Skills to pay the bills: 10 shameless showboaters in European football right now

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Football can often by a very cynical game but there is a clutch of players right now who are trying to add some flavour to the recipe. 

Neymar has lit up the game for years with his tricks and flicks and although his latest piece of showboating resulted in him suffering a serious metatarsal injury, you can bet he’ll be bringing his best moves back out when he finally returns to the pitch.

Here at Squawka, we feel there is no better sight in football than a defender being sat down by an insane flick or being sent dizzy by an endless stream of stepovers.

So, who are the 10 most shameless showboaters tearing up the game right now and showing a total disregard for the opposition’s sanity?

Read on to find out.

1. Neymar

There isn’t really anywhere else to start other than with Neymar, is there? The Brazilian has been making the best defenders in Europe look like Baz from your local pub team for years and seems to show absolutely no remorse for the embarrassment he inflicts upon his opponents.

His latest bit of absolute brilliance drew the wrath of some angry Strasbourg defenders but there’s very little chance of him ever changing. Then again, why would you want to change him?

The 27-year-old even wished for a new metatarsal at his recent birthday bash so he could get back to doing what he loves.

2. Paul Pogba

Resurgent under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Paul Pogba is now back to his brilliant best.

The Frenchman is scoring wonder goals, inspiring his teammates and, most importantly, putting defenders on their backsides with his twists and turns and carefree attitude.

Pogba has completed more dribbles (18) than any other Man Utd player since Solskjaer’s appointment and we’re thoroughly enjoying watching him treat the game with reckless abandon.

3. Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace’s talisman and one of the best entertainers in the game right now, Wilfried Zaha is, quite simply, a joy to watch.

The Ivory Coast international has always had a taste for the exotic side of football and no matter how many times defenders hack him down, he just keeps on getting up and serving them up a dose of footballing punishment.

Zaha has attempted a Premier League-high 159 dribbles so far this season and his ankle-breaking skills have had Palace fans on the edge of their seats for years.

4. Erik Lamela 

Remember that time Erik Lamela nutmegged Andros Townsend and nearly made Danny Rose’s head explode? Yeah, that was great but if you think that was the limit of Lamela’s powers, think again.

In the words of Squawka writer and Spurs fan, Steve Jennings: “Lamela can come onto the pitch for 10 minutes when Spurs need to see out a result but seem more interested in taking the mick out of defenders than doing his job and it somehow works. He simultaneously keeps hold of the ball and entertains the fans.”

5. Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid’s new golden boy, Vinicius Jr, seems totally intent on robbing his compatriot, Neymar, of his ‘showboating king’ title this season.

The 18-year-old has mesmerised the Bernabeu with his stepovers, with his feet moving so fast that we’re not sure if he should be wearing a football kit or a superhero outfit.

But he doesn’t always get it right.

6. Paolo Dybala 

Paolo Dybala has always had an eye for the spectacular but the way he has completely destroyed defences in Italy this season has been ridiculous, disgusting and completely unfair.

The 25-year-old has nutmegged, Cruyff-turned and flicked Serie A’s best into oblivion this season and the fact that Jorge Sampaoli couldn’t fit him and Lionel Messi into the same Argentina side at the 2018 World Cup is a crime.

Even Dybala himself tried to urge his former national team manager to put them in the same side, saying: “Obviously, we can play together.”

If only…

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7. Lucas Paqueta

Much was made in Italy about Lucas Paqueta’s move to AC Milan and, my word, the Brazil international has not disappointed.

During his time with Flamengo, Paqueta was often seen as a functional midfielder who could serve the team in attack and defence efficiently.

At Milan, he’s thrown off the shackles and unleashed his Brazilian flair upon Serie A, weaving in and out of defenders with his dancing feet.

8. Jadon Sancho

The bright-eyed golden boy of English football, Jadon Sancho has not let the weight of expectation press down on his young shoulders at all.

The Dortmund dynamo has continued to weave his way through defences, humiliate any opposing player that dares to stand in his way and play the game with the amazing carefree attitude that so many lose when they hit stardom.

Sancho has completed 64 successful dribbles this season – 32 more than any other Dortmund player so far.

It’s not often you see this kind of brilliance from an English player but, hopefully, this insane 18-year-old is a sign of things to come.

9. Ricardo Quaresma

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Ricardo Quaresma?

Chelsea reject? Failed potential? If you’re saying anything along those lines, just don’t say it within his earshot.

Quaresma won’t physically harm you, but he’ll probably come charging over with a football and send you blind with some kind of gravity-defying flick over your head.

The Portugal international’s relative failure to reach the heights expected of him is probably a result of his insatiable need to entertain people but it doesn’t seem like he cares. Even now, at 35-years-old, Quaresma is making fools of defenders for Besiktas in Turkey.

10. Alisson Becker

Yeah, that’s right, Alisson Becker has made this list.

There is no greater sign of the footballing times than the fact any top-level goalkeeper now has to be skilled with the ball at his feet, but Alisson just takes things to a whole new level.

He may have been caught out against Leicester earlier this season but that was totally worth it to see the 26-year-old chip the ball over Brighton’s Anthony Knockaert and turn his way of trouble on a game-to-game basis.

Well, worth it for us at least, just don’t say that to Jurgen Klopp. Oh and, of course, he’s Brazilian.

The post Skills to pay the bills: 10 shameless showboaters in European football right now appeared first on Squawka News.



From Squawka News http://bit.ly/2WWlDUE
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