Items25The creator’s order
  1. 1Zinedine ZidaneZinedine ZidaneBorn 23 Jun 1972Zidane could turn an escape from pressure into a chance before the defence had reorganised. Against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, he beat two opponents and sent Patrick Vieira through, forcing Juan to foul. His famous delivery for Thierry Henry's winner was another part of that…0i
  2. 2Xavi (footballer, born 1980)Xavi (footballer, born 1980)Born 25 Jan 1980The pass to Jordi Alba in the Euro 2012 final is the answer to anyone who thinks Xavi only circulated possession. Alba accelerated from deep, and Xavi found the angle and weight to meet that run without making him slow down. Spain's patient passing had created the conditions for a sudden direct…0i
  3. 3Andrés IniestaAndrés IniestaBorn 11 May 1984Iniesta's contribution often came one pass before the assist. In the Euro 2012 final, he released Cesc Fàbregas behind Italy's defence before Fàbregas crossed for David Silva's opening goal. That is the sort of action an assists table can hide. His ability to receive in a crowded area, carry the…0i
  4. 4Andrea PirloAndrea PirloBorn 19 May 1979With the 2006 World Cup semi-final against Germany nearly at penalties, Pirlo held the ball outside the area and found Fabio Grosso for Italy's breakthrough. He delayed until the defensive attention had moved, then played the pass into the space Grosso could use. It is a revealing example of his…0i
  5. 5Juan Román RiquelmeJuan Román RiquelmeBorn 24 Jun 1978Riquelme made Villarreal's attack run through his judgement. He could hold possession, invite attention and find the team-mate that attention had freed, with a passing range that suited Diego Forlán's movement. His delivery for Rodolfo Arruabarrena against Inter in 2006 also showed that the same…0i
  6. 6Michael LaudrupMichael LaudrupBorn 15 Jun 1964Laudrup brought a forward's threat and a midfielder's imagination to Barcelona's Dream Team. Defenders had to respect his ability to beat them individually, which made the disguised pass even harder to anticipate. He could appear to be taking the obvious route while finding a runner elsewhere. His…0i
  7. 7Kevin De BruyneKevin De BruyneBorn 28 Jun 1991De Bruyne's January 2024 pass for Oscar Bobb at Newcastle shows why his risk-taking was worth accommodating. He found the run behind the defence late in the game, giving Bobb a chance to control, evade the goalkeeper and score the winner. Bobb still had difficult work to do. De Bruyne's part was…0i
  8. 8Mesut ÖzilMesut ÖzilBorn 15 Oct 1988Özil made the run behind a defence feel like an invitation he had already noticed. His through-ball for Alexis Sánchez against Galatasaray in 2014 is a clear example: the pass connected midfield possession to a forward arriving in scoring space. The attraction is the timing rather than physical…0i
  9. 9Cesc FàbregasCesc FàbregasBorn 4 May 1987Fàbregas's first-time pass to André Schürrle at Burnley in 2014 turned Branislav Ivanović's delivery into a much cleaner shooting opportunity. A controlling touch would have allowed the defence to recover; instead, he redirected the ball into the runner's path. It is an especially good example of…0i
  10. 10David SilvaDavid SilvaBorn 8 Jan 1986Silva's half-volleyed through-ball to Edin Džeko in Manchester City's 6–1 derby win in 2011 is worth separating from the scoreline. He used a difficult arriving ball to release a forward rather than merely bringing it under control. The late, open game gave him room, but the technique and speed of…0i