The history of football remains a hotly debated topic. While many claim that the game’s origins can be traced to Ancient China, others believe that it is a much more modern game. Whichever side of the argument you land on, one thing is certain; football as we know it today originated in Victorian England.
That means that football is over 150 years old, and in that time, the game has changed quite significantly. Some changes have come about as the result of mutual agreement. Some have occurred because certain players played the game so well, that others tried to imitate. In this article, we would like to focus on the football stars that changed the game forever.
Pele
Pele may not have been much of an innovator. But, he was exceptional in every aspect of the game. Indeed, he is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, being one of the two only people to receive a “Player of the Century” award.
To this day, Pele remains the record-holder for most career goals, with over 1000. He was a three-time winner of the FIFA World Cup, which certainly contributed to the tournament’s growing popularity. Indeed, today, the FIFA World Cup remains the most watched and most bet on even in sports history.
Betting on the World Cup has also attracted a lot of punters to football in general. If one were to take a look at the top betting sites, football would, without fail, be one of the most popular sports. Pele’s influence on the sport is what elevated the game to such lofty heights.
Diego Maradona
The only other player in football history to receive the “Player of the Century” award, Maradona was an incredibly creative midfielder and playmaker. While arguments about the skill differences between Maradona and Pele will continue to rage for all time, one thing is certain: Maradona is the more innovative playmaker.
Maradona was gifted with impeccable eyesight, an exceptionally high football IQ, and a lower center of gravity, which resulted in higher flexibility and agility. However, what made him an innovator was his incredible talent for creating new plays on the spot. It was that skill for improvisation that made it possible for Maradona to score a stunning solo goal against England during the 1986 World Cup; a feat that most fans remember to this day.
Johan Cruyff
The Dutch player spent the bulk of his career with Netherlands’ Ajax. Of course, he also played for the country’s national team, and today, is remembered as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. What made him exceptional is his adoption and promotion of “Total Football.”
Total Football is a playing philosophy, which dictates that each player must be skilled at every position. Cruyff exemplified this, as he was a monster on defense, offense, and in the center. While “Total Football” was not developed by Cruyff, it was he that made it popular worldwide.
Today, Total Football is not as popular as it was in the 20th century. However, there are still certain teams, especially in Spain, that buy into the philosophy. Perhaps the most popular and successful of these clubs is Barcelona, who took Total Football and adapted it to suit a more modern style of play.
David Beckham
The last player we are looking at is Manchester United’s most notable right winger. While he started his career with United, Beckham has also played with Real Madrid, making him one of the few players to perform for the two biggest clubs in the world today.
But, just how did Beckham change the game? We are all familiar with the phrase “Bend it like Beckham” today, primarily because of the film that bears the same name. The phrase comes from Beckham’s incredible free kicks, which bent the ball mid-flight.
Considered one of the best free-kickers of all time, many have attempted to emulate or outright imitate David Beckham’s kicks. While some have come close, nobody has quite managed to replicate his style entirely.
Apart from his incredible kicking abilities, Beckham was renowned for the spectacular range of his passes and crosses. It was these qualities that elevated his popularity in the football world. Today, he is remembered as one of Manchester United’s and Real Madrid’s greatest players.
