Items25The creator’s order
  1. 1Gerd MüllerGerd MüllerBorn 3 Nov 1945Müller's advantage often appeared in the first few metres rather than in a long sprint. FIFA's account of his game describes a striker who escaped a marker for a fraction of a second, anticipated the ball and reacted before the defender could recover. That is why apparently simple finishes deserve…0i
  2. 2Filippo InzaghiFilippo InzaghiBorn 9 Aug 1973Inzaghi made the boundary between onside and offside a working area. His goal against Bayern in the 2007 Champions League quarter-final and his 300th career goal against Siena both illustrate the value of timing the break to meet a team-mate's pass. This style inevitably produced offside flags as…0i
  3. 3Raúl GonzálezRaúl GonzálezRaúl's alertness to rebounds is a useful part of his movement to study. Real Madrid's account of his career emphasises how rarely he switched off around goal. A shot by someone else was therefore another possible pass, with the goalkeeper's reaction creating the next opportunity. His inclusion…0i
  4. 4Ruud van NistelrooyRuud van NistelrooyBorn 1 Jul 1976Van Nistelrooy explained his movement as a series of decisions imposed on defenders: stand between two of them, drop towards midfield, or wait on a shoulder where attention can slip. He credited Foppe de Haan with teaching him that constant involvement was not always useful. His insistence on being…0i
  5. 5Miroslav KloseMiroslav KloseBorn 9 Jun 1978Klose's heading can obscure the movement that made a cross playable. Thomas Müller singled out his ability to read spaces and make intelligent runs, qualities that mattered alongside his composure in front of goal. The useful viewing exercise is to watch his position relative to the centre-backs…0i
  6. 6Robert LewandowskiRobert LewandowskiBorn 21 Aug 1988Lewandowski's movement can help an attack even when he is not its scorer. UEFA's analysis of Barcelona's 2024 win at Paris highlighted him leaving the central striker's position to open space for Raphinha and Gündoğan. Against Atalanta in 2025, a threatened run behind could become a movement…0i
  7. 7Karim BenzemaKarim BenzemaBorn 19 Dec 1987Benzema's relationship with Vinícius Júnior is worth watching through their distances and angles. In UEFA's analysis of Real Madrid's 2023 quarter-final second leg at Chelsea, Vinícius's movement towards the near post helped leave Benzema available towards the back post during a counter-attack. The…0i
  8. 8Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)Born 24 Jan 1987Suárez's runs did more than offer a route to his own shot. Barcelona Innovation Hub research used tracking data to distinguish occupying space from creating it for others, with his ability to pull defenders away a telling example. The analysis concerned a particular match, not a universal career…0i
  9. 9Edinson CavaniEdinson CavaniBorn 14 Feb 1987Cavani's substitute appearance at Southampton in November 2020 turned Manchester United's attack through movement as well as finishing. He supplied an assist and scored two headers as United recovered from two goals down to win 3-2. The club's match analysis highlighted his movement and pressing.…0i
  10. 10Thomas MüllerThomas MüllerBorn 13 Sept 1989Thomas Müller belongs here as a second striker and roaming forward, rather than a fixed centre-forward. His gift is finding the position that makes the next action easier, including a run that benefits a teammate. UEFA's analysis of Bayern against Real Madrid in 2024 highlighted a sequence in which…0i