Ranking the top 7 left-footed footballers in the world right now

There’s nothing in the world that oozes class on a football pitch like a player with a golden left foot. Given the fact that almost 80% of all footballers are predominantly right footed, left footers are a rare breed in football.

There was a time when left-footed players were only meant to run through the left side of the field and cross the balls for others to head into the net. As such, they were mostly wingers and left backs, but with time, skillful left-footed players arrived, who did almost everything, from dictating the midfield to scoring fascinating goals. The modern aspect of the game saw a rise of the inverted wingers, which made left-footed players a rage.

Owing to their scarcity in the game and because of the fact that most people have a weaker left side, left-footed footballers have been extremely popular among the fans for decades. There is an inherent charm in left-footed players that cannot be defined in words and it has been evident through time. Football history has provided the world with some fascinating football players with an even more enticing left foot and the trend continues in the present day. Today, we take a look at the best 7 Left Footed Football players in the world right now, which includes 1 African, 3 Europeans and 3 Argentinians! Read on to find more!

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#7 Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)

The Egyptian phenomenon could not make his mark in the Premier League initially and had to relocate to Roma, first on loan and then on a permanent basis. Yet, the two seasons at Roma were enough for Liverpool to identify his potential and bring him back to the Premier League.

Since then Salah has lit up the footballing world and his first season at Liverpool was a huge success. He was instrumental in Liverpool’s stellar overall performance last season and had he not been forced off with an injury in the Champions League Final, it could have been an entirely different story. All the same, Salah still made it to the final three of the FIFA’s Best shortlist at the end of the season and it must be said that he has a fantastic left foot, which has often caused him to be labeled as the ‘Egyptian Messi’

Salah is quick, he works hard and has great ball control. He likes to come inside from the left, so that he can work the ball on his left foot and shoot on target. He has an excellent first touch and also likes to play short passes with his teammates near the penalty box to put himself through on goal. It was his left foot that scored the penalty which sent Egypt to the FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time in 18 years. Quite deservedly, last season, Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award, set the record for the most league goals in a 38 game season, was adjudged the Premier League Player of the season and won the Premier League Golden Boot. As of now, Salah has scored 36 goals from 53 appearances in the Premier League and 28 of those goals were from his left foot!

#6 Angel Di Maria (Argentina, PSG)

The Argentine winger is a paradox; on his day there are few players who can match up to his abilities, but lack of consistency has hurt his chances. He was the LaLiga top assist provider in the 2013/14 season during his time at Real Madrid, he won the Premier League Goal of the season in the 2014/15 season when he was playing for Manchester United and he was the Ligue 1 top assist provider in the 2015/16 season, appearing for PSG.

Di Maria was handed the iconic No. 7 shirt at Manchester United, and few would have argued against that decision, given the player’s phenomenal qualities. Unfortunately, the Argentine could not adjust to life in England, even after a fabulous start and shifted to PSG in Ligue 1. In the three seasons there, Di Maria has gone a long way to regain his LaLiga form. Last season, he was the Coupe de France top scorer and with a left foot like an angel, there are few things in a football pitch that his man cannot do.

Even though he is quite left-footed, Di Maria can play anywhere across the front three and has also worked very well in the midfield 3. Di Maria’s work ethics make him a fantastic prospect in a team and his speed and skills can unsettle even the best of defenders. He can spot a pass from a long way and has a very powerful tank in him, which enables him to accelerate very fast and leave the opposition behind. He was an important part of the Argentina Team which reached the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2014, but unfortunately, Di Maria was injured ahead of the semi-finals and was desperately missed in the finals against Germany.

Angel Di Maria has a left foot that can hit a 30-yard scorcher and also curl one into the top right corner and he is certainly one of the finest left footers in the football world right now.

#5 Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid)

France v Croatia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final

Griezmann has had a fine year so far - he won the Europa League 2017/18 with Atletico Madrid and the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France. He was a vital part of both of those trophy winning sides and is one of the best players in the world right now. He scored 19 goals and had 9 assists in the LaLiga last season, whereas in the Europa League he had 6 goals from 8 matches. He also scored 4 goals in the world cup and all 4 were scored with his left foot.

Griezmann likes to hold the ball and is very strong in his passing and through balls. He has a spectacular left foot and is a quick thinker who always influences the game. He can play in a various position and links very well with his forwards and the midfielders. His first touch is excellent, he is fast and he works extremely hard for his team. He is technically gifted and his left foot can unleash power as well as elegance with equal ease.

Having played into the Real Sociedad first team from their youth set-up, Griezmann has spent all of his club career in Spain, and he has embraced the Spanish culture in his game. The effervescence of the Basque region can be found in his play, as he mixes his inherent power with skills and this is what makes him one of the best left-footed footballers right now.

#4 David Silva (Spain, Manchester City)

The classy midfielder was always full of poise throughout his career, but under Pep Guardiola, has added a venom to his game that was not seen before. It has ultimately made him even more effective under Guardiola’s set up, allowing Manchester City to play with two creative players in the midfield. With De Bruyne’s unfortunate injury, Silva will be tasked with added responsibilities this season, but there should not be any problems – after all, Silva was voted as the best Spanish player in Premier League history in a poll by BBC, winning with 37% of the votes. He is another player with an enchanting left foot.

Silva is quick on the ball, but he isn’t a typical winger who runs like the wind through the sides. Silva likes to beat his marker with silky skills and the ball rarely leaves his foot or makes a bad turn when attached to his left foot. He likes to make runs from the midfield and is very capable in front of goals. His ability to control the tempo of the game, his composure and his recently acquired steel make him one of the best midfielders in the world.

His heartwarming account of how football consoled him during one of the hardest times of his life – his son was born premature and fought for 5 months in the hospital before recovering – will surely melt your heart. And with that left foot of his, David Silva certainly unites football fans world over in admiration.

#3 Mesut Ozil (Germany, Arsenal)

Cardiff City v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Mesut Ozil is more of an artist on the football field and he has the perfect companion for his art – a heavenly left foot. Last season, the German playmaker became the quickest player to reach 50 assists in the history of the Premier League and he is the only player in the history of football, who has topped the assists charts for the season in three European Leagues – Bundesliga, LaLiga and Premier League. That is what Ozil actually is, a selfless provider on the pitch and a master of setting up people.

Ozil likes playing as an attacking midfielder and might even come across as disinterested and lazy at times, but once provided with the ball, there are few people on the planet who can see a pass like him. He likes playing higher up on the pitch and works well with a prolific striker. He is always watching and devising plans to unfold once he gets the ball and can study the game very well. His technical ability is second to none and his passing range, his first touch and his vision make him very dangerous for the opposition. He links well with his midfield and can play across the front three and even though he is not known for his speed, he does have a brilliant turn of pace in him.

Mesut Ozil is a fantastic footballer and his left foot makes him a rare breed of playmaker that is hardly seen anymore.

#2 Paulo Dybala (Argentina, Juventus)

The man who is tasked with carrying Messi’s legacy forward is a star himself. Paulo Dybala, since moving into the Juventus set up from Palermo, has evolved into a fascinating prospect in world football and had one of the finest years of his career last season. However, he was underutilized in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as Argentina crashed out from the Quarterfinals.

An excellent dribbler of the ball, Dybala mixes his raw pace with his excellent technique and can be a menace for opposition defenses. He has excellent close control and is strong while protecting the ball from the opponents, qualities which has seen him rise and rise into one of the best players in the world right now. He is particularly effective in counter attacks, where his speed and skills enable him to skip past defenders and break offside traps with ease. He is fabulous with his passing as well and likes to set up his teammates as well as score himself.

Dybala’s versatility makes him very effective across the front three, but his preferred position is the right of the front three, where he can cut inside to his left foot and what an outstanding left foot this boy is blessed with! He is strong with his penalties and free kicks and also likes to curl the ball into the far corner from his left foot. Dybala is still only 24 years old and as such, will get even better, a scary prospect for the defenders, but if that left foot can get any better, the football world is in for a treat.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)

Left foot, right foot, two-footed players, count them all and Messi would still top this list. However, all of that is due to his magical left foot. Even for his astronomical club success, Messi’s lack of trophies with Argentina has been a sad part of his life for years now, but even the most staunch critics will agree that he still has the best left foot in the business. He is also the best dribbler in the world right now and even though he was fabulous last season, he was unfairly overlooked for the FIFA’s Best awards.

But Messi has displayed no frustration at the snub and has shown no signs of stopping either. If morning shows the day, this season could unfold further historic success onto the feet of the magician. Interestingly, Messi’s left foot contains tattoos of his first child’s handprint, his son Thiago’s name, and the legendary No. 10 along with a sword and a football and whether these add further superpower to his already mighty foot is unknown as of yet. But truth be told, Messi already had a left foot of legends since his breakthrough into the footballing world.

The magical Argentinian can lit up even the saddest hearts when he goes in an evading run through the opposition defenses. His incredible balance, his unearthly dribbling and his lightning speed make him the most feared footballer in the world. And with the ball in his left foot, Messi is the definition of endless possibilities. With the ball in his left foot, Messi makes the whole world stand up and take notice, because right at that moment, everything is possible.