Football, like any other modern-day sport, has undergone a sea of changes as it evolved over the years. Fans of different generations vouch for their favourite players as the best of all time.

The likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been fan favourites and are some of the prime contenders for the title of King of Football.

Brazilian legend Pele had set the benchmark early with three football World Cup wins out of the four he played from 1958 to 1970. He netted close to 700 goals for club and country to leave his legacy on the game. With such incredible records to his name, the title of King of Football is most often associated with the legendary Pelé.

Later, Diego Maradona received similar adulation from the fans as he single-handedly took Argentina to the pinnacle of World Football in 1986 captaining the team to a World Cup win. He was known more for his dribbling prowess as he cast a spell on defenders to wriggle away with the ball.

The late 1990s saw the emergence of players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho who left their mark on the field with spectacular performances.

However, it has been a two-horse race in the 21st century with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo pushing each other to bring out their best. 

Messi, who could not replicate his performances at Barcelona with the Argentina national team, has struck gold lately in the blue and white stripes. He first won the Copa America trophy in 2021 with Argentina before achieving ultimate glory with a FIFA World Cup win in 2022.

Messi finished as the joint top-scorer and shared the Best Player award with Brazilian Neymar in the 2021 continental championship. He also won the Golden Ball for the Player of the Tournament at the 2022 World Cup. 

Another title at the Copa America 2024 will make it three international titles in a row for Argentina and Messi, cementing his place as the King of Football. With a career spanning 20 years, 8 Ballon d’Or trophies, four FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and more than 600 goals, Messi has reached the zenith of the beautiful game.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a revelation with the most international appearances and goals scored by any player in the history of the game. He has played in top European clubs in Portugal, England, Spain and Italy winning a total of five UEFA Champions League titles, seven league titles and five Ballon d’Or awards among others.

Ronaldo won the Euro 2016 title with Portugal but is yet to win a World Cup with the side. In the 2022 World Cup, he became the first player to score in five World Cups and his presence in the UEFA Euro 2024 has made him the only player to have played six European Championships. 

With close to 700 goals and 21 years of professional football behind him, Ronaldo has pushed all limits of fitness and longevity in a tough physical game.

World Football will soon see the passing of the baton from Messi and Ronaldo to the next generation of stars, like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, who are in line to be crowned the world’s best.

Photo credit: Alamy

While football is all about putting the ball into the back of the net, most fans would agree that watching players perform skills with the ball at their feet is very entertaining to watch and comes as a close second to the art of goal-scoring.

At the end of the day, football has a lot to do with entertainment and those players that tend to perform skills with the ball at one’s feet courtesy of mazy dribbles and smart flicks tend to endear themselves to fans a lot easier than others.

After all, who doesn’t love to see skillful players leave opposition players floored with their quickness of thought coupled with unerring execution of skill moves that not all talents are capable of pulling off.

Many players have become synonyms with their skill moves. Some moves have even been christened with the player’s name who has been associated with it the most. 

One such example is the Cruyff turn which has been immortalised by Netherlands legend Johan Cruyff. The Cruyff turn basically is a dummy move where the initiator of the skill move pretends to pass or shoot only to fake the action by dragging the ball behind their standing feet to get away from defenders.

Similarly, the skillful panenka penalty is named after Antonin Panenka after he was the first to try and dare chip a penalty straight down the middle of goal in a shootout.

Brazilain Ronaldo, meanwhile, is known for his stepovers while Ronaldinho is the master of the elastico where he drags the ball in both directions in one motion with his right foot.

Zinedine Zidane’s famous Marseille turn is another move synonymous with the legendary Frenchman, while the Rabona kick is a skill move generally associated with South American talents.

Such flair players are considered the soul of football and in the modern-day era, the likes of Neymar, Vinicious Jr, and Lionel Messi are some of the great dribblers.

Neymar, in fact, is considered the King of the Rainbow Flick. However, judging who is the best skilled player in football history is purely subjective and left up to debate.

That said, here are the top five players who the majority of fans believe to be the most skilled players to have ever graced the game.

