Footballers are known for their physical attributes. Whether it’s lightning pace, superhuman strength or just plain old talent, most players reach the top as a result of years of training and conditioning.
However, there are also those footballers who can account their success more to their mental capabilities than their physical ones. With than in mind (no pun intended), let’s take a look at 9 of the best players who relied on their mind to reach the top of their game…
Andrea Pirlo
He does possess an incredible array of passing, but the true testament to Pirlo’s intelligent play was his move from AC Milan to Juventus in the summer of 2011, after the Roseneri opted against giving the then-32-year-old a new deal.
The former Italy international dropped even deeper whilst in Turin and used his role as playmaker to devastating affect, helping the Old Lady win four consecutive Scudetto titles and reach the Champions League final in his last season before moving to MLS.
Thomas Muller
Always popping up in the right place at the right time, even most Bayern Munich fans would admit that versatile front man Thomas Muller is not the most naturally talented footballer in Europe, yet he has made himself into one of the most prolific strikers of recent years.
The 27-year-old German international is an extremely effective player and he could well end his career as the top goalscorer in World Cup history. All this for a player who looks more accustomed to working on a Bavarian farm than playing at the Allianz Arena.
Cesc Fabregas
Already third on the all time Premier League assists chart despite spending three seasons at boyhood club Barcelona in between spells at Arsenal and Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas will go down as one of the finest creative midfielders of his generation.
Emerging as an outstanding teenager while at Arsenal, the Spanish international has let his quick footballing mind control his feet, allowing Fabregas to become a master at finding that killer pass.
Zinedine Zidane
One of the greatest footballers this generation has ever seen, there is no doubt that Zinedine Zidane was a simply brilliant player who let his feet do the talking, with the best example of this being his stunning volley in the 2002 Champions League final.
However, the current Real Madrid manager’s best attribute was arguably his footballing mind. The former French international’s audacity on the ball, vision and off the ball movement were just some of the byproducts of his incredible brain.
Juan Mata
There are many players of Juan Mata’s ilk; Mesut Ozil, David Silva and Andres Iniesta to name but a few, but the Manchester United playmaker is more dependant on his mental qualities than anyone else.
The Spanish international’s intelligence on the pitch is matched off the pitch as well. Not only did Mata study journalism whilst playing in the Real Madrid academy, he then took courses on both sports science and finance after moving to England with Chelsea.
Dennis Bergkamp
The fact that a striker who never really possessed speed even in the early years of his career could carry on playing at the highest level with Arsenal until the age of 37 tells you everything you need to know about the brilliance of Dennis Bergkamp.
A Dutch international at just 21, the former Ajax and Internazionale man established himself as a world class player after moving to north London and used his sensational footballing mind to perform near-impossible feats.
Andrea Barzagli
Long gone are the days where centre backs of Titus Bramble’s speed can still kick it in the top flight, yet Italian stalwart Andrea Barzagli’s obvious lack of pace has not deterred him from becoming one of the most reliable defenders on the planet.
The 35-year-old is a permanent fixture in both the Italian and Juventus back three and has made a hugely successful career for himself based on superb positioning and wonderful anticipation.
Xavi
The ability to pick out a pass from every single angle on the pitch is a skill that only a few footballers can claim to have. One of those is former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez, who left the Catalan club after 17 seasons to join Al Sadd in Qatar.
Spanish football most certainly misses the cultured midfielder, after entertaining crowds for nearly two decades with his intelligent play. It would be hard to imagine the success of Messi or Iniesta without the ingenious Xavi playing behind them.
Philipp Lahm
Dubbed as the most intelligent player Pep Guardiola had ever seen, Lahm’s footballing brain was more talented that the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Busquets in the eyes of the former Bayern Munich boss, which tells you something about the versatile German’s tactical astuteness.
A full back by trade but converted to a defensive midfielder by the Spanish boss, Lahm skippered Bayern Munich to treble success in 2013 and then Germany to World Cup glory in 2014. A tiny figure amongst physical freaks of nature, the 33-year-old makes up in mental muscle what he lacks in stature.
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