10 Silkiest Players in Football History [Ranked]

Football is fantastic since there are so many different playing styles, abilities, and attributes. While it’s always exciting to see explosive and powerful players who can outrun opponents with their agility, it’s also pleasant to see the more beautiful players – those who simply glide over the pitch and make everything look easy.

At GIVEMESPORT, we have compiled a list of the ten silkiest football players in history. These players were ‘easy on the eye’ and made the game appear simple. From Jay-Jay Okocha’s elegance to Ronaldinho’s flare, this list has it all.

Ranking Factors
Longevity: How long were they at the height of their powers?
Wow Factor – How often did they create moments that caused spectators to jump out of their seats?
Overall Quality – These players will come from diverse eras; how good were they in their time?

10Dimitar Berbatov

Notable Teams: Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Fulham

Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgarian master, played football at his own pace, often appearing to walk in slow motion while others around him sprinted. His touch was flawless, and he made intricate moves appear incredibly simple.

Berbatov, particularly at Manchester United, was behaving like a ‘false nine’ striker, which is common in modern sport. He has the strength and technique to hold the ball and connect up with his attacking partners. And he would drop off the defensive line and look for the ball to his feet in open spaces, allowing him to use his excellent passing and vision to open up the defence.

Whether it was his spectacular turn at the byline against West Ham United before delivering it on a plate for Cristiano Ronaldo, or his nonchalant flicks and control when plucking the ball out of the sky, Berbatov deserves to be on the list of the silkiest players ever.

9Jay-Jay Okocha

Notable Teams: Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG, Bolton Wanderers

Jay-Jay Okocha, from Nigeria, is ranked ninth on this list. When it comes to pure entertainment, few have been able to get as many people to leave their seats as Okocha. His dribbling abilities, flips, and daring manoeuvres surprised defenders.

Okocha’s ability to glide over the pitch with the ball glued to his feet made him one of the most recognisable players of his period. His goal against Bayern Munich custodian Oliver Kahn while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt is still considered one of the silkiest in recent football history. He dribbled past many players and repeatedly fooled the famed custodian before scoring.

The Nigerian great combined street football flare with effectiveness in a competitive game of football. He wowed fans across Europe with his easy-to-watch style of play.

8 Johan Cruyff Notable teams include Ajax and Barcelona.

Johan Cruyff is one of the most recognisable and important football players in history. The Dutchman devised the renowned “Cruyff Turn” in the 1970s, and it has since become one of football’s most recognisable moves.

During his two periods at Ajax, he won eight Eredivisie titles and five Dutch cups. He was instrumental in helping the club win three consecutive European Cups in the early 1970s before transferring to Barcelona, where he achieved legendary status despite only winning one La Liga title in five years.

Beyond his dribbling, his vision, balance, and poise under duress made him an artist in motion, and it’s no surprise he won three Ballon d’Or honours throughout his career.

7George Best

Notable Teams: Manchester United, Fulham

George Best ranks seventh on this list. The best combination of speed, agility, and superb dribbling allowed them to effortlessly slide past defenders. His ability to finish and cross with either foot made him practically unstoppable, as opponents had no idea which way he was heading.

He rose to prominence at Manchester United due to his ability to terrorise opposing defences. As a result, he is considered one of the best British players to have ever competed in the English top division. The Northern Irish star made everything appear effortless, whether he was slaloming between defenders or finishing with grace. His playing technique was fluid, and the legendary Pele once called him the best player he’d ever seen.

6. Garrincha Notable Teams: Botafogo

Garrincha fooled with defenders with his signature dribbling, which allowed him to change directions effortlessly. The Brazilian’s aptitude was enhanced by the fact that he had to deal with physical problems.

He had a malformed spine, a longer right leg that curved inwards, and a shorter left leg that bent outward. He also suffered a genetic disease that damaged his hamstring muscles and caused his right leg to be amputated at the age of two. Despite his physical limitations in his legs, Garrincha’s ball control and unpredictable style made him one of the most graceful wingers of all time.

5Zinedine Zidane

Notable Teams: Juventus, Real Madrid

Few players have combined strength and grace like Zinedine Zidane. His ball control was fantastic, his turns were fluid, and his technique, whether plucking a ball from the sky or hitting a volley, was immaculate.

While not the most flamboyant player on this list in terms of gimmicks and showboating, Zidane made the game appear simple. He excelled at all aspects of the game. His ability to navigate in small areas, particularly with his characteristic roulette, made him appear to be floating across the pitch. The Frenchman is one of just nine players in history to win the Ballon d’Or, Champions League, and World Cup.

4Ronaldo Nazario

Notable Teams: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan

Ronaldo Nazario, the original Ronaldo, was a natural powerhouse with incredible footwork and technique. His full-speed dribbling was unrivalled, and he executed step-overs and body feints with ease.

Whether at Barcelona, Inter Milan, or Real Madrid, he made defenders look helpless with his silky abilities. The attacker, nicknamed “O Fenomeno” in his native Brazil, altered the public’s view of what a number nine should look like. This has resulted in forwards who are more of a full package in today’s game, rather than a ‘fox in the box’ as they were in the 1980s and 1990s, for example.

While he enjoyed displaying his skills, they always appeared natural and were not forced, which is why he was so effective. Unfortunately, terrible luck with injuries hampered his career, but there’s little doubt he could have remained at the top of his game for as long as he wanted.

3Diego Maradona

Notable Teams: Barcelona, Napoli

Diego Maradona didn’t just dribble past players; he danced around them, displaying little of the skill that modern players strive for in a one-on-one situation. It was all about natural dribbling speed, agility, and ball control. His legendary runs, such as the “Goal of the Century” against England in the 1986 World Cup, demonstrated his ability to glide across the pitch and around opposing players with ease, even with defenders hacking at his heels.

The Argentine’s close control was unusual and rare. Perhaps Lionel Messi is the closest modern-day player to replicating his dribbling style, given that both have represented Argentina and are left-footed.

2Ronaldinho

Notable Teams: Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG

Few players have ever played as joyfully and smoothly as Ronaldinho. His initial touch, flicks, and surprising dribbles were pure magic, embodying everything that Brazilian football was and continues to be about.

He could pull off the impossible, whether it was elastico dribbling, sombrero flicks, no-look passes, or smooth lobs over goalkeepers. Watching Ronaldinho play was similar to watching freestyle football during a competitive match. What made him even more unique was his ability to perform at such a high level. He was a defender’s nightmare since the only person capable of stopping Ronaldinho was himself.

1Pele

Notable Teams: Santos

Pele, probably the greatest footballer of all time, takes the top spot. The Brazilian made football look natural; his dribbling, passing, and finishing were all effortless qualities that you can’t teach. He was naturally gifted.

He did not rely on superfluous flair, like many Brazilian players do nowadays. Everything he did was purposeful, but it all appeared to be so simple. Granted, it’s tough for young football fans to understand just how amazing Pele was at football, especially given the scarcity of games on tape back then. However, when conversing with some of the older football fans, they will tell you that he was head and shoulders above everyone in his period.