Best skilled player in football

Ronaldinho

Brazil legend Ronaldinho is considered by most as the best skilled player in football. In his prime and when in the mood, no defender would touch Ronaldinho as he dazzled the world with what seemed like magic on his boots. His tricks and flicks with the ball coupled with his mesmeric close control made him a nightmare for opposing defenders. He could also run at great speed with the ball stuck to his feet, which is a hallmark of all great dribblers. Furthermore, his chest control and ability to use practically any part of his body to bamboozle defenders made him the most entertaining dribbler to watch.

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane wasn’t just an imposing and physical presence at the heart of midfield, he was also extremely gifted when it came to dribbling as well as close control. As already mentioned, Zidane’s trademark Marseille turn left plenty of defenders for dead during his playing days. He could also run through the heart of midfield while dribbling beyond players and had exceptional close control which meant that opposing players had to resort to fouls more often than not to dispossess him.

Pele

There’s a school of thought that fervently believes that irrespective of what skill we see today, Pele was the first to execute it on the football field. A three-time World Cup winner, Pele is considered the greatest player of all-time. He scored several goals for Brazil during his time with the national team but when looked at closely, it can be asserted that Pele was a pioneer of outrageous dribbling. This can be said with good reason as there’s genuine video evidence that suggests Pele did moves like the Cruyff turn, stepovers and even the elastico before they became famous in the mainstream.

Lionel Messi

The modern-day GOAT there seems to be nothing that Lionel Messi isn’t capable of achieving on the football field. A one-of-a-kind dribbler who can get out of the tightest of spaces with the drop of a shoulder, sometimes it seems like the ball is literally glued to Lionel Messi’s feet. Capable of singlehandedly running with the ball from his own half and beating several defenders on his en route to finding the back of the net, Lionel Messi’s ability with the ball remains unparalleled in the modern era.

Diego Maradona

Before Messi became Argentina’s favourite son, a certain Diego Armando Maradona was dazzling fans and opposition players alike with his incredible footwork. The epitome of what a flair player is all about, Maradona could do it all and was different from his contemporaries, starting from the way he warmed up to how he played the beautiful game. Way before Messi, it was Maradona who ran with the ball glued to his feet from his own half and went past numerous England players prior to dribbling the goalkeeper as well and scoring into an empty net. A true maverick of the game, Diego Maradona will feature in most fans�?top picks for best skilled players in football.

Photo credit: Alamy

What is the best attacking trio in football history is a question fiercely debated among football fans. While football teams play with different attacking strategies and deploy varying tactics depending on their manager, some of the best offences in football history have featured attacking trios. 

Some managers prefer to go with two strikers up front serving as target men with midfielders and fullbacks providing the width, while others go with one striker up front. However, most of the successful teams in football history have more often than not deployed attacking trios, giving rise to the question: what is the best trio in football history?

A football attacking trio with good chemistry between themselves has been a long-existing and tried-and-trusted formula in the sport. An attacking trio features one centre forward and two attack-minded players in the wide areas operating from either side.

From the the Brazilian national team of yesteryear where Pele, Jairzinho and Tostao took up the duties of going forward, to the modern day iconic tridents of Messi-Suarez-Neymar at Barcelona and Benzema-Bale-Ronaldo at Real Madrid - football fans have seen plenty of explosive attacking trios over the years. 

Here we look at some of the best trios in football history which gave opposition defences nightmares while on the pitch. 

Best trio in football history 

MSN

With the purchase of Luis Suarez after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Barcelona assembled an attacking trio that ripped defences apart for fun. The Uruguayan frontman joined the company of Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, bringing together one of the best trios in football history. 

Between the three of them, Messi, Suarez and Neymar scored 364 goals between themselves from the beginning of the 2014-15 season until Neymar Jr left Barcelona, bringing an end to the trio in 2017. 

They won the coveted treble in their first full season under Luis Enrique in 2014-15, scoring 122 goals between themselves. 

