Goals, assists, trophies – all this means nothing in football if your contact is worthless.
For some players, they made their first touch a work of art – using poise and grace to control a football that often makes fans purr.
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Mahrez received praise after his sensational touch against Liverpool before scoring in December
The Bergkamps, the Ronaldinhos, the Berbatovs, the… Lee Trundles. All hold a special place in our hearts as many Premier League fans consider Riyad Mahrez to be the player with the best first touch right now.
However, the Manchester City star doesn’t feature in our list of players with the best first touch ever – although he’s not the only conspicuous absentee with 10 top 10 nominations, but just one may be the best all time.
10. Diego Maradona
A huge name right off the bat in the form of one of the best players to ever hit a ball – and he hit it very well.
Just watch any video of the Argentine juggling the ball to be blown away by his nonchalant talent that engulfed a nation and led to an iconic sequel.
9. Lee Trundle
The Swansea legend continues to score goals, albeit in the lower divisions of Welsh football, but the striker’s unreal touch is unmistakable.
A recent appearance on Soccer AM proved Trundle still had it after being barred by a football cannon at a ferocious pace, but was that a problem? No chance, in fact, the ball stuck to his chest like it was made of velcro.
8. Mesut Ozil
From his first game at Arsenal, it became clear that this football wizard was about to offer us all a little bit of magic, and he didn’t disappoint…largely.
Ozil at his silky best in the Emirates was a sight to behold, but only when he could really be bothered before he was deported to Turkey under the watch of Mikel Arteta.
7. Neymar
UEFA
Neymar loved pulling off a signature back heel touch
The trickster that is Neymar often irritates fans for his acting and his petulance but in his pomp there is no doubting his ability to seduce.
At Barcelona, the Brazilian appeared to be having the most fun, delivering outrageous throw-ins and leaving defenders in his wake as he combined Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
6.Ronaldo
The original Ronaldo epitomized all that was joyful about football, scoring goals for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
But what was truly wonderful was his ability to take the ball out of any situation and wreak havoc when for many he remains the real Fenomeno.
5. Dimitar Berbatov
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The Berbatov spin has become iconic
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The striker continued to put it on a plate for Cristiano Ronaldo
There aren’t many players who could roll a cigarette and control a ball 50 yards on a penny at the same time – but you can bet your house that Berbatov can do it.
The way the languid Bulgarian floated down the pitch might have left some managers furious, but game purists could appreciate his touch like a fine glass of Pinot Noir.
4.Lionel Messi
The little Argentine has it all, hypnotic dribbling, clinical finishing, eagle-eyed vision and a touch that can’t be taught – all in all you have Messi, perhaps the greatest footballer of them all the temperature.
And he has the trophy cabinet to back him up, finally completing the set in December when he won the World Cup in Qatar.
3. Zinedine Zidane
One of the best players to ever walk the pitch and ooze class with his ability to manipulate the ball to do whatever he wanted – usually resulting in something spectacular.
It’s no surprise that when people talk about the most graceful players, Zidane’s name is always one of the first to be mentioned – largely thanks to his jaw-dropping touch that can’t be explained.
2. Denis Bergkamp
A true Premier League icon who embodied Arsene Wenger’s perfect Arsenal player, delivering some of the most dizzying touches ever seen on these shores that many defenders simply couldn’t defend.
So many legendary moments, the goal against Newcastle, his goal against Argentina, the one against Leicester – all incredible, all forever immortalizing the Dutchman as one of the game’s true greats.
1. Ronaldinho
Ultimately, there can be only one winner for the best touch in football and there can be no real debate over who it is – Ronaldinho.
The Brazilian is the reason so many people love football and it’s easy to see why, spending his career defying physics with his ability on the ball and skills that could only be admired by his opponents.
Although there are always goal scorers, playmakers and swindlers, there is only one Ronaldinho – and that says a lot.
Honorable Mentions: Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pelé, Andres Iniesta, Roberto Baggio, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Mahrez, Juan Roman Riquelme.
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