Lessons on How the World's Best Footballers Control the Ball

At its heart, away from the escalating transfer fees, increased corporate dealings and "brand" changes—looking at you Hull City Tigers (and also you Cardiff City with your red shirts)—football remains a simple game.

Twenty-two men, two goals, one ball, 90 minutes and one aim: To score more goals than your opponents.

To do just that, there is a vast array of tactics, styles, technical intricacies and what not at each side's disposal. In this internet age, all of these details are pored over for increasingly lengthy periods of time.

Yet one constant of football, for as long as it has been played, is the necessity to control the ball. It's a skill at which all professionals are proficient, no matter what technique is required to get the ball under their mastery. But when the world's best do it, it just looks that much...better.

Here’s a look at how some of the world’s top stars control the ball and the various techniques they use, no matter where they are on the pitch or how the ball arrives.

Some of it may look like simplicity, and controlling the ball with various body parts is arguably the most basic skill going. But while on its own it may appear basic, ball control can lead to some of the most brilliant moments football has to offer.

When Receiving

Before receiving the ball, it is vitally important for players to be aware of where they are and where they are going, ready for the chaos which will ensue immediately when they come into possession.

As such, it is crucial for players to find space in which to receive a pass, giving themselves greater time when the ball arrives. It allows time to think, and, if necessary, more time to stick your body between the ball and an opponent, or to dribble past them.

Players who find space extremely well through intelligent lateral and vertical movement include Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos and his German colleague and new Arsenal signing Mesut Oezil.

Nonetheless, perhaps the best proponent of finding themselves an optimum area away from others from where they can receive the ball, protect it with their body and subsequently either pick a pass is the Spanish World Cup winner, Xavi Hernandez.

Controlling with the Laces

One of the most basic controlling maneuvers, but one of the most difficult, is controlling the ball with the laces, when the foot is extended straight out.

The surface area when controlling isn't as great as it may be with the side of the foot, but when the ball is dropping out the air it sometimes isn't achievable to turn and open up your leg to control the ball with the inside of your boot. Thus, controlling the ball with the instep is often the best way to bring the ball under your spell when an aerial pass is coming towards you.

When the ball is dropping straight down, cushioning it with the laces should settle the ball right in front of the player, rather than between their feet, as such allowing them to continue moving in the direction they were headed prior to receiving possession.

That being said, perhaps the perfect embodiment of such control comes from the 1998 World Cup quarter-final between Netherlands and Argentina, and that great goal from Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp: His sublime touch with his laces allowed him to both continue moving towards goal and to engineer space in which to trick the defender, before firing past the goalkeeper.

And of course, he had previous experience.

This effort from Barcelona's Andres Iniesta isn't bad either.

Controlling with the Inside of the Foot

The inside of the foot is the safest method for ball control, due to its large surface area.

Again, the player receiving possession looks to cushion the ball into his path, and can manipulate the ball by turning the foot upon impact.

While it is easier than other controlling methods, it is important to keep the trapping knee over the ball and to slightly withdraw the foot upon impact, to ensure that the pace on the ball is "killed" and it doesn't ricochet away, leading to a challenge with an opponent.

Additionally, more advanced players will be able to manipulate the ball by shifting it as they bring it under their control, making the most of any space available to them. Controlling the ball with the instep allows a players to move the ball either in front of him or out to either side. In tight areas or under pressure this can prove invaluable.

One example of such control comes via Lionel Messi and his magnificent hat-trick goal vs. Brazil in 2012.

While the dribble and finish are truly outstanding and rightfully earn the plaudits, what makes the goal in the initial phase is his wonderful first touch. Look closely and witness exactly how he receives the ball with his right boot, shifts it a yard to tempt the defender in, before exploding past him with his second touch. The first touch creates the space and makes beating his man and the rest of the move possible.

Another magnificent—yet completely different—showing of control with the inside of the boot came from Peter Crouch, who used the technique to tee himself up to score a wonderful volley for Stoke City against Manchester City in the 2011-12 Premier League.

Controlling with the Outside of the Foot

This is perhaps the most difficult way to control the ball with the foot, due to the shorter surface area and also the different angle at which the controlling foot is stationed. But the principles of cushioning the ball into your path remain the same.

What makes controlling the ball with the outside of the foot effective is that—assuming you're capable—it presents a way of turning (or rolling) an opponent whom you may not be facing, allowing you to control the ball and evade a challenge all in one moment.

Additionally, it offers a way of controlling the ball when the body is perhaps in a position that leaves more conventional methods of control impossible, as in this staggering effort from Mesut Ozil during his time with Real Madrid.

Chest Control

Chest control is an important way for players to get high balls, driven balls or balls that take an awkward bounce up in front of the player. Particularly in matches where the ball spends most of its time in the air, the ability to bring clarity to disorder and to bring the ball under control via the chest.

The chest is the biggest area that a player has with which to control the ball, and by lifting his his arms simultaneously offers greater balance and making the chest as big as possible to cushion the ball.

Indeed, it is a skill that can both be used to control the ball for oneself, or to set up a teammate.

A prime example of the former is the control from AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes in scoring against Anderlecht last season's Champions League. The Frenchman relaxes as the ball comes towards him before popping it up with his touch, away from defenders, giving himself time for what comes next.

On the other hand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a prime example of someone who brings others into play by chesting passes.

Nonetheless, arguably the single most piece of chest control, due to the sheer pace it was done at, pass velocity, difficulty and control in itself, came from Zinedine Zidane at Euro 2000.

Thigh Control

Much like controlling the ball with the chest, doing so with the thigh is a particularly astute way of bringing down high or driven balls and cushioning them into a player's path. Additionally, it presents a greater surface area than the foot.

Cushioning the ball once more, the player raises the thigh slightly, allowing the ball to drop into his control. Keeping the thigh properly in line with the ball is vital as is withdrawing the thigh slightly on impact, so as to cushion the ball. Failing to do so may see the ball bounce away.

One magnificent showing of such control came at Wembley in February 1998, with a goal from the Chilean striker Marcelo Salas, who killed a long arching pass with his thigh, before volleying past David Seaman.

Another intelligent moment of thigh control which led to a goal came at Italia '90, when Gary Lineker utilised the skill to control a bouncing ball while evading defenders, working space from where to get a shot on goal.

Simple techniques with which to control the ball may well appear to be just that: Simple.

But such skills  can, when all things are put together, lead to far greater, more visually pleasing, benefits.

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