Who has the best ball control?

Currently? I'd say Messi, i mean when the ball is smashed 70 yards and you can kill it with one touch of the left boot, that's a first touch.

Berbatov, Ibrahimovic, Totti, Del Piero, Riquelme, Xavi, Iniesta, Kaka, the list goes on but plenty of players have a wonderful first touch.

I'd say as far as bringing really difficult balls under control with different body parts the best might be Ibrahimovic and Berbatov. The way they can chest a ball or control it gracefully in unconventional ways is impressive.

Also Ronaldinho, i don't think i've ever EVER seen him take a poor touch....
 
Ole_Gunnar said:
Zidane could control a football or two...
Click to expand...

cant believe it took so long to mention him.

messi has awsome control when running with the ball

if your talking simply first touch then zidane, berbatov and cantona are the best i have seen
 
Pogue Mahone said:
The dribbling thing is interesting. I maintain that Ronaldo isn't that great a dribbler. He's got quick feet and amazing pace but he can't manipulate the ball like Messi.

When it comes to pure dribbling skills, I would put Ryan Giggs right up there.
Click to expand...

He isnt - The best dribblers are the likes of Giggs, Figo, Robben, Messi et al - The type of players who can go on mazy runs which take upto 6 or 7 players out of a game. Ronaldo, other than maybe Fulham 06/07 and Middlesborough 07/08, has not shown that he can do such runs consistently enough to say the above two examples were not a fluke.
I will say though, the boy is improving, and who's to say he wont get to that level in the future? If he doesnt, much of what makes Ronaldo's game that much better than everyone else's will be gone by the time he's 30, and we may see a rapid decline from then...
 
rotherham_red said:
He isnt - The best dribblers are the likes of Giggs, Figo, Robben, Messi et al - The type of players who can go on mazy runs which take upto 6 or 7 players out of a game. Ronaldo, other than maybe Fulham 06/07 and Middlesborough 07/08, has not shown that he can do such runs consistently enough to say the above two examples were not a fluke.
I will say though, the boy is improving, and who's to say he wont get to that level in the future? If he doesnt, much of what makes Ronaldo's game that much better than everyone else's will be gone by the time he's 30, and we may see a rapid decline from then...
Click to expand...

Well i agree. Ronaldo isn't being given the credit due though because he is still exellent with the ball at his feet, he does rely on pace and power to get past opponents more than the direction and faint changes of your Messi/Robben/Giggs.

Your point on improving is true, Ronaldo is a far superior player over all but the dribbling aspect when he first burst onto the scene was what made a name for him. As a kid he was dancing past players with a whole mannor of tricks and skills but his crossing and shooting was poor.

Now he doesn't go past players so much but his all round game is so much improved. Maybe to do with defenders realizing he is a threat and not defending so poorly.
 
Giggsy has one of the best first touches when taking the ball out of the air I've seen over the years, he's still got it today! Although Berbatov has also got quite an exquisite first touch from that situation too!

I'd have to agree though overall I'll say Messi is one of the best closely followed by Ibrahimovic!!
 
x42bn6 said:
If we're just talking ball-killing ability, Crouch should be considered as well, as he does kill the ball quite well.
Click to expand...

Crouch's technique is underrated, but his first touch isn't in the same class as Berbatov.
 
x42bn6 said:
Ball control is a lot more than just first-touch.

Like Messi - his freaky ability to dribble while keeping the ball attached to his feet.

If we're just talking ball-killing ability, Crouch should be considered as well, as he does kill the ball quite well.
Click to expand...

Ball control is more than first touch true but if you have a fantastic first touch like Messi you can kill a difficult ball with one touch. Then the ball is controlled.

Of course there are other examples like Ibrahimovic setting up the first goal for inter in the champions league where its a 70 yard difficult ball that he has to chest control, drag down, use his body to shield whilst still keeping it under control and out of reach of his opponent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.