Soccer playmakers can be key players of a team. They provide a link between midfield and attack, thus making chances for the forward players. As such, soccer playmakers are usually attacking midfield players who have creativity, flair, and an eye for goal. Such players often wear the number 10 shirt in teams. Here are a few of the great soccer playmakers.
Zidane is probably the best soccer playmaker of recent times. Playing for France, Zidane was a key player of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team. Here, he scored two goals in the final, which won the game. In addition to this, Zidane won the European Championship with France. In 2006, Zidane also inspired France to the final of the World Cup and was given the World Cup Golden Ball.
At the club level, Zidane played for top European clubs such as Juventus and Real Madrid. With Madrid, he won the Champions League and La Liga titles. As a playmaker, Zidane slotted neatly into midfield and linked up with the front players.
There have been few better playmakers than Holland’s Cruyff. In 1974, Cruyff was the playmaker of Holland’s total football team that reached the World Cup final. In addition to this, Cruyff played for Ajax at club level, where he won three European Cups. Overall, Cruyff was a very quick player and had great vision.
Maradona was one of the finest playmakers in the FIFA World Cup. Playing for Argentina, Maradona inspired his team in the 1986 World Cup with four goals. His goal against England in the quarter-finals is regarded as one of the best to have been scored. Maradona was the best player of the 1986 World Cup and received the Golden Ball.
At the club level, Maradona played most of his soccer for Napoli, where he won the Italian Serie A title with the club, as well as the UEFA Cup. Maradona could dribble the ball at great speeds, which he did to score Argentina’s second goal against England. Equally, Maradona’s great passing usually found and assisted forward players to score goals. Aside from this, Maradona was also great with free kicks.
Zico was one of the great Brazilian soccer players. He played in three World Cups in the late 1970s and 1980s. Although he did not win the World Cup with Brazil, he was the playmaker of some great Brazilian teams, such as the 1978 team, which finished third in the World Cup, and then in the 1982 World Cup, where Zico scored four goals. Scoring a total of 52 goals for Brazil, Zico was a playmaker who scored plenty of goals, was a great dribbler, and was also great with free-kicks. Overall, Zico was one of the world’s best players in the early 1980s.
These were four of the great soccer playmakers. Zico, Zidane, Cruyff, and Maradona were fine players who scored goals as well as assisted. Such players have been some of the best in the World Cup.
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