Ranking the 25 Best Passers in World Football

It may be considered one of the most basic skills in football, but the ability to pass well is an art that few in the game can say they've really mastered.

Whether a player can send a raking long ball 40 yards across the pitch or put through a teammate with a simple slide-rule pass, the playmakers and trequartistas of world football will always be appreciated by fans and pundits alike.

Here the 25 best passers in the game today.

25. Andrea Poli

Club: Sampdoria

A young Italian with bags of potential, Sampdoria's Andrea Poli is a central midfielder with lightning-quick reactions and beautiful balance—attributes key to being a good passer.

Capable of dictating the flow of a game, Poli impressed many with his performances at Inter last season, and he has already been capped for his national team.

Are we witnessing the development of a possible successor to Andrea Pirlo?

24. Joe Allen

Club: Liverpool

Along with Leon Britton, Joe Allen helped develop former club Swansea City into one of the most attractive passing teams in Britain last season, consequently earning a recent move to Liverpool for his efforts.

The two pint-sized holding midfielders are geniuses in maintaining the shape and discipline of their team's midfield, and they regularly lead the league in passing accuracy.

If Allen continues to improve at this rate, he could well justify the £15 million fee Liverpool paid for his services.

23. Ryan Giggs

Club: Manchester United

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs is underappreciated for his passing ability.

With days flying down the left wing well numbered, the middle-aged veteran has found it necessary to develop other parts of his game, most notably that of his link-up play with his United teammates.

For proof of his skill, look no further than his defence-splitting pass for Michael Owen's 95th-minute winner in the September 2009 Manchester derby.

22. Ronaldinho

Club: Atletico Mineiro

Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho has always made the complicated look easy.

Since leaving European football in 2010, he has continued to impress with his playmaking skills in the Brazilian league—mixing the brash with the bold.

One of the trickiest players in the history of the game, Ronaldinho is still giving defenders nightmares.

21. Kaka

Club: Real Madrid

Forgetting the fact that his pace has almost gone, Kaka is still in the elite league of playmakers plying their trade in Europe.

The marginalised Real Madrid man still has the balance and vision that made him famous at Milan, even if he struggles to earn a place in Jose Mourinho's team.

There's a reason Manchester City once bid over £100 million for his signature (via BBC).

20. Sergio Busquets

Club: Barcelona

Sergio Busquets may be one of the most despised players in football, but such is his excellence in the holding midfield role for Barcelona. The position has almost been renamed the "Busquets role."

With some of the best teammates on the planet to pass to, one might be fooled into thinking the Spaniard's job would be made a lot easier.

But to help run the busiest midfield on the planet is no easy task.

19. Toni Kroos

Club: Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos has long been tipped as a future star for both club and country.

The German attacking/central midfielder not only finds the net on a regular basis, but he also sets up his teammates with crisp, accurate passing.

His vision and balance are exemplary, and they could be key to Munich's hopes of regaining domestic dominance from Borussia Dortmund this season.

18. Steven Gerrard

Club: Liverpool

Steven Gerrard was by far England's most impressive player at the recent European Championships.

His long-range passing was pinpoint, his vision superb.

Like many on this list, Gerrard is no spring chicken. But he has fine-tuned the skills already in his locker to adapt and thrive in today's modern game.

17. Shinji Kagawa

Club: Manchester United

Shinji Kagawa is fast becoming one of the kings of the trequartista role—his balance and movement giving him the edge over his unfortunate markers.

The Manchester United man has quickly been earning the respect of the Old Trafford faithful since his move from Dortmund, and he only shows signs of improving.

Not only can he thread a pass through the smallest of gaps to those in front of him, his link-up play with his back to goal is also exemplary.

16. Cesc Fabregas

Club: Barcelona

It's no coincidence that there are five Barcelona players on this list; the club has revolutionised the emphasis placed on the art of passing in football.

Since moving from Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas has slotted in nicely to the tiki-taka style.

His passing range has few equals in the game, as does his vision and balance.

15. Santi Cazorla

Club: Arsenal

Arsenal's impressive new recruit Santi Cazorla deserves a place on this list, but not only for his recent performances for the Gunners.

He has long been a regular in the Spanish national team, linking up with the world's best since 2008.

His movement off the ball creates space that he exploits mercilessly, whether playing an easy pass with his back to goal or threading a perfect through-ball to an on-rushing attacker.

14. Bastian Schweinsteiger

Club: Bayern Munich

German powerhouse Bastian Schweinsteiger is a no-brainer for this list.

His accurate passing and phenomenal reading of the game has long set him as one of the elite central midfielders in world football.

Schweinsteiger's club, Bayern Munich, will be glad he gave up a career in skiing as a teenager to pursue football (via The Mirror). Nobody who has seen him play could doubt his choice.

13. David Silva

Club: Manchester City

Manchester City's David Silva is the ultimate in versatile attacking midfielders.

