The Greatest TWO-FOOTED Players EVER...
A Thread 🧵

Maldini was so good at left back, most people presumed he was left footed... he could drive with that foot, cross with that foot, pass with that foot and score goals with it. But look more closely and he would primarily ball carry with the right and was actually right-footed.

Another left back of GOAT quality who was two-footed was Andreas Brehme RIP. He was even more two-footed than Maldini, taking set pieces with either foot - showcasing this ability even in a World Cup Final, and capable of playing on either flank. A true virtuoso.

In our article on Pele... we discuss his weak foot in depth...
"arguably the most ambidextrous player in history from a ball striking perspective, he has zero hesitation in unleashing shots with his weaker foot (bit like Cristiano but way more accurate and powerful) which is incredible considering he's from the 60's."
pythagorasinboots.com

We all know the Best was right-footed but he was another legendary player who could use both. The story of how he became so two-footed is a good one. Best first started playing for his local youth club, Cregagh Boys in east Belfast, at the age of 13. The team was run by Bud McFarlane who suggested Best played with his right foot too much. Best listened and concentrated on never touching the ball with his right foot for the following training sessions.
When he turned up for the next match, he brought only one boot with him, his left one. George put the boot on and wore a plimsoll on his right foot. He scored 12 goals in the game and never once used his right foot to kick the ball.

Anyone who watched Euro 2004, a tournament in which Nedved lit up would come away with the conclusion that his man had no weak foot. He would jink onto either side and release howitzers of precision and menace from all kinds of distances. Monster of a player who could even carry with both at times.

Sir Bobby Charlton is THE most two footed player outside of Brehme I have ever seen that did it at the highest level. He was able to dribble with both feet in equal measure, shoot in equal measure, pass in equal measure. Ridiculously talented and the GOAT in this regard IMO.

Glenn Hoddle... was the heir to Charlton and top 3 England's most technically gifted midfielder of all time IMO. Bags of flair, ridiculous first touch and sublime ball striking tekkers off both feet. Wasted by England or simply misunderstood but no denying his two-footed ability

Santi Cazorla...
One clip alone sums up just how two-footed Cazorla was. He was getting ready to take a corner for Arsenal with his right foot when he was told to produce an inswinger. No need to bring across a left-footed player because Cazorla just switched sides and whipped it in with his 'weaker' foot. What a baller.
Cazorla's ability to use both feet actually came following an injury to his right ankle. “I have always preferred the right foot, ever since I was younger,” he said.” I was a little bit hurt in my right ankle once, and that is when I started to use my left foot a lot more.
“Being able to use both feet is something that came quite naturally to me ever since I started playing. However, it is something I continuously work on in a very strong manner to ensure that my level never gets any lower.
“Everything comes from a base of hard work. After training sessions I would stay an extra half-an-hour and kick the ball against the wall with my weaker foot over and over again to make sure it becomes stronger and better. Players should remember that everything comes from hard work.”

Wesley Sneijder... a man who might have struggled at Real Madrid but even from a young age was highly touted due to the completeness of his technique. It was only at Inter when he finally blosommed and was able to showcase his two-footed brilliance to a consistent level but Euro 2008 was a sign of what was to come from this genius.

Pedro Rodriguez... probably the most unspoken about baller from the goldern Barca era of Pep and beyond but such an underrated component whose two-footedness really made Barca a nightmare to defend against when camped in a low block as he could go DTL, go inside, create and be a goal threat. Prime Alexis Sanchez couldn't effectively replace this guy's tactical uniqueness.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Not really a ball carrier with his left but boy even in his debut vs Bolton for United, we were granted a glimpse into his two-footed striking. Gone was one-footed Beckham, in came a step-over freak who could shift to his weak foot and still deliver peaches to the back post.
Some of his long distance goals with his left foot even early into his United career defied belief and were a sign of what was to come.

Special mentions... Zidane (that volley v Leverkusen), Ousmane Dembele (needs to still prove himself at the highest level IMO but clearly super super two-footed), Son Heung-Min, Adam Lallana, Forlan...