Top 11 Best Passers in Football History Ranked

The fascination with passing in football is far from a recent development. This admiration for the way players handle the ball and those who excel in this craft dates back to the first international match in 1872—long before possession statistics became a standard part of the game.

In that historic match, England was unexpectedly held to a goalless draw by Scotland at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick. Despite England's physical advantages in height, speed, and strength, Scotland's 'pattern-weaving' style of play allowed them to secure a clean sheet. This tactical approach was the precursor to the evolution of football strategies that eventually led to modern styles like tiki-taka, shaping how elite teams play today.

Over the next 150 years, football has seen an array of passing maestros. These modern-day heirs to the Scottish pioneers have emerged from all corners of the globe, highlighting the universal importance of the pass—the fundamental building block of any football match.

Ranking Factors:

• Assists: The final pass leading to a goal is often the most crucial in football.
• Influence: Top passers can dictate their entire team's play by how they distribute the ball.
• Accuracy: Pass completion rate, while sometimes misleading on its own, is a key metric when considered in context.
• Longevity: Mastery sustained over a long career is always more remarkable.
• Level: Standing out among the best players globally is the hallmark of a true legend.

11. Andrea Pirlo

1995–2017

Andrea Pirlo's extraordinary command of the football faced a real challenge at the end of the 2011/12 season. With Antonio Conte determined to complete an unbeaten league campaign, he couldn't afford to rest his deep-lying playmaker, even after Pirlo suffered a sprained right knee. Despite the injury, the masterful Italian took to the pitch, relying almost exclusively on his weaker left foot for four consecutive matches.

During that stretch, Juventus secured 10 points, with Pirlo maintaining an impressive 87% pass completion rate and creating 23 chances for his teammates, four of which resulted in goals. Perhaps the only way to truly stop Pirlo would have been to prevent him from using either foot.

10. Toni Kroos

2007–2024

Juan Roman Riquelme, the elegant Argentine number 10 known for his own exceptional passing ability, held Toni Kroos in the highest regard. He once called the German midfielder "the Roger Federer of football," admiring how Kroos effortlessly controlled the game.

"He can play, then go home without even needing a shower: he doesn’t sweat, doesn’t get dirty, doesn’t need to dive in."

Kroos' composure on the ball became legendary over the course of his illustrious career, which included an unmatched six Champions League final appearances. His assuredness in possession was even the subject of light-hearted jokes. After winning the 2023/24 La Liga title, Carlo Ancelotti jokingly expressed mock dismay to a reporter, noting that Kroos had missed a single pass in the previous match. "Tomorrow, we train," the Italian coach quipped with a grin.

9. Sergio Busquets

2007–Present

During Barcelona's golden era of tiki-taka football, the players communicated through their passes—each ball's direction, spin, and speed carried vital information. Sergio Busquets was the most fluent in this rhythmic language.

At first glance, Busquets—tall, gangly, and seemingly slow—didn't fit the typical image of an athlete. Yet few could control and distribute the ball with his finesse. As former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque famously remarked: "You watch the whole game, you don't see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game." This mesmeric minimalist, who won every major trophy for both club and country, was discovered by Pep Guardiola, the very player Busquets had idolized while growing up.

8. Zinedine Zidane

1989–2006

Zinedine Zidane was such a remarkably talented player that his exceptional passing ability often went unnoticed amid his array of otherworldly skills. With arguably the best first touch in football history, Zidane was known for his clutch performances in World Cup and Champions League finals, where he was defined by his decisive goals.

However, beneath the brilliance, Zidane's passing mastery is evident. He could deliver passes with precision using both the instep and outside of either foot, making him effectively "four-footed." Constantly surrounded by defenders, Zidane had to invent increasingly creative ways to distribute the ball to his teammates, who were always eager to return it to their number 10. As his French teammate Bixente Lizarazu once said, "When we don't know what to do, we just give the ball to Zizou and he works something out."

7. Mesut Ozil

2005–2023

Mesut Özil's effortless, languid style often led to misconceptions about his work rate, but he was a dedicated professional who covered more ground than many might realize. As a leading figure in the modern era of playmakers, Özil epitomized the new breed of midfielders who, despite their unassuming physical presence, excelled in creative roles across the front line.

No stage was too grand for the former Real Madrid and Arsenal star. Özil consistently topped the charts in assists across multiple major tournaments and leagues, including the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, Europa League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League.

Though his Arsenal tenure ended on a sour note, his impact at Real Madrid was deeply felt, as evidenced by the grief expressed by his former teammates after his departure in 2013. Xabi Alonso described him as "the perfect player," while Cristiano Ronaldo expressed concern, stating, "The sale of Özil is very bad news for me."

6. Michael Laudrup

1981–1998

Michael Laudrup earned a host of glowing accolades throughout his illustrious career, from being called a "magician" and a "dream" to being hailed as "the best player in history." Even Spain's King once dubbed him the "King of Spain."

The reverence for Laudrup stemmed from his exceptional ability to read the game. The Danish maestro had an unparalleled knack for identifying the smallest gaps in an opponent's defense, delivering passes that few could envision or execute. If anything, Laudrup's tendency to distribute the ball was so pronounced that it led Michel Platini to remark, "Michael had everything except one thing: he wasn't selfish enough."

5. Paul Scholes

1993–2013

Few players in football command as much admiration from their peers as Paul Scholes. The 11-time Premier League champion has earned extensive praise from legends like Zinedine Zidane, Xavi Hernandez, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Even the Brazilian star Ronaldinho expressed his admiration, saying, "I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?"

Scholes' remarkable ability with the ball was evident from the start, but for the first decade of his career, his focus was more on scoring than on creating chances. Old Trafford often reverberated with chants of "Paul Scholes scores goals." However, as Sir Alex Ferguson brought in more attacking foreign talent, Scholes adapted by shifting his role towards the center of the pitch, solidifying his place as one of the club's greatest academy graduates and earning the respect of footballers worldwide.