SP. The 11 most elegant players in football history have been ranked, Arsenal legend 5th [view]

Every football fan will have different reasons for loving their favourite player. Whether their reasoning is down to attributes such as lightning-fast pace, flashy skill moves or even a defender putting their body on the line to prevent a goal, one thing which can be appreciated by every football fan around the world is when a player has an unbelievable elegance about them.

Elegance in football can be viewed in many different ways. Some may view elegance as a defender such as Paolo Maldini executing a picture perfect last ditch tackle to save his team, whilst others may view elegance as Lionel Messi gliding through the pitch, taking on six players on his way through to goal before slotting a neat finish past the goalkeeper.

Throughout football history, there have been a lot of classy and elegant players, but few can match the ability and elegance of some of the names included on this list. From the likes of Messi and Zinedine Zidane, who are elegance personified on the pitch, to names such as Maldini and Andrea Pirlo who bring a different type of grace, the very best of that ilk – in football history – have been ranked.

11 Paolo Maldini

Career span: 1984-2009

In a defensive aspect, Maldini is arguably the most elegant player of all time. Maldini’s grace despite being a dominant defender all throughout his career was incredible to watch and since his retirement in 2009, there have been few defenders in football who have come close to the Italian’s calmness and casualness on the pitch.

To play at such a high level for so long while being such a composed defender is a true testament to Maldini’s ability. He was so elegant in the way he defended, despite having a professional career which lasted an incredible 25 years and saw him step on to the pitch over 1000 times.

The AC Milan legend was never sent off once in his entire career. This shows just how perfect he was on the pitch, as he not only was rarely booked, but he rarely committed fouls, which is unbelievable for a defender.

10 Michel Platini

Career span: 1972-1987

Three-time Ballon d’Or winner, Michel Platini was the definition of a playmaker. Despite his career having incredible stats in terms of goals and assists, his output in front of goal was just the cherry on top of his incredible footballing abilities.

Not only was the Frenchman one of the best finishers of all time with an incredible ability to find the top corner and side netting, but he is also one of the most elegant players of all time. Throughout his 15-year career, Platini showed a level of passing and set-piece ability which many have not got close to in football history. There have been few players who could match Platini’s elegance on the pitch, he often made it look like he was almost playing in first gear.

9 Diego Maradona

Career span: 1976-1997

Messi is the most common name people go to when discussing the most skilful and elegant dribbles in football history but before Messi’s time, Diego Maradona was the Argentine best known for gliding through players with ease and making defenders look like amateurs.

Maradona’s style of play throughout the duration of his career was elegance personified. Not only did he show grace in the way he took on players, Maradona also showed class in the way he simply controlled the ball. The Argentinian had one of the greatest first touches in football history, able to bring the ball down with ease – as if he wasn’t even trying.

8 Andrea Pirlo

Career span: 1995-2017

Most of the names mentioned on this list so far are attacking players. The first midfielder making an appearance in this list is Italian midfield maestro, Andrea Pirlo.

If Pirlo’s career could be described in one word, the words that people would commonly go for are ‘elegant’ and ‘composed.’ Pirlo’s ability to control a midfield all throughout his career without looking like he is breaking a sweat is a credit to his incredible on-the-ball ability which remained at an elite level, even in the latter stages of his career. Everything about Pirlo’s game was elegant, from his set pieces, his passing and even the way he simply moved and conducted himself on the pitch.

7 Ronaldinho

Career span: 1998-2015

There are not many wingers throughout football history with the flair and elegance of the Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho.

When football fans think of flair and skill, many people’s first thoughts go to Ronaldinho. Not only was Ronaldinho arguably the most flashy and skillful player of all time but his skills had an elegance to them which other players haven’t had. When watching players, particularly in modern-day football, a lot of players look desperate to impress and put on a show whereas when Ronaldinho was active, the skills and style he had where he would relentlessly run at defenders down the wing for 90 minutes looked incredibly natural and almost too easy for him at times.

