Technology has evolved and with that so too has football. Players are becoming fitter, stronger and more durable, as sports scientists across the globe strive to find the formula that breaks barriers and enables an individual to become the perfect footballer.
It's a big ask and we've undoubtedly got a long while to wait until we see our first 'artificially' created player; that said, we've seen enough talent over the years to craft our own imaginatively.
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Here I cast my eye over the potential blueprint for the 'perfect footballer' - an amalgamation of players excelling in different areas of the game. What would this individual have exactly?
The Pace of... Gareth Bale
Just under four years ago, the Welshman was clocked sprinting 40 km/h in a game against Villareal, which equates to nearly 25mph, just 2 mph behind Usain Bolt's world record pace. There are plenty of other candidates for this position but, with the ball at his feet, there is countless evidence to suggest that Bale is the fastest footballer on the planet.
So not only does he have acute agility, a fine eye for goal and good movement on his side, but he's also a speed demon on the ball. He's been recorded as 3 km/h faster than Ronaldo and could apparently run the 100m in 11.4 seconds as a 14-year-old.
The Vision of... Mesut Özil
In the last campaign, the German was phenomenal in pulling the strings in Arsenal's midfield. The 28-year-old finished the season having made a remarkable 19 assists, one shy of the most goals created in a single Premier League season. Not only that, the former Real man made significantly more key passes than any other player in the division with 125.
Whilst other players may match him on his overall passing ability or one-twos, no player levels with Özil when it comes to the ability to pick a player out, especially with long passes or through balls.
The Tackling of... Claude Makelele
An influence so prominent that he’s had a position named after him, Claude Makelele remains one of the greatest defensive midfielders in Premier League history. During his five years at Stamford Bridge, the French midfielder made a total of 114 tackles at a success rate 82%.
He was the catalyst in an evolving Chelsea team, so efficient in breaking down opposition attacks, that the ‘Makelele role’ was born and the former Nantes man changed the way midfielders play. Any ‘perfect footballer’ would sorely need his tackling ability.
The Temperament of… Gary Lineker
Not only does Gary Lineker boast accolades such as having scored the most goals in FIFA World Cup finals for England, but he’s also renowned as one of the most disciplined footballers of all time. Most notably, the Englishman was never cautioned by a match official nor did he ever receive a yellow or red card.
In 1990, the year Lineker was a vital component of England’s second most successful side, he even won the FIFA Fair Play award. The former Leicester forward and media personality embodied a cool head in front of goal and in duels.
The Heading of… Cristiano Ronaldo
When Cristiano Ronaldo broke the 500 career goals barrier back in 2015, statistics were leaked left-right-and-centre about how the Portuguese star had achieved such a feat and a breakdown of his goals was swiftly published. For many, one of the most glaring facts was that as many as 83 of his goals had come from headers, surprising for a man renowned mainly for his superb speed, dribbling and right-foot finishing.
Odd then that, of all the categories on this list, CR7 tops heading, right? Well, the Portuguese actually oozes strength and physicality on the ball and has compensated for a slight dip in fitness, by virtue of ageing, by focusing more on developing an intimidating aerial threat and he’s now one of the most feared frontmen not only from distance, but in the box at set-pieces too.
The Physicality of... Patrick Vieira
It was, coincidentally, Vieira himself who criticised Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for lacking “the physical presence [and] the personality” and there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that the Gunners haven’t had true physicality at the heart of their midfield since the Frenchman left the club.
In his time in North London, the Frenchman made over 300 Premier League appearances and in every single one exhibited superb stamina and great strength both on and off the ball. The ‘perfect footballer’ would require the ability to shrug off an opponent when in possession, but equally be able to put in a solid tackle or outmuscle a player when trying to regain it.
Vieira won 107 duels during his time with Arsenal, making 98 recoveries and winning 25 aerial battles, reiterating that, overall, he was the driving force between one of the most formidable teams to ever grace England’s top flight.
The Leadership of... Franz Beckenbauer
Following a poll carried out by ESPN in 2014, Franz Beckenbauer was voted as the greatest captain of all time, ahead of the likes of Roy Keane and Carlos Puyol, and rightfully so.
Dubbed ‘Der Kaiser’ or ‘The Emperor’, Beckenbauer was always a natural leader on the pitch, captaining West Germany to respective World Cup (1974) and European Championship (1972) trophies, apart from guiding Bayern Munich to three successive European Cups.
In what was later described as ‘the game of the century’, a World Cup semi-final between West Germany and Italy, Franz Beckenbauer was dealt a blow 20 minutes from full-time when he dislocated his shoulder in a collision. Many expected his game to be over, but no, the German soldiered on through to the end of normal time and an additional thirty minutes of extra time, with his arm fixed to his body by tape. It was a remarkable sight and the perfect demonstration of his determination, focus and born leadership.
The left foot of... Lionel Messi
The diminutive Argentine’s legs are so valuable that he insured both of them for a rumoured €550 million, which breaks down to a yearly payment of €300,000 to €400,000. For years now, it’s been the left foot of Lionel that has guided Barcelona to unprecedented success.
As of December 2016, Messi had scored 530 goals for club and country in all competitions, as well as having made 223 assists, having won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns in the process.
Whether it’s a delicate chip over an onrushing goalkeeper, a blistering strike from distance or a sublimely slotted-away spot-kick, Messi always finds a way of working the magic with his left foot, leaving pundits and journalists alike speechless, and lacking the superlatives to describe one of the finest talents world football has even seen.
The right foot of.... Dennis Bergkamp
Despite being primarily right-footed, Dennis Bergkamp possessed the versatility to play anywhere across a team’s frontline. In 11 years at Arsenal, the ‘Non-Flying Dutchman’ bagged 120 goals, rising to prominence especially under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger.
His spectacle of a strike against Newcastle in 2002 is regarded as one of the best goals the Premier League has ever seen, as Bergkamp flicked the ball over defender Niko Dabizas and dispatched the chance calmly into the bottom corner.
The Dutch delight’s formidable combination of flair and confidence supplied him with expert ball control, technique and finishing and he is regarded as one of the Netherlands’ greatest talents of all time.
