I share this view too. I can see the argument for those that are his equal but not superior. Maradona, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Bergkamp, Cruyff, Messi, Baggio are all in and around that ballpark and can be argued as having an equally good first touch, but I always see Cassano's as the most consistently good one regardless of difficulty of the pass he receives.
http://www.pesmitidelcalcio.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3689 Pavel nedveds idol https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/ar...g-lubo-was-a-dream-losing-to-him-a-nightmare/ Just 1 of 2 dozen elite technicians in the 1990s decade
Cruyff's technique was near-perfect. Gets a bit underrated as people talk of his IQ and other qualities, but his technique is in the top tier. In the 5-0 against Madrid he shows some nice controls including one from a goal kick like the one you pointed out here.
The art of the 'trap' Chest Back Heel Goal That was Maradona esque ball control combined with world class finishing @Edhardy @celito @leadleader @Danko
Maybe the best GK in the history of the french division and certainly the most technically gifted GK of his era http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html That time Fabien Barthez came off the bench to play left wing for #MUFC.First touch. Nutmeg. Cheers. 💪 #GKUnion pic.twitter.com/QSklvWIlFw— The Goalkeepers' Union Podcast (@GKUnion) July 14, 2019 From 1998-2000 he was like the ronaldinho of goalkeepers with all time records set in the highest standard of competition in his era(ie world cup) Happy 46th birthday to Fabien Barthez.No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets (10) at World Cup finals. 🇫🇷No wonder he got kissed. 😘 pic.twitter.com/7dDymnao63— Squawka (@Squawka) June 28, 2017 He nullified prime van basten and co in CL final of 1992/1993 and prime R9 in the 1998 world cup final
Some interesting old videos I came across Romario was famous for his desire to always win, but this time he didn't. Play it 10 times though and I guess he wins (at least) half of them. Arthur Numan is here still mentioned as "midfielder", he eventually made the national team as a left back. Nice 'croqueta' by Cowman at 1:40. Bergkamp wins points for style, at least. One of the comments below also say that. @PDG1978 @Edhardy
I think the critics over here say (not suggesting 100% agreement by me) Cruijff had a "learned", methodical and systematical technique rather than something "natural" or spontaneous coming to him as a Ronaldinho or Maradona. The recent biography, which by the look of it will appear in English in 2021 or 2022, by and large also follows that route. In the natural bracket often the likes of Van Hanegem or Vanenburg are placed, and Scifo. At the same time, some of these 'natural' street footballers had weaknesses too: their weaker foot, shooting accuracy generally too. The problem is of course that someone of George Best, a 'natural', also relentlessly practiced his weaker foot, and Messi his weaker foot is probably also better as the one of Ronaldinho/Maradona. Obviously I think he was technically very good and against the strong, cohesive and organized teams until an advanced age. That at the age of 36-37 he could still habitually do it against the best and organized club teams is a real marker of his excellence (to be fair, there is then also more rest between the games as in tournaments; depending on schedule of course). I agree with you too that the many other things (with the professional footballer part basically being 30-50% of his legacy) can often overshadow that it starts with kicking a football properly.
@PuckVanHeel I've read that too, implied, that his technique was learned. Though the evidence seems to me that Cruyff was one of the more spontaneous ones - there's the famous moments like the Cruyff turn, the acrobatic goal vs Madrid etc. But I always find Cruyff to be inventive and having the technique to pull it off.