Soccer’s 10 Best Playmakers
It takes a special type of player to open up an opposition defense. It’s about more than just pace or step-overs, it’s about having the intelligence to see the openings that others can’t and having the flawless passing technique to exploit the tiny, invisible gaps in the opposition’s defense. For obvious reasons, we call these men the playmakers, and below you’ll find the 10 finest playmakers in world soccer today.
10. Dimitri Payet (Olympique de Marseille)
Marseille’s athletic Frenchman is a jack-of-all-trades. He’s got pace and power, is very skillful on the ball, and can pick out a pass. That combination of physical and technical gifts makes Payet a rare breed of player. He goes under the radar in Ligue 1 because, possibly he’s not Zlatan, but at time of writing he has the most key passes of any player in England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain this season.
9. Kevin De Bruyne (VfL Wolfsburg)
You know who’s second in that key passes chart? It’s Wolfsburg’s brilliant Belgian, Kevin De Bruyne. He’s a versatile creator, capable of making things happen whether playing as a winger or a central midfielder. De Bruyne’s composure is what really sets him apart, with a first touch that never fails him, and always gives him plenty of time to collect possession and ponder his best passing option.
8. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Toni Kroos spends most of his time as a deep-lying playmaker, which means that when he’s done intercepting attacks and winning the ball back for Real Madrid, he’s ready to hit inch-perfect passes across the field.
7. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is a hybrid playmaker. While he’s mainly a dynamic winger who loves to attack, he has the special ability to create chances for his teammates out of thin air. Sometimes he’s able to draw attention of 3 different defenders to himself then have the awareness to pick out the perfect pass.