6 Johan Cruyff

Career span: 1964-1984

One of the most common names to come to mind when talking about elegance is the legendary football icon, Johan Cruyff.

Cruyff was one of the masterminds in the 90s behind the ‘total football’ style of play and when you see him play, you can see exactly why that is. The Dutch legend’s football IQ helped him become one of the best and most celebrated players in football history. Cruyff’s movement on and off the ball along with his general game intelligence made him an absolute joy to watch and he is firmly in the conversation for the most elegant player of all time.

5 Dennis Bergkamp

Career span: 1986-2006

Dennis Bergkamp is the epitome of elegance on a football pitch. The Arsenal legend was known throughout his career to have sublime on-the-ball ability and had some of the best dribbling and ball control we have ever seen in the Premier League.

A moment in Bergkamp’s career which truly showcased his ability and elegance was his iconic turn and finish against Newcastle United in 2002. The Dutchman incredibly managed to spin his defender with his back to goal, get past him and neatly slot it past the goalkeeper within seconds. Every aspect of Bergkamp’s game was elegant, from his first touch to his finishing and off-the-ball movement.

4 Stanley Matthews

Career span: 1932-1965

Nicknamed ‘The Wizard of the Dribble,’ legendary English winger, Stanley Matthews, was known for his elegance and incredible technical ability on the pitch, hence the unique nickname he was given during his long and storied 33-year career.

Despite not having the name value and notoriety of the likes of Messi and Cruyff, Matthews was a pioneer for many modern-day wingers as he had a unique ability to leave defenders for dead by casually drifting past them with ease. One of Matthews’ biggest praises throughout his career was for the way he managed to remain on his feet and keep control of the ball despite defenders continuously kicking him for 90 minutes, this made his movements and style of play look so effortless and elegant.

3 Alfredo Di Stefano

Career span: 1945-1966

Coming in at number three on the list of most elegant players in football history is Real Madrid icon, Alfredo Di Stefano. Di Stefano is one of the greatest dribblers football has ever seen and despite his game being heavily dependant on his unique power despite not being the biggest of players, there was a unique elegance behind Di Stefano’s style of play which is not regularly seen in football.

The Real Madrid legend, who represented both Argentina and Spain at international level is another player mentioned on this list who regularly made defenders look like amateurs and look like they were playing the game at a different pace to him. He even scored goals with grace, being known throughout his career for his sensational volleys and bicycle kicks.

2 Lionel Messi

Career span: 2003-present

Taking the runner-up spot on the list of most elegant players in football history is none other than the man who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, Messi.

As everybody knows, Messi is widely considered to be the most talented footballer of all time with dribbling skills and movement which have never been matched or seen before. Not only does the ball stick to the slick Argentinian, but he moves with such elegance and agility that he makes such incredible pieces of play look so easy.

Similar to Pirlo, Messi’s casualness on the pitch also heavily contributes to his elegance. Whether he is picking out passes that nobody else can see or taking on five or six players on his way to goal, Messi is elegance personified on the pitch.

1 Zinedine Zidane

Career span: 1989-2006

Taking the top spot on the list of most elegant players in football history is the complete midfielder, French icon, Zinedine Zidane.

The 1998 Ballon d’Or winner, Zidane, elegance on the pitch despite being a towering, powerful figure was special to watch as he had everything to his game in a physical aspect ranging from size, aggression and physicality but he also had a never seen before elegance on the ball which left fans all around the world mesmerised watching him.

As well as his natural physical and footballing talent being off the charts, the Frenchman’s technique in every single aspect of football – whether it be his dribbling, finishing or passing – had an elegance and cleanliness to it which, as mentioned above, is such a unique trait to have for a player the size of Zidane.

As the true definition of elegance on a football pitch, the Frenchman is fully deserving of his number one spot on this list.

All stats are courtesy of Transfermarkt, correct as of 31.08.24.