BBC

Another trio that was in full swing during the same time period as MSN was Real Madrid’s BBC, consisting of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

In their first full season together, the trio scored 97 goals between them and went on to win the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in 2014. This attacking trio won four Champions League titles in five seasons as well as two league titles. 

RRR

Among national teams, the combination that gets the most attention in recent years is Brazil’s famed trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, referred to as the ‘Three Rs of football�? They are often regarded as the best trio in football history, with each player showcasing unique flair, unparalleled quality and skill in the team. 

Their exploits helped Brazil win the FIFA World Cup in 2002, where they scored 15 goals between themselves. They also won the Copa America in 1999, scoring a combined 11 goals.

Photo Credit: Alamy

Brazilian great Ronaldinho's lawyers are hoping the former world player of the year will be allowed to go home after more than two months of detention in Paraguay over a forged passport.

"We're hoping to convince the prosecution to allow Ronaldinho and his brother to return to their country. We can do nothing but wait for the investigation to end," a source told AFP.

Former Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star Ronaldinho and his brother, Robert de Assis Moreira, are facing up to five years in jail if convicted.

The brothers spent more than a month behind bars after they were accused of entering Paraguay in possession of false passports.

The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner and his brother posted bail of $1.6 million and have been under house arrest at the plush Palmaroga Hotel in the historic centre of the Paraguayan capital Asuncion since April 7.

The public prosecutor has six months to investigate the case, and has ordered the arrest of 18 in connection with it.

"There is not one single serious proof that incriminates him," Rogelio Delgado, president of Paraguay's footballers union told AFP.

"Although he has a luxury prison, it's very unfair that he's still being detained," added Delgado, a former Paraguay international.

The 40-year-old Ronaldinho has been keeping a low profile since being released from behind bars, not least because of coronavirus lockdown measures.

"I was completely caught off guard when I found out that these passports were not valid," Ronaldinho told Paraguayan newspaper ABC last month in his only public statement since his release.

Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was crucial in Brazil's 2002 World Cup win.

He and sibling Robert - who is also his business manager - initially encountered no problems after arriving in Asuncion from neighbouring Brazil on March 4.

However, shortly after their arrival, the pair were taken into police custody when investigators raided their hotel following the discovery that their passports were fake.

Ronaldinho, given a rock star's welcome to Asuncion by around 2,000 children and teenagers, said the documents had been given to him by sponsors of a charity working with disadvantaged children.

The investigation has since expanded into a case of possible money laundering.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Norberto Duarte

Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho has said that his arrest and subsequent house arrest in Paraguay for using a false passport was "a very hard blow".

"I would never have imagined myself in such a situation," said the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker in an interview with the Paraguayan newspaper ABC.

Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira are accused of entering Paraguay in possession of false passports.

"I was completely caught off guard when I found out that these passports were not valid," Ronaldinho said in his first public statement since his arrest two days after arriving in Asuncion at the beginning of March. 

After more than a month behind bars, the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner and his brother paid bail of $1.6 million (1.48 million euros). Since April 7 they have been under house arrest at the Palmaroga Hotel in the historic centre of the Paraguayan capital.

Read | First footage of Ronaldinho playing futsal in prison is out

Ronaldinho said he hopes to be released "as soon as possible" after cooperating with the Paraguayan police investigation.

"We came to participate in the launch of an online casino and the publication of my autobiography with the company in charge of exploiting the rights for Paraguay," he said. 

He said he was originally scheduled to be back in Brazil on March 7 for his son's birthday. 

"The first thing I would do once I leave Paraguay is to go and give my mother a hug and then digest what this situation has generated," said Ronaldinho, who turned 40 on March 21.

Ronaldinho and his brother face up to five years in prison if found guilty.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Norberto Duarte

A Paraguayan judge on Tuesday ordered the release of Brazilian football great Ronaldinho and his brother into house arrest while they await trial on charges of using false passports to enter the country.

Judge Gustavo Amarilla told reporters that he had ordered the "continuation of house arrest in a hotel for Ronaldinho and his brother."

The pair were jailed one month ago to await trial, but their lawyers have posted bail of $1.6 million.

Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was a star of Brazil's 2002 World Cup win and played for European giants Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, among others.

The ruling means the brothers can swap their grim police cell block -- which has also housed Paraguay's former soccer federation chief and the ex-speaker of the lower house of parliament -- for a plush colonial-style hotel in downtown Asuncion.

Read | Prison where Ronaldinho is held are hosting futsal tournament

The brochure of the refurbished 107-room Palmaroga Hotel, located in the capital's historic center, describes it as offering "a seamless blend of early 1900s Renaissance grace and modern comfort as well as luxury."

"I have the assurance of the hotel managers that they, at their own expense, can observe house arrest there," Amarilla told a news conference.

Paraguay's appeals court last month rejected a request to release the pair, meaning the two-time world player of the year spent his 40th birthday behind bars.

With Paraguay's capital on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the judge communicated his ruling in a cellphone call to the brothers, with prosecutors and defense lawyers -- and TV cameras -- present. The judge and many others wore face masks as a precaution against the virus.

A beaming Ronaldinho, in a black T-shirt and matching headband, gave a thumbs up sign to show he understood the terms of his release.

- 'Fake passports' -

He and his brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira -- who is also his business manager -- initially encountered no problems after arriving in Asuncion from neighboring Brazil on March 4.

However, shortly after their arrival, the brothers were taken into police custody when investigators raided their hotel following discovery that their passports were fake.

Read | First footage of Ronaldinho playing futsal in prison is out

Ronaldinho, given a rock star's welcome to Asuncion by around 2,000 children and teenagers, said the passports had been given to him by sponsors of a charity working with disadvantaged children. 

Fourteen other people have been charged in the case, which has expanded into an investigation into possible money laundering.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the Paraguayan businesswoman in charge of the charity foundation that invited Ronaldinho.

He proved a popular inmate of the police headquarters jail where he was held, donating a trophy to the winning team in a recent prisoners' futsal tournament.

Feature iamge courtesy: AFP / Norberto Duarte

There was a time when Ronaldinho used to terrorise the opposition defence with ease. But days have changed. Packed stadiums have now turned into prison cells, inmates have replaced the famous defenders and instead of being filmed by the biggest sports channels, he is being recorded in mobile phones from a distant angle. The only thing that is still the same is his ability to mesmerise anyone with the ball and that alluring smile that the world is so fond of.

After being caught by the Paraguayan police with fake passports, Brazilian legend Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira are serving their sentence in a jail where the former Ballon d'Or winner was nominated to participate in the bi-annual prison futsal tournament. Ronaldinho is yet to feature in the tournament, but he did give his inmates a glimpse by playing an exhibition match.

The first picture of Ronaldinho playing football in a Paraguayan jail has been released. I still can't believe it. His team won the game 11-2. Ronaldinho scored 5 goals & assisted 6.

Iconic. pic.twitter.com/IPN4AErAw1

�?FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 14, 2020

The World Cup winner was clearly the chief attraction of the day at Agrupacion Especializada because he is RONALDINHO. He scored five and assisted six in an 11-2 scoreline. In a video, Ronaldinho was seen casually flicking the ball behind to an assuming teammate who is probably not on "Ronaldinho wavelength" yet.  

Football postponed everywhere but Ronaldinho is playing while in jail in Paraguay. This should be live on Sky & BT.#Brazil ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/j66t6IBtjZ

�?Barry Anderson (@BarryAnderson_) March 14, 2020

According to the sources, Ronaldinho did begin his time behind the bars in a gloomy mood but after a while, he was seen signing T-shirts and drinking alcohol with his prison-mates. Earlier this week, he was tested for coronavirus too. The situation, however, is getting darker for the footballer from this point on as he is being linked to a money-laundering scheme as well, but the investigators are not sure if Ronaldinho was aware of it.

Ronaldinho chilling signing autographs and drinking alcohol in a Paraguayan prison.

Still have no idea how one of the most famous men in Brazil thought he could get into Paraguay with a fake Paraguayan passport. pic.twitter.com/QqfnXBYC8m

�?Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) March 11, 2020

As per reports, the former La Liga superstar was given the passports by a businesswoman named Dalia Lopez who has links to both the Brazilian and Paraguayan politicians. He was supposed to be a part of a charity event held by Angel Brotherhood Foundation, which is presently suspended. In the wake of things, Ronaldinho might have to serve around six months to five years behind the bars.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Norberto Duarte

Ronaldinho's arrest in Paraguay - for entering the country with a fake passport - has taken a hilarious turn.

The former World Cup winner with Brazil was detained by the Paraguayan police on 5th of March for allegedly attempting to cross the borders with a fake passport. His brother Roberto de Assis Moreira was also caught and both have since been held captive in a cell in Agrupación Especializada. 

The 39-year-old, meanwhile, has taken to the prison life pretty smoothly as he was seen busy signing autographs and drinking liquor with his fellow inmates.

And no, this is not the funniest part. It is a mere stroke of luck that the bi-annual futsal tournament arranged by the Paraguayan police department is here and the department has deemed Ronaldinho fit to participate in the tournament. It is said that the competition is staged every six months and this year's edition was planned before Ronaldinho's arrest.

Following this announcement, all the captains of the teams were trying their best to sign him up, just like old days when the biggest clubs in the world wanted to see him in their rosters.

Ronaldinho chilling signing autographs and drinking alcohol in a Paraguayan prison.

Still have no idea how one of the most famous men in Brazil thought he could get into Paraguay with a fake Paraguayan passport. pic.twitter.com/QqfnXBYC8m

�?Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) March 11, 2020

However, playing against one of the most talented players to have graced the game is no simple task. So, the prisoners stipulated that Ronaldinho would be allowed to play, but he cannot score. A total of 194 inmates will be split into 10 different teams to participate in a 5v5 competition, which is chiefly recreational according to the police, and it will be rather fun to see him pulling off nutmegs against his opponents and still not scoring goals.

As far as the case is concerned, the court in Paraguay has refused his bail and rejected appeals for house arrest for both Ronaldinho and his brother.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Norberto Duarte

Football legend Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto have reportedly been arrested in Paraguay for using fake documentation in form of a passport. A third person, whose identity is yet to be unveiled, has also been taken into custody.

A 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, Ronaldinho arrived in Paraguay on Wednesday to attend a charity event and his passport was discovered by the officials in his hotel suite. It has been confirmed that both Ronaldinho and Roberto are free to move around their resort, but will remain there under the custody of the authorities. Furthermore, they are to report to the prosecutor’s office on Thursday.

"[Ronaldinho and his brother] are not being detained, they are still under judicial investigation and they have to testify. Then it will be decided whether they will be arrested or not," Paraguay's interior minister Euclides Acevedo told ESPN Brasil.

Acevedo further said that Ronaldinho and his brother are cooperating and are claiming that they were tricked by the third man arrested by the officials.

Ronaldinho and his brother have been arrested for entering Paraguay with fake passports.

His fake passport shows his correct name, birthplace, and birthdate, but it falsely suggests that he’s a naturalized Paragauay citizen. pic.twitter.com/x4qBTijJMQ

�?Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) March 5, 2020

“The documents are being analysed so their authenticity can be established. Two passports, a national ID document and mobile phones have been confiscated,�?read a statement from Paraguay State Prosecution Service.

"Ronaldinho and his brother said they had been invited to Paraguay by Nelson Belotti, owner of the Il Palazzo casino, and had been contacted by the representative of a foundation called Fraternidad Angelical about participating in some charity events.�?/p>

The passports found in the footballer’s room have their personal information listed as a Paraguayan citizen. The date of issue is slated as January 7, 2020, and is valid until 2025. Ronaldinho, as things stand, is without a Brazilian passport due to his prior involvement in environmental fine in his home country. The brothers were charged with illegally building a fish trap without a license in Brazil.

The brothers were charged with a £6.5 million fine and were asked to not leave the country by Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice. As it turned out though, Ronaldinho was eventually named Brazil’s ambassador of tourism late in the same year.