I think of current players -- Pirlo, Riquelme, Pires, Rui Costa, Figo, Maldini, Sagnol, Rivaldo, Xavi, Mikel
Well certainly in the last ten year's only two player's imo were the embodiment of Elegance.That's Zinedine Zidane and Rui Costa.Aesthetically they were simply a joy to watch.
Puskas, Di Stéfano, Didi, Pelé, Beckenbauer, Bobby Charlton, Zidane (chronological order). The maximum in class allied to supreme elegance. And to think that Real Madrid had the three 1st at a time...and blew it! Take a look a this rare and precious video: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxJmoc3qgQc As a Brazilian, I’d elect Didi, ‘with his aplomb of an Ethiopian Prince’, in the words of famous playwright Nélson Rodrigues. I’ll never forget his calm and erect figure confidently carrying the ball in his hands to midfield after Sweden's 1st goal in the 1958 WC: Brazil won the title there, and Didi was declared the Outstanding Player of the tournament... No wonder the new born King of Football chose HIS shoulder in order to express his rookie emotion.
See (in a clip dedicated to Garrincha) the spectacular and absolutely elegant goal scored by Didi in the 1958 semifinal against France (for me one of the 10 most beautiful goals of the game in all times): br.youtube.com/watch?v=1D_E6yqyL5c Go directly to minute 5:05 of the video for that superb goal... To minute 4:44 for Didi's highly precise curve pass to Vavá score his bomb in the 1st goal... Or minute 5:44 for his masterful & artistic serve to anthological Pelé 3rd goal (which could be in that list, too)... Lethal elegance!...
People who are to young to have seen him playing live are excused. All the others know, that there was never a more complete and elegant player than the "Kaiser" Watch this clips from the Euro final 1972. Not a Beckenbauer compilation, but many complete game situations of one of the best games of football ever played, with a Beckenbauer scene every now and then. Take your time and enjoy. [youtube]ePJ6k6lXD5I[/youtube] [youtube]YM-0TNbcXNY[/youtube] [youtube]obgkWc82dSg[/youtube] [youtube]12zs5pW8kGc[/youtube] [youtube]Wj2Sr7-Gzbg[/youtube] (Thanks Gregoriak for your videos)
Goalkeeper: They can't be elegant Defender: Beckenbauer Midfielder: Cruyff (played just off the forward, I know!) Striker: Van Basten Due to their way of training youth players the Dutch produce the most elegant players consitantly. Even today, Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, and Van der Vaart are carrying on the mantle of those before them.
Really? When I was a kid Goalies suchs Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks, Dino Zoff, Sepp Meier were among the first footies who had given me the most presence, charisma and elegants.
Depth, lethal quickness, verticality. One of the most elegant and technically perfect goals of all times. Pelé, Garrincha, Di Stéfano, Cruyjff, Maradona, Platini, Zidane never dreamed of scoring an all-aerial goal like that (only Zico did something similar, but not quite as beautiful). Had to be Falcão (hawk in Portuguese). Internacional [in red] x Atlético Mineiro [b&w], Brazilian Championship 1976, semifinal, 00:91'. Atlético Mineiro had Cerezzo, Reinaldo, Joãozinho, Éder in those times. Inter won 2 x 1 & went to the final to clinch the title. 6 touches, 4 players involved (Jair, Dario, Escurinho, Falcão), the Hawk creating and concluding. Watch that!... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v-alFKDXxg&feature=related World-class Brz aplomb.
yes i would probably include kaka as well, but i also think he is more of a one-directional type of player (towards goal) and focused on directness rather than elegance, sort of like Messi. BTW, that is not a bad quality but just slightly different than the other players listed.
I find the way Kaka moves about the pitch to be rather elegant. Might even list Pato there......the way he played in Milan's last UEFA Cup tie was pretty impressive. Really natural movement, beating players left and right.
Zidane - George Best - David Beckham (can't say he doesn't play with elegance..atleast off a dead ball) had someone else that was more current but don't remember.
If you put it that way, then Kaka. Extremely conventional style of dribbling, yet extremely effective. Doesn't bother with many of the often surplus moves other players do.
Zidane France Platini France Cantona France Francescoli Uruguay Valderrama Colombia Hoddle England Matthews England McCoist Scotland Bremner Scotland Okocha Nigeria Cryuff Holland Bergkamp Holland Zico Brazil Rivelino Brazil Ronaldinho Brazil Eder Brazil Falcao Brazil Figo Portugal Hagi Romania Arellano Mexico Baggio Italy Antognioni Italy Libuda Germany Litmanen Finland Nakata Japan Chilavert Paraguay Maradona Argentina Redondo Argentina Ortega Argentina Messi Argentina Enrique Spain