If you’ve played football at all at a higher level you can really appreciate how good these players are. My little bro played d1, then semi pro for a bit and he said each level you go up there’s a huge difference. I remember in college I played club soccer, and some of the guys were pretty good. One day though the d1 guys who were on the u20 US national team came and played with us, and they were just like 3-4 steps ahead in touch, thought process, and speed. There was two of them and they just ran circles around us. That’s why anyone who thinks they could do better than a professional player that is on the bench have no idea what they’re talking about because those guys that are on the bench, even on the worst teams, are just light years ahead of average players.

Bro is explaining football like a poet

That Van Persie goal is mind boggling

Too many people who never kicked a ball in their lives think they know ball because they see clips on the internet

It pains me when I realize that people will never know the fine motor skills on display when I grab a drink out of the fridge. Scanning over my shoulder to not miss a minute of the action on the TV, all whilst slaloming through my living room avoiding dangerous obstacles like the razor sharp edge of the coffee table, a very irritable cat, all at a rapid speed. Poetry in motion

Best part is they do all this instinctively

I'm 35, I play (Striker) and coach mens football at semi pro level - Even yesterday, I watched a video called "Neymar is a joke" and I replayed in slow mo a particular goal, where he dropped into a pocket of space between the DEF and CM's, received the ball, megged the CB and stuck it stop bins. After several replays, I found the movement that set him up for that sequence... He came to the ball, barely a yard of space, but it allowed him to
(A) Open up his body, giving defenders the impression he's going to pass wide or dribble wide
(B) 1st touch = kills ball. 2nd movement, he stepped to the ball like he was going to strike it but instead placed his foot in the spot next to the ball
(C) Defenders are now OPEN and CONFUSED  
(D) In doing that, the defenders responded by attacking the small space he created FROM THE YARD OF SPACE HE DROPPED INTO
(E) Execute. As the defenders attack him, he megs the CB, runs through to central of the box, strikes it top bin.

All started with COMING TO THE BALL, only a yard. But its the yard of space he played with to create the genuis sequence.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS

You know what's even crazier, its the fact that they don't even THINK about it before doing it, that's how fascinating the human mind is, when it learns how to do something it does it on autopilot.

This is so much fun....the wirtz part touched me man. That guy is working twice than his team mates with insane speed. Take a bow wirtz🥶

Bro is analysing football like an english teacher

Playing simple football is a God given gift.. no one can teach you.

the quality has increased

I've watched that Messi goal more times than I care to admit. His touch is crazy.

I think you know you are truly appreciative of the non-obvious things that make a player valuable to his squad when you can watch something like prime Messi era Barça and during many games can finish watching and realize Xavi or Iniesta or Busquets was the man of the match and they hadn’t scored a goal but Messi had a brace.
They were prime examples of subtly affecting the game at a high level.

The first touch, a great save, and a good through ball, all chefs kisses

Other old school and newer generation geniuses with great body movement, El Phenomeno R9, Deco, Bergkamp, Kaka, Eto'o, Ribery, Cristiano, Ronaldinho for body feints and disguised moves, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard for Volleys, newer players like Kroos and Modric. Suarez, Di Maria, Marcelo, Busquets, Iniesta, and Xavi, Xabi Alonso for long passes, Pirlo, Varane, Van Dijk, Ngolo Kante, Hummels, Alves, Carvajal, on precise defensive skills those were a few of the greatest in their positions whose game was highly based on their body movements mainly, and not as much their height or physical strength or speed alone.

Lovely! This is exactly the reason why Zidane playing football has been one of the most soothing sights ever - his class, his elegance, the way he uses his body and posture, that uncanny balance and silky touch... you would have a treat seeing him play in slow motion!

The video exactly shows what we can't express as a player and admirer of the game.

I started watching football with the Premier League back in 2014, and for the first few years my viewing experience was based mostly on the quality of goals being scored. But at a certain point I started noticing everything you pointed out in this video, thanks to highlight reels and good commentary, and realized just how crucial tactics and athleticism were in creating goal scoring opportunities. I honestly think that such an understanding of the sport is the key to truly appreciating it.

One of a kind video! Excellent discussion