WORLD CUP INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE REIGNS
 
I Looked at World Cup Players from 1930-2006 who were ranked at the top the years they performed in the planetworldcup.com stats in goals+assists, or in assists. The players who ranked at the top in either assists or goals plus assists in two or more World Cups are listed here.
 
You can see that in terms of total points (2 pts goal 1 pt assist), the leaders have been: Ronaldo (98-06) 34; Muller (70-74) 32; and Lato (74-82) 27.
 
In assists the leaders have been: Lato (74-82) 7; Maradona (86-90) 7; Hagi (94-98) 6.
 
In goals the leaders have been: Ronaldo 15; Muller 14; Klinsmann 11
 
Based on this system the goal scorer to study is Ronaldo Muller and Klinsmann should be studied for goal-scoring, Lato should be studied as an example of a scorer/playmaker, and  Hagi and Maradona should be studied for their playmaking. Maradona has already been studied (https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/Free_Maradona_video_clips.htm). Thus for playmaker study Beckham will take his place as an important guy.
 
This Based on Data at
https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/World_Cup_goals_assists_1930-2006_statistics.htm
 
I just got sick of basing my soccer studies on who is supposed to be one of the best in the eyes of somebody (https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/allworldsoccerteams.htm)
 
 
 

time period
player

goals/assists
1st cup

goals/assists
2nd cup

goals/assists
3rd cup

goals/assists
TOTAL
total points
STUDY LINKS
NOTES










1958-
1962
 
Vava
 
58
4/?
est 1

62
4/?
est 1

8/2
18
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9wVQImtr7s Nothing special here in terms of skills displayed, cannot even tell which one is Vava.













1958-1970
 Pele
58
6/?
est 1
70
4/?
est 1

10/2
22
https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/Pele_videos.htm











1970-1978 Cubillas
70
5/?
est 1
78
5/1

10/2
22
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7T4R8NagIk Cubillas uses the outside of his right foot to put the ball to the defender's right (his own left) runs to his right the defender's left eight paces reunites with ball. This clip drones on and on with a lack of actual soccer action. Spanish language alot of Cubillas talking. A fast approach right footed  every six paces with the right type of dribbler; a fast approach every 4 steps type dribbler, moving up to ten paces before touching the ball when blowing past the defender. Not much of a feinter. Big on putting ball to one side of defender and body to other. Right footed every 4-6 pace fast approach dribbler. Every 4 paces dribbler. The previous sentences refer to various different instances of Cubillas. He was like a car that is basically in every 4 to 6 paces right footed dribbler on approach to the defender, and then gears up to an every 6-10 paces right footed dribble when blowing past a defender, but sometimes went into low gear, right footed every two paces when in tight traffic. He kept a very steady rhythm when making a fast approach at the defense, sometimes  the ball hitting his right foot every four paces over and over again, other times the ball hitting his right foot every six paces over and over again. For all its faults this is the best Cubillas video at youtube as of 11/8/06 maybe the only one worth looking at.
 
 
 
 











1970-1974
 Muller
70
10/?
est 2
74
4/2

14/2
32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD14ff1XwAM Not a dribbler...hangs around very close to the goal, on average maybe ten yds from goal, and knocks it in. Not a long shooter.
 
all results checked at
 











1974-1982
 Lato
74
7/2
78
2/2
82
1/3
10/7
27
 
Grzegorz Lato: 24-year-old Grzegorz Lato’s combination with Andrzej Szarmach in the Polish attack pretty much ensured goals for Poland and a place in the latter stages. The strong Lato, wearing number 16, could run 100 metres in 10.8 seconds. This pace was a major factor in his seven goals scored in six matches. