SOCCER SIMPLIFIED 101

Category: Top 10

Ranked football lists — from the best goals of the season to all-time greatest players, moments, and records.

  • Top 10 Left-Footed Players of the 21st Century

    Top 10 Left-Footed Players of the 21st Century

    Here’s our Top 10 Left-Footed Players of the 21st Century – skill, trophies, impact, and pure magic all considered.

    10) Ángel Di María

    A Wizard with the Ball

    A true big-game player, Di María delivers when it matters. Whether it’s assisting Messi in Copa America or scoring in the UCL final for Real Madrid, he’s always decisive.

    di maria

    9) Raúl González

    The Face of Real Madrid

    A natural finisher with brilliant movement, Raúl defined an era at Real Madrid before Ronaldo’s arrival. Spain’s silent killer and a true left-foot legend, remembered for that iconic celebration.

    raul gonzalez

    8) Gareth Bale

    Pace. Power. Precision.

    Bale gave us unforgettable moments — the Copa del Rey sprint goal, that bicycle kick in the UCL final. A thunderbolt from Wales, Bale combined speed, power, and precision like no other.

    gareth bale

    7) Roberto Carlos

    The Physics-Defying Left Back

    Yes, he’s more of a 90s icon, but his influence spilled into the 21st century. The freekicks? Unreal. His left foot could break nets and laws of physics. A legend of Brazil, Roberto Carlos combined power, speed, and technique like no other.

    robertocarlos

    6) Ryan Giggs

    Longevity and Loyalty

    Longevity + loyalty. The Manchester United icon sliced through defences with his dribbling and defined an era. His left foot was elegance in motion, a true testament to consistency and class.

    Ryan Giggs

    Top 5

    5) Mohamed Salah

    Lethal and Elegant

    One of the most lethal attackers in modern football. That trademark cut inside and finish? Pure poetry. A Premier League icon and still going strong, representing Liverpool with flair and consistency.

    liverpool mo salah

    4) Marcelo

    The Artistic Left-Back

    Some call him a left-back, but Marcelo was basically an artist. Tricks, flicks, and outside-of-the-boot assists – the Brazilian redefined what it meant to attack from the back at Real Madrid.

    Mercelo

    3) Rivaldo

    Elegant Yet Deadly

    His left foot could pass, score, and break hearts. Rivaldo delivered magic at Barcelona, including that unforgettable overhead kick that still echoes through history.

    rivaldo

    2) Arjen Robben

    The Cutting Wizard

    Everyone knew he’d cut inside… but no one could stop him. Robben was the most predictable yet unstoppable left-footed move of all time. Efficiency in motion at Bayern Munich.

    robben

    1) Lionel Messi

    The GOAT

    The left foot that conquered football. 800+ goals, countless assists, seven Ballon d’Ors. Watching Messi play is like watching a symphony on grass. A true legend of Argentina. No debate.

    Lionel Messi

    Now Over to You:

    • Who did we miss?
    • Does Messi have real competition for #1?
    • Should Özil or David Silva be here?
    • Bale over Salah or vice versa?
  • Top 10 Greatest Midfielders of All Time

    Top 10 Greatest Midfielders of All Time

    Here’s a countdown of the Top 10 Midfielders of All Time, based on their impact, legacy, trophies, and the moments that made us fall in love with the beautiful game.

    10) Frank Lampard

    A Goal-Scoring Machine in the Middle

    Often underrated in the global conversation, Lampard redefined what it meant to be a box-to-box midfielder. Chelsea’s all-time top scorer as a midfielder! Lampard was intelligent, consistent, and deadly with both feet. He wasn’t just a passer  he was a finisher. Few midfielders could arrive in the box with such perfect timing.

    Champions League, Premier League (3x), 211 goals for Chelsea

    Frank Lampard

    9) Kevin De Bruyne

    Modern Day Genius

    KDB is the face of the modern midfielder  athletic  technically gifted, . His passing range, vision, and intelligence have made him a driving force behind Manchester City’s dominance. Now a Champions League winner, he’s cemented his legacy as one of the Premier League’s greatest.

    Champions League, Premier League (6x), FA Cup, Bundesliga

    Kelvin Debryne

    8) Sir Bobby Charlton

    A Gentleman and a Giant

    The pride of England and Manchester United, Sir Bobby was more than a footballer  he was a symbol of resilience. A World Cup winner in 1966 and Ballon d’Or winner, his thunderous shot and footballing grace made him a true pioneer of midfield excellence.

    World Cup, Ballon d’Or, European Cup

    Sir Booby Charlton

    7) Andrea Pirlo

    The Maestro

    Pirlo didn’t run. He didn’t shout  he whispered brilliance. One of the smoothest passers the game has ever seen, Pirlo made the deep-lying playmaker role a thing of beauty. From AC Milan to Juventus to lifting the World Cup with Italy, he made football look like art.

    World Cup, Champions League (2x), Serie A titles

    Andre pirlo

    6) Frank Rijkaard

    The Underrated Powerhouse

    One of the most versatile and complete midfielders of his era, Rijkaard was a blend of steel and elegance. A legend for Barcelona, he could defend, pass, and score. Often forgotten in mainstream lists, Rijkaard was pure class with a warrior’s heart.

    Champions League (3x), Euro 1988, La Liga

    Frank Rikjad

    Top 5

    5) Xavi Hernandez

    The Brain of Barcelona

    You can’t mention tiki-taka without Xavi. He didn’t just pass  he painted pictures with the ball. With over 180 assists and countless key passes, Xavi orchestrated the golden era of both Barcelona and Spain, winning it all while barely losing possession.

    World Cup, Euros (2x), Champions League (4x), La Liga (8x)

    Xavi Hernandez

    4) Luka Modrić

    The History Breaker

    The man who dared to disrupt the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d’Or monopoly. Modrić is living proof that hard work, vision, and humility can take you to the top. A Champions League icon and the engine behind Croatia’s 2018 World Cup final run, he’s aged like fine wine.

    Ballon d’Or, Champions League (5x), La Liga

    Luka Modric

    3) Lothar Matthäus

    The All-Around Titan

    Germany’s midfield general who could do it all  defend, pass, shoot, and lead. Matthäus won the Ballon d’Or in 1990 and captained West Germany to World Cup glory the same year. He was ahead of his time  a true box-to-box machine with tactical mastery.

    World Cup, Ballon d’Or, Bundesliga, Serie A

    Lothar Matthäus

    2) Andrés Iniesta

    The Humble Magician

    No Ballon d’Or? It’s a football crime. Iniesta was the soul of Spain’s golden generation and Barcelona’s tiki-taka brilliance. He scored the winning goal in a World Cup final, and yet his humility matched his genius. Watch his touch, his turn, his movement  poetry in motion.

    World Cup, Euros (2x), Champions League (4x), La Liga (9x)

    Andres Iniesta

    1) Zinedine Zidane

    The King of Elegance

    Zizou was simply different. A midfielder who moved like a dancer and struck like a sniper. From his two headers in the 1998 World Cup final to that left-foot volley in the 2002 Champions League final, Zidane‘s moments live forever. Cool under pressure, technically supreme, and a big-game specialist  he’s the gold standard.

    World Cup, Ballon d’Or, Champions League, La Liga, Euro 2000

    Zinedine Zidane

    Who’s your GOAT midfielder? Did we miss anyone?