Most elegant footballers

[Sampe]

I have always found attacking-minded defenders who think like chess masters extremely elegant. They hardly ever lose the ball and thus create an illusion of perfection; it's as if they could do absolutely anything they want on the pitch. Players like Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer, Cristian Chivu and Vincent Kompany.

Not that the same style of forwards or midfielders aren't elegant though. Dennis Bergkamp, Gérson (you MUST check out the 1970 World Cup final and Brazil's number 8 in particular!), Gianfranco Zola, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Francesc Fabregas, Zinedine Zidane, Pablo Aimar etc. etc. Magnificent players.

But the one oddity on my list is Fabio Cannavaro. I usually don't pay much attention to strictly defensive players, but this man is absolute magic even on a bad day. From that incredible jogging style to perfect positioning to smooth tackles to ingenious interceptions to impressive headers and finally to those awesome bicycle kicks in his own end, he is elegance personified. And once more, even his mistakes appear to be classy. ;)

[Schu419]

I am very glad people started mentioning Bergkamp...it took like 5 pages!

Along with him, Litmanen really could be graceful in the hole. And although his running, posture and physique are not even close to elegant, Le Tissier's play, at times, can only be described that way. Just look at his greatest goals. Simply effortless.

I understand that some people might discount Henry for some of his dives, but he too can just glide around and make the impossible look sublimely easy.

I'd also argue that Patrick Vieira should be considered. Considering his large frame, the close control and midfield dominance he could perform look amazingly easy.

[ReddestDevil]

I haven't read all 7 pages, but this is my list:

Zidane (also my favorite footballer ever)

Thierry Henry (there is one Arsenal goal in particular that I consider one of the most beautiful, confident, and mesmerizing strikes ever, it's in this video, at 1:08, http://youtube.com/watch?v=jOwDL0T9RaY.)

Dimitar Berbatov (Magnificent, quick, underrated, my favorite currently playing footballer, I love watching him. I've also never before seen someone who can sneak around defenders so well.)

George Best (someone already described it best in this thread. His speed is one of the key elements that makes him so elegant.)

And, unceremoniously, the least elegant footballer EVER: Peter Crouch... :D

[Seaside Mafia]

Are you being serious? Maradona and beckenbauer didn't radiate exellence? Beckenbauer defined exellence. Maradona embodied exellence. What, in heavens name, do you mean by robust?

Easy Joep, or you'll choke on your bong. I think he made a typo - meant "elegance" rather than "excellence". Anyway, I'd agree that he's wrong about Beckenbauer - always unhurried and elegant, with his head always up and looking around when in possession. However, for me Maradona, whilst a tremendous player, wasn't particularly elegant. More of a fast and bustling player with quick feet and a great touch. I still believe that the four most elegant players were:

Glenn Hoddle
Redondo
Antognioni (spelling?)
Cruyff

[ForeverRed]

Some of the most elegant players I've seen play:

Zizou, Henry, Okocha, Bergkamp, Berbatov

[Dutch Treat]

I am very glad people started mentioning Bergkamp...it took like 5 pages!



Agree. Definitely in my top 3. Poetry in motion if you ask me.


Also, just one mention of Marco van Basten? Why people mention Cruijff instead amazes me. He wasn't as elegant as most names mentioned in this thread.

[jerrito]

Maradona was the most individually talented athlete I have ever seen. But because of his build, I never thought of him as "elegant". Paolo Maldini is the type of player I would describe that way, along with many others.

[dor02]

I still believe that the four most elegant players were:

Glenn Hoddle
Redondo
Antognioni (spelling?)
CruyffJust take out the first "i".

[laolafever]

Beckenbauer, Zidane and Romario i love their styles

[tommuster]

Beckenbauer, Zidane maybe figo too

[Martininho]

I didn't have Riquelme before, solely because I hadn't seen him play or watched recent Argentina highlights at length.

Having watched him in the Copa America, he's definitely on the list. That team is playing champagne football right now, led by Riquelme. His play reminds me of Beckenbauer in the attack. What grace, what a pleasure to witness.

[|--LdC--|]

Some of the one´s i was able to see since i started seeing football at the age of 9 (1992 to present)

Paulo Sousa
Rui Costa
Bergkamp
Rivaldo
Zahovic
Zidane
Nedved
R. Baggio
Litmanen
...
...

[zizou_maestro10]

well i would say since we are talking about elegance on the pitch i would go with three -

1. first i must say comes zizou just a true maestro with the ball at his feet; the man could make things happen with out the outrages & outlandish moves from players such as cristiano ronaldo & ronaldinho, but yet he still did his job; he was all about the fundamentals of fútbol even so with such grace & composure that most dont seem to have; even though he lost his head more than a few times he still was a silent god of fútbol that let his play on the pitch speak for it's self .

2. second comes ronaldo i seen things done by this man that i never thought could be done he made things look so simple from beating the keeper to breaking everone playing back; he like zizou made things happen out of nothing that's what makes them elegant footballers from winning the world cup to playing in meaningless friendlys; when it's all said & done ronaldo may be the best player of all time looking back 20 years later we'll all say pele was great, but ronaldo was something ells .

3. my last one is kaka i mean he has super-human speed & can rip the ball with both feet hes a monster with the ball at his feet being able to beat defenders with speed that seems to come out of no where; just what the new age of young graceful players the future holds .


well that's it i mean every one has there own opinion & this ones just mine no big deal, but still there is many great players other than the three i talked about . :rolleyes:

[NorthernBoy]

Neeskens - made the game look effortless. Totally under-rated because of the genius of Cruyff.

[Glavisted Big Soccer]

- Adolfo Pedernera (Argentina)
- Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
- Bobby Charlton (England)
- Bobby Moore (England)
- Carlos Valderrama (Colombia)
- César Cueto (Peru)
- Dennis Bergkamp (Holland)
- Domingos Da Guía (Brazil)
- Enzo Francescoli (Uruguay)
- Fernando Redondo (Argentina)
- Franco Baresi (Italy)
- Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
- Giacinto Facchetti (Italy)
- Gianni Rivera (Italy)
- Johan Cruyff (Holland)
- Luis Figo (Portugal)
- Michael Laudrup (Denmark)
- Michel Platini (France)
- Pelé (Brazil)
- Ricardo Bochini (Argentina)
- Rivelino (Brazil)
- Roberto Baggio (Italy)
- Thierry Henry (France)
- Zinedine Zidane (France)
- Zvonimir Boban (Croatia)

[KumarsS]

I'm only versed in recent football (2002-present), but I'll try my hand at a personal list:

Zinedine Zidane
Miroslav Klose
Andrea Pirlo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Michael Ballack
Luis Figo
Kaka
Philipp Lahm
Lionel Messi
Rivaldo
Cesc Fabregas
Alessandro Nesta


And I'm surprised no one's brought up Petr Cech and Oliver Kahn. Keepers can be very balletic and elegant in form, and they're two of the best I've seen.

[dor02]

- Adolfo Pedernera (Argentina)
- Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
- Bobby Charlton (England)
- Bobby Moore (England)
- Carlos Valderrama (Colombia)
- César Cueto (Peru)
- Dennis Bergkamp (Holland)
- Domingos Da Guía (Brazil)
- Enzo Francescoli (Uruguay)
- Fernando Redondo (Argentina)
- Franco Baresi (Italy)
- Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
- Giacinto Facchetti (Italy)
- Gianni Rivera (Italy)
- Johan Cruyff (Holland)
- Luis Figo (Portugal)
- Michael Laudrup (Denmark)
- Michel Platini (France)
- Pelé (Brazil)
- Ricardo Bochini (Argentina)
- Rivelino (Brazil)
- Roberto Baggio (Italy)
- Thierry Henry (France)
- Zinedine Zidane (France)
- Zvonimir Boban (Croatia)Have you actually seen Pedernera and Da Guia play or is this based on what you've heard? From I've read, I knew that he had a great ability to read the game.

ADP isn't an elegant player, IMO. He's a more explosive type player.

[Glavisted Big Soccer]

Have you actually seen Pedernera and Da Guia play or is this based on what you've heard? From I've read, I knew that he had a great ability to read the game.
Based that I've read of them, but I could saw small pieces of audiovisual material in the Caracas Audiovisual Register.

[Moishe]

Have you actually seen Pedernera and Da Guia play or is this based on what you've heard? From I've read, I knew that he had a great ability to read the game.

ADP isn't an elegant player, IMO. He's a more explosive type player.

My father saw Pedernera play with river and CA Atlanta and swears this guy is one the best players he's ever seen and to a degree never shuts up about it:D

[dor02]

My father saw Pedernera play with river and CA Atlanta and swears this guy is one the best players he's ever seen and to a degree never shuts up about it:DI knew that he was one of Argentina's greats but I'm asking about elegance and not so much about his overall ability.

Being a Boca fan, you must really hate hearing your dad talking constantly about a River legend.