“What makes a great football player?” » is a topic that many people in the world of football often ask themselves. What made Diego Maradona and Pelé different from the rest? As Cristiano Ronaldo Or Lionel Messi, how can I improve my game? Every great football player must possess certain qualities, but there is no foolproof method.
To be successful on the football field, you need a certain set of abilities and character traits. Athletes need a wide range of skills and qualities to succeed on the field and leave an impression. Becoming a great soccer player requires a multi-faceted approach, including technical skills and mental toughness.
A career in professional football is a goal that hundreds of thousands of children strive for every day. And while courage and perseverance can take you far, the reality is that most kids won’t be up to the task. Even fewer children who start playing football at a young age will manage to earn a living as professional players, and even fewer will have the chance to represent their country in major tournaments.
Time and time again, contemporary football evolves. Every child should grow up knowing what it takes to become a professional athlete, because today’s players must be faster, stronger and more determined than ever before.
Most important attributes for a great footballer
Fitness
Regular training and coaching can improve a player’s speed and physical strength, but there is no denying that genetics play an important role. The level of competition in football is unprecedented, making strength in all areas of the body crucial. To play this sport professionally, you must have good general cardiovascular fitness, which you can acquire simply by playing and exercising regularly.
Modern games place a high emphasis on speed, strength, acceleration, agility, and raw power, which a player will innately hone during their formative years. Developing your technical abilities is of the utmost importance when you are young. Only when a person reaches a much older age, often beyond fifteen, can they focus on perfecting their basic fitness, speed and strength.
A player’s position determines the relative importance of physical characteristics. While creative midfielders and wingers rely heavily on speed and agility, strong, imposing and powerful central defenders are a must.
Technical
Many people around the world speak football, often considered a universal language. All football players are trained from A to Z by perfecting their technique, which is like learning a new language. To become a world-class soccer player, you must become an expert in three distinct technical areas.
- Having complete command of the ball and being able to direct its movement with your feet, legs, chest and head constitutes mastery and control of the ball.
- Maintaining full control of the ball when dribbling or sprinting involves going in various directions and speeds.
- Form and movement: the art of making the most of your body’s potential in all situations, with or without the ball, using your balance and coordination.
Tactical intelligence
These days, the ability to think tactically is more crucial than ever. There are a multitude of tactical abilities that a contemporary professional player needs, including marking, creating space, counter-attacking and team tactics.
While it’s a skill that can be honed with practice, the ability to judge when to pass and when to keep the ball is often what separates top club players from those who reach the pros.
As you would expect from top experts, they have excellent tactical awareness overall. These days, football is more than ever about strategy, so players who can’t handle pressure won’t stand a chance in the pros. Often the best football player must develop such attributes innately.
Balancing teamwork and leadership
You celebrate victories and suffer defeats as a football team. There have been several instances where a single individual could be cited as the sole contributor to a team’s triumph. Just as Diego Maradona and Pele have achieved great things for their teams and countries in the past, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are experiencing the same today.
But they would all admit that they would not have achieved this feat without the contributions of their teammates. Players must be able to perform at their highest level when playing as a team because, in general, teams perform better when their members work together in harmony.
Often, it’s the breakthrough performance of a single player that elevates the entire team. The play could be a fantastic tackle, a goal or a display of exceptional skill. No need to settle for less than your best; after all, others tend to pick up on the energy you put into it.
On the other hand, while it is true that “together we can achieve more” in football, the efforts of each player count for a lot, and leadership is a crucial trait for any successful football player, especially for the captains. In addition to setting an example on the field, you must be able to inspire and motivate your teammates.
A great football player develops qualities that make them better communicators. They know how to get their teammates’ attention and keep things brief. Each team member has their own way of leading and communicating. To be a great teammate, you don’t have to be the most outspoken player on the field.
Mindset
At the very elite level, football can be an extremely stressful situation. Playing football at a high level requires a certain mental strength. Being calm and collected under pressure is essential, as is the ability to get back up after a fall and keep trying.
As they progress, many gifted athletes give up. No matter how bad things go, the most successful athletes are those who are able to toughen up mentally and keep going until they reach their full potential.
PHOTOS: IMAGO