Soccer: 14 Biggest Ball Hogs in the World Today

What exactly constitutes a ball hog? Someone who is so wasteful with the ball during play that he enrages those around him, or what about a player who consistently racks up 25 goals a season due to his selfish nature in front of goal?

A term as loose as “hogging the ball” is completely subjective, and often, you’d have to look at the bigger picture to find out what separates the consistent goal scorers with those who simply don’t know what to do with the ball at their feet.

More often than not, though, the biggest ball hogs in the world today are those at the height of their game, with the ability to provide the match-winner on a consistent basis.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo may be forgiven, like others, for hogging the ball and going for goal at every opportunity. But then again, Real Madrid paid for his services and ability in front of goal.

He has fast become one of the best players in world football and, deservedly, has the right to do what he wants with the ball during games.

Lionel Messi

Statistically, Lionel Messi has given away possession more times than any other player in La Liga. However, when you’re currently the world’s best player and outscore the rest of the league for the past three seasons, then all would seem well.

Often, there is little in football more joyous to watch than Messi running at pace at a defence, weaving around a number of opposition players to slot home a wonderfully taken goal.

But at the same time, that counts for one of the biggest ball hogs in football today.

Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla may feel like he’s the shinning beacon for this new look Malaga side. He’s their marquee signing, a signal of intent and, other than the players at Real Madrid and Barcelona, possibly the best player in La Liga.

He has outstanding technique and ability and will often look to showcase what he’s capable of by trying to be a primary scoring outlet for a Malaga side that have at times struggled for goals.

A player who is truly one of the bright spots in a league dominated by the top two in Madrid and Barcelona, Cazorla may be a player too keen to look for an opening to goal rather than opting for a pass.

Alvaro Negredo

Alvaro Negredo has, over the course of the past 12 months or so, found his way at Sevilla. With goals comes confidence, and with that confidence comes a tendency to try for goal at any given opportunity.

Make no mistake about it, Negredo is deservedly part of the select few chosen to lead the line for the Spanish National side, but he can be wasteful in his attempt to raise his goal tally.

Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri may not at this moment seem like a ball hog, providing a number of assists for his new club, Manchester City. But the French midfielder went through an entire campaign at Arsenal last season with just the solitary assist in the league.

His outstanding exploits in front of goal is definitely something which allows for his shortcomings in the assist department to be overlooked, but the fact is we have seen the Frenchman, on a number of occasions, carry the ball over large distances on the pitch without the thought of a pass.

Ronaldinho

You don’t become one of the world’s best players by not showing off your talents and ability in front of goal. Ronaldinho quickly became a phenomenon in La Liga and rightfully takes his place as one of the greatest Brazilian footballers over the past number of years.

But, even while he struggled for form at AC Milan, the former Barcelona man could not help himself when he had possession of the ball. Attempting tricks that may once have come off and going for goal when the easier option would be to play in a team mate, Ronaldinho is truly one of the world’s biggest ball hogs.

Rafael van der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart arrived at Tottenham Hotspur with a point to prove: insisting on showing former club Real Madrid what they had given up so cheaply.

The Dutchman has been an outstanding contribution to the current Spurs side, but he rather selfishly believes his ability in front of goal means he is the primary goal scorer for the club.

Talented as he may be, there are times when van der Vaart attempts the audacious in front of goal. Always looking to score from positions which at times seem impossible and, while coming close, is often wasteful of opportunities.

Nani

Nani’s form over the past 18 months has been a real bright spot for Manchester United. Often living in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese midfielder is possibly the biggest ball hog at United.

As talented as he may be, and he has scored a number of outstanding goals for the club, he simply seems insistent of having the ball glued to his feet for much of the game.

Abou Diaby

From more of a negative perspective, Abou Diaby simply doesn’t know when to move the ball on. He is often found holding onto the ball for extended periods of time, dribbling past players in the centre of midfield but then losing possession because he doesn’t know what to do with the ball.

For all his talent and coaching under Arsene Wenger, Diaby is a real weak spot in the Arsenal side for his lack of awareness and, again, insistence on holding onto the ball for too long.

Falcao

Falcao, Atletico Madrid’s most expensive signing in club history, rightfully takes his place on the list of biggest ball hogs. However, there is nothing wrong with the outstanding goal scoring record Falcao had whilst at Porto.

The Colombian striker managed to net 72 times in 87 appearances during his two seasons at the club and was picked up by Madrid as a replacement for the outgoing Sergio Aguero.

Robinho

Robinho’s attitude on and off the pitch might be an indication as to why he has been so wasteful in front of goal.

As a striker, Robinho has lined up for some of the most prestigious clubs in European football, as well as the Brazil National side. He has a tendency to keep hold of the ball when others may be in better positions and often wastes scoring opportunities.

Ricardo Quaresma

Often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in Portugal, Ricardo Quaresma has led a career of seemingly failing to live up to the potential and hype surrounding him.

While he is certainly a talented player, his tendency for tricks and unnecessary showing off often led to a failure to settle into bigger clubs outside of his homeland.

He’s currently doing well in Turkey with Besiktas, but you can’t help but feel this player could have achieved so much more had it not been for his style of play and keeping the ball for his own benefit rather than that of the team.

Arjen Robben

One of the most gifted wingers in all of football, and had it not been for persistent injuries plaguing his career, Arjen Robben may have been contender for World Player of the Year on a number of occasions.

But, like other players who have reached the heights of their powers, Robben is best with the ball at his feet and running at the opposition defence.

Able to score a variety of goals and often seen cutting in from the right side of midfield and onto his left foot, Robben is the definition of the modern day winger.

A ball hogger for sure, but one of the world’s finest talents nevertheless.

Franck Ribery

Occupying the left flank of the Bayern Munich midfield, Franck Ribery plays a similar game to that of team mate Arjen Robben.

A player extremely comfortable with the ball, possessing the ability to dictate the game from the wings and produce to a remarkably high standard, Ribery has been one of Europe’s most consistent and impressive players over the past number of years.

Again, his ability to keep hold of the ball should not be looked at from a negative perspective, for he is one of the world’s elite talents.