so it was with a heavy heart that he left the San Siro this summer for Perez’ Galacticos’ project.
Kaka has extraordinary vision and has already notched 2 assists in 2 appearances for Real Madrid so far this season. Kaka was the fulcrum of Brazil’s attacking play at the Confederations Cup this summer and was picked as Man of the Tournament. Often the trigger for the counter-attack, Kaka employed fantastic pace coupled with accurate passing to take the tournament by storm
Brazil have already qualified for the World Cup in South Africa next summer and Kaka has often inspired and influenced from his attacking midfield role. One of the best players in the world who is set to have an ‘interesting’ season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
3. Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder is one of the most industrious midfielders in world football right now and his talents were impressively showcased in last year’s European Championships.
The Dutch playmaker found himself in an obscene situation this summer as he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu and shipped off to Inter for a reported €15million, a snip for a player at his quality.
Thankfully, Internazionale will put his talents to good use and he evidenced great ability in the recent Milan derby, hopefully a sign of things to come this season.
4. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard often wriggles his way into these lists due to his undeniable talents and I rank him among the best playmakers in the world. He passes with pinpoint accuracy and often inspires his team, injecting a sense of urgency into their play.
Liverpool came very close to winning the Premier League last season and a great deal was thanks to their skipper, a Kop hero through and through.
An all-round top player but to be fair, his consistency can be brought into question.
5. Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo is referred to as ‘the metronome’ in Italian football due to the way he sets the pace and rhythm in a game. In the 2002-03 season, Pirlo dropped into a deeper role than usual and under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, had a fantastic season for AC Milan, winning the Champions League in emphatic style.
Although his career is coming to an end, I still think Pirlo ranks among the best playmakers in the worldThe lack of quality of surrounding players at AC Milan may obscure his talents but his vision is unparalleled.
I think that those 5 are the best at their position at the moment capable of finding players with the absolute pass
ReplyDeleteIn my list Roman Riquelme would replace Stevie G. If Argentina want to qualify for the world cup Diego needs to make peace with this fantastic midfielder. He has the ability to completly control the pace of a game and create something out of nothing. Sorely missed by his national team. Stevie G is a brilliant player but I see him more as midfiled powerhouse than a playmaker
ReplyDeleteNo one is doubting Gerrard's quality as a player. He is one of the best players in the world because he always shows up, week in week out, giving Liverpool 100% for 90 minutes. Gerrard can make runs, finish, score in the air, take on opponents 1 on 1, thread passes, and score from well outside the box.
ReplyDeleteThe question is whether he is one of the best creative playmakers in the world. He can play the killer ball, drop passes on a dime, and hold up the ball, but does he do that enough for Liverpool/England to be considered amongst the best playmakers in the world?
And about Iniesta, you can argue he has more to his game than Xavi. But while Iniesta can bomb forward interchanging with Messi, and the other forwards, Xavi sets up the groundwork from midfield. Can't find an opening in the defence? Pass back to Xavi and he'll set up a new attack. Xavi is the best in the world at what he does.
A similar argument is who is better? Eto'o or Ibrahimovic? For me Eto'o is the better goal scorer, more pace, more clinical, more industrious. But Ibrahimovic is arguably a better player because he is more creative, he has size and power to hold up the ball, aerial superiority, and slightly better technique
1. Xavi
ReplyDelete2. Kaka
3. Sneijder
4. Gerrard
5. Lampard
The reason I put Gerrard Lower is because he's good at other things and a little worse in Play maker in my opinion compared to others. Xavi and Kaka are the definition of a play maker amazing. Sneijder is a great player and play maker just does really great Lamps just pure class
Ronaldinho was the BEST. Some of his passes were brilliant. Maybe he's not so good now but a little while ago he was brilliant
ReplyDeleteI don't think Sneijder qualifies in my book. 1 He lacks the required skill & ability to retain the possession of the football like a true playmaker. So I don't think he can fit into the same class as Pirlo or even Seedorf for that matter.
ReplyDeleteSo I would say "My" top 5 would be.
1. Diego(Juv)-
He for me is the epitamy of a true #10, his skills, ball control, vision, football head, finishing, accurate with both feet.... Etc I could go on and go. I watched him thrill at Bremen for yrs & now @ Juve he is wowing the world at just the age of 23 I think.
2. Kaka'(RM)-
Kaka may not have as much flair to his game but that in no way subtracts anything so what from his shine. What amazes me about Kaka & always will, is his gracefulness, composure & effortless style of play.... He doesn't look fast at all but blows past defenders with ease and grace, an absolute joy to watch. Lets hope he has a great season.
3. Iniesta(BAR)-
I chose Iniesta over Xavi because I believe that a true playmaker runs & takes on defenders as well as provide the killer pass & Iniesta is one of the best in the game today, his only con as they may say is that he doesn't score as many goals as he should, that's because he's such a team player that he never places his own Glory before the teams. An absolute model footballer. However he did score the most important goal of his career so far against Chelsea in the Semi's.
4. Gerrard(LIV)-
We all know the great Stevie G, now even though he doesn't possess much flair at all but Gerrard's ability to drive a team forward is 2nd to none. He's always in the right place @ the right time to score the most crucial goals for Liverpool, with his never say die attitude.... A complete leader on the football field.
5. Cesc Fabregas(ARS)-
Fabregas was always one of the most promising upcoming playmakers for a long long time. He's been acknowledged for his great vision & pinpoint long/short passing game. He is also very composed & graceful on the ball & also a joy to watch. Over the past two seasons or so he has really come into his own & starting to score more & more goals like he should. Fabregas is still in the making & has a great career ahead of him
think a top 5 is too small to do justice to the role of playmaker, I can think of several who haven't made this list who are all great playmakers in their own right yet have not made this list, not all of them obvious choices either.
ReplyDeleteCambiasso: Hugely important player for Inter, dominates play and creates goals for other players.
Fabregas: Possibly the most imaginative passer I've seen, chips in with goals and skillful.
Carrick: Hugely underrated, although his goal-scoring record is not great his passing range and vision is.
Iniesta: Has great ability to keep the ball in tight space by means of short passes or skill, good for goals also.
Lampard: Chelsea wouldn't be anywhere without him, he scores, assists, what more could you want?
Scholes: Although his goal scoring has suffered slightly with age no one else controls a game like him.
Xabi Alonso: Great passing range and ability to spread the play, good shot, solid basis for any attack.
Diego: I don't see as much of him as I'd like, but he's a great talent, has an eye for a pass and a goal
I think people need to understand that just because one is a central midfielder, doesn't necissarily make him a playmaker. The playmaker is the man who sets everyone else up rather than taking the chances for himself. Everything goes through him, but not usually ending with him. For example, xabi alonso doesn't get much praise since he doesn't score many goals, but he was arguably the heart and sole of liverpool during his time with the club. Every play went through him and ended in either gerrard, torres, or kuyt. Please someone correct me or add if I missed something so that others can read this before posting players such as arshavin or gerrard as playmakers but nice points and opinions every1
ReplyDeleteMy current top 5 playmakers are :
ReplyDelete1) Xavi: A great pro. Who is a good example with barcelona and with the roja !
Best player during the euro 2008. He can almost do eveything on a pitch : scoring, assisting, attacking, defending.... A great Man; a leader !
Moreover, he is loyal to Barcelona. Thanks to the "Massia" he is a good example of what is a real playmaker !
In a way we can say that Xavi receives and gives much to his club !
2) Iniesta: Another player who comes from the "Massia", in the future years he's gonna' be better than Xavi. We all know him, he's great !
The description of him is almost the same as Xavi's one.
If Barcelona won a lot of trophees last year, he was one of those won show the way to the victory like he did in Stamford Bridge.
3) Fabregas: The Third one! He deserves to be in the top no doubt about that !
He begins like Xavi and Iniesta at the " Massia" before Wenger saw him.... !
Leader of Arsenal's team At only 22, he proves that the "experience" has no age....
When Arsenal has no solution, Fabregas his the one who can solves them !
Wenger says of Fabregas :" He's my eyes on the field".... It sums up everything !
4) Gerrard: My favorite player. A leader, a great football player who deserves to one the "Balon d'or" !
He is the soul of Liverpool's team since he started to play !
He never gives up and encourages is team mates all the time. A great example for everybody !
5) Lampard: The most known number "8" in the world with Steven G !
He's less gifted to me than Gerrard but he is one of the best Middlefield in the world.
He worked very hard to be the Great lampard we know ! Improving is style during the years like and old wine so very good !
He's is also efficient in his club and with the national team....
To conclude, to me a playmaker is a player who is capable of doing everything in the middleflied, as I already said : attacking, defending, assisting, and scoring !
He's also a leader !
We can add to the list players like : Essien, Guti, Ballack(during his glorious hours), Pirlo, Seedorf..
Sorry mate, I dun understand how you see Stevie as a play maker? You forgot there used to be Xabi Alonso in Livepool? And now without him Liverpool is struggling.
ReplyDeleteI see Lamps as one of the Top playmaker more, just look at how Capello see them and play them.
And Lampard is the most consistant player in the world.... Score 20 goals for the last 5 season, and the one b4 that is 19. Also holding the record of playing consecutive matches in Preimer League. And most importantly, please, please, just go to Sky football to check the midfield stats of Premier League.
And you will see why Lampard should be in one of the Top Playmaker.
1. Xavi
2. Kaka
3. Lampard
4. Pirlo
5. Requilme
I would slip xabi alonso in there. He's always been one of the great playmakers but just doesn't get the recognition he deserves for it, great passing and a very intelligent player on the field.
ReplyDelete1. Xavi
ReplyDelete2. Kaka
3. Lampard
4. Diego
5. Pirlo
I also think that Nasri and Giovinco are very good and hopefully reaches his potential. I didnt include Gerrard in this list because I don't consider him to be a playmaker, he is more of a box to box midfielder who runs around a lot (if that type of midfielder is considered a playmaker then Essien, De Rossi and Marchisio are up in that league IMO). Can you do a list of Top 5 Keepers and defenders as well please, would be really appreciated. Great blog FORZA JUVE!!!