Though defenders are rarely sure where on the pitch he'll turn up next, they can be certain in the fact that he's always looking for the killer through-ball to unlock a defence.

In 13th place, Silva kicks off a run of Spaniards in this list.

12. Andres Iniesta

Club: Barcelona

Andres Iniesta has often been described as the "complete footballer," praise that includes his fantastic vision and quick-passing abilities (via FourFourTwo).

His quickness in laying the ball off to teammates, always seeming one step ahead of play, gives him a constant edge over opponents.

His in-game understanding with Xavi is the type of partnership all managers dream of developing within their squad.

11. Juan Mata

Club: Chelsea

Raised at Real Madrid, developed by Valencia, Juan Mata is now showcasing his fantastic passing skills at Premier League side Chelsea.

Last season, he racked up 23 assists in all competitions, playing a major role in the Blues' march to Champions League glory.

He is truly bred in the Spanish style. The ball seems to belong at his feet.

10. Mikel Arteta

Club: Arsenal

Deep-lying midfielder Mikel Arteta has quickly become one of Arsenal's key players since making the move from Merseyside last summer.

Serving in a quarterback-esque role at the spine of the team's midfield, Arteta dictates the flow of the game with consummate ease.

It is little wonder he is one of the most effective players in British football.

9. Joao Moutinho

Club: Porto

Porto's Joao Moutinho is one of the most in-demand players in Europe at the moment.

At the Euros, he was a key component of the Portuguese team that was eliminated in the semis, stroking the ball around the middle of the park with consummate ease.

His small stature allows him great balance and agility—attributes needed to afford him a place amongst such illustrious company.

8. Wesley Sneijder

Club: Inter Milan

The equally world-class Wesley Sneijder earns his place here for his phenomenal long-range passing and delicate touch.

Aided by the fact his left foot is just as devastating as his right, the Dutchman's movement off the ball affords him as many touches on the ball as any on the pitch.

Without him, Inter Milan look like a far less effective team.

7. Mesut Ozil

Club: Real Madrid

Mesut Ozil racks up assists like Cristiano Ronaldo does goals.

The attacking midfielder set up 24 goals in all competitions last season; the season before, 25.

His ability to lay off passes in incredibly tight situations whilst also being able to pick apart a defence with a delicate touch makes him a worthy entrant into this list's top 10.

6. Luka Modric

Club: Real Madrid

Equally capable of playing in a deeper midfield role or in an attacking one, Luka Modric is one of the best players in world football in either position.

Like Sneijder, he can pass it with either foot, whilst his ability to read the pace of a game is near unparalleled.

His great absence in the Tottenham team this season has already been felt.

5. Xabi Alonso

Club: Real Madrid

It is no coincidence that Liverpool have looked like a shadow of their former selves since seeing Xabi Alonso depart in 2009.

But the Reds' loss has been Real Madrid's gain—the Spanish team utilising the incredible passing skills of the Spaniard to maximum effect in their revolution under Jose Mourinho.

His ability to control a game almost single-handedly makes him invaluable to his club.

4. Andrea Pirlo

Club: Juventus

The ultimate holding midfielder, Andrea Pirlo just makes passing look easy.

There are few blades of grass on the pitch that the Italian isn't able to pick out from great distance. His vision is as exceptional as any of his peers.

Just ask England how effective "l'architetto" is.

3. Xavi

Club: Barcelona

One of the greatest Spanish players of all time, central midfielder Xavi kicks off this list's top three.

He is able to create space with a flick of the boot, whilst spotting a teammate's attacking run before anyone else on the pitch.

His movement and ability to read the game sees him completely dominate opponents, covering all areas of the field without anyone getting anywhere close to him.

But he is not the highest-placed Barcelona player...

2. Lionel Messi

Club: Barcelona

...that honour falls to Lionel Messi—truly a complete attacking player.

Forget his goals, forget his dribbling abilities, Messi is the worthy runner-up on this list for his unbelievable passing and vision.

The Argentinian is able to lay the ball off or pick out a teammate whilst blitzing opponents with his lightning-quick pace.

As a "false nine," he draws a defence in before splitting them wide open with a perfect through ball in the true vein of a playmaker.

1. Paul Scholes

Club: Manchester United

But the best passer in world football has to be Manchester United's own Paul Scholes.

Rather than wax superlatives about the "Ginger Wizard," I'd rather recount a fantastic story told by teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to Sky Sports.

"

When we were in training I used to do a lot of tricks which hardly any of the players at the club could do. Once I was showing my skills to Scholes. After I finished it, Scholes took a ball and pointed towards a tree which was about 50m from where we were standing. He said "I'm going to hit it in one shot." He kicked it and hit the tree. He asked me to do the same. I kicked about ten times, but couldn't hit it with that accuracy. He smiled and left.

"

Surely anyone who can make Ronaldo look inferior is worthy of the No. 1 spot.

Who would you have in your top 25? Are there players who have been missed out, or do you disagree with the order?

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