The art of ball control is more than just a skill—it's a language that speaks to the soul of the beautiful game. The ability to pluck a ball out of thin air, control its every movement, and leave fans gasping in awe is what separates the good from the truly extraordinary.
Here, we celebrate 11 players who mastered the ball like no one else, with picks that mix the famous and the underrated, each with their own story.
Below Are the 11 Best Players With the Greatest Football Control in History
11. David Silva
Clubs: Valencia, Man City, Real Sociedad
Nicknamed "El Mago," Silva was a magician with a knack for controlling even the trickiest passes. His first touch felt like poetry, whether he was slipping through a defence or killing the ball mid-air with impossible grace.
Can you remember when he plucked Kevin De Bruyne's cross from the air against Stoke in 2017 and calmly set up Gabriel Jesus to score? That kind of effortless touch summed up his career—a player who could turn chaos into calm.
10. Sergio Busquets
Clubs: Lleida, Jàbac Terrassa, Barcelona
Busquets has always been the epitome of composure in midfield, and his first touch has been integral to his ability to dictate play. With an uncanny knack for receiving the ball under pressure, his delicate control often allowed him to glide past opposition players and make swift, decisive passes that opened up the game. His ability to bring down a high ball, while under intense pressure, was a masterclass in ball control.
9. Mesut Özil
Clubs: Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe
Effortlessly smooth, Özil’s control was the foundation of his wizardry on the pitch. His first touch, honed in training drills with medicine balls, had the power to make even the fiercest Premier League defenders pause in admiration.
Can you remember when he scored that unforgettable lob against Ludogorets in the Champions League, where he controlled a long ball in stride, faked two defenders, and casually dinked the keeper? That goal alone was a masterclass in balance and touch.
8. Zinedine Zidane
Clubs: Juventus, Real Madrid
Zizou’s iconic elegance was defined by his unrivaled ball control. Whether it was his famous pirouettes or sublime volley against Bayer Leverkusen, Zidane’s touch felt like a pianist caressing keys—precise, composed, and utterly masterful.
7. Ronaldinho
Clubs: PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan
Ronaldinho didn’t just control the ball; he danced with it. Every flick, trap, and no-look touch carried a flair that made fans fall in love with football. From his outrageous Nike ad to his famous toe-poked goal against Chelsea, Ronaldinho’s artistry was pure joy.
6. Andrés Iniesta
Clubs: Barcelona, Vissel Kobe
Iniesta’s control was the heartbeat of tiki-taka football. His touch wasn’t just beautiful—it was purposeful. He made the impossible look ordinary, like that split-second mastery to set up his World Cup-winning goal in 2010.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimović
Clubs: Ajax, PSG, AC Milan, Inter, Man Utd
Ibrahimović’s towering frame belied his ballet-like control. Whether it was chesting down a 40-yard pass or scoring with an overhead kick from nowhere, Zlatan’s ball mastery was a thrilling contradiction of elegance and power.
4. Dennis Bergkamp
Clubs: Arsenal, Ajax
Bergkamp’s first touch was a cheat code, often setting up a sublime finish. His goal against Newcastle United—where he flicked the ball around a defender in one graceful motion—is still studied in footballing schools around the world.
3. Lionel Messi
Clubs: Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami
The ball and Messi share an almost supernatural bond. Whether gliding past four defenders or controlling a high-speed pass on his left boot, Messi’s mastery feels inevitable. His control isn’t flashy, just absurdly consistent—and that’s what makes it otherworldly.
2. Dimitar Berbatov
Clubs: Tottenham, Manchester United
Berbatov’s control was like a signature—calm, collected, and confident. Whether it was that famous spin-pass against West Ham or his casual traps under pressure, Berbatov turned simplicity into an art form.
1. Johan Cruyff
Clubs: Ajax, Barcelona
Cruyff revolutionised football with his philosophy, but his touch was as memorable as his mind. The inventor of the “Cruyff Turn,” he could make any defender look like an amateur with one simple movement. His ball control was a precursor to the modern game’s focus on technique and finesse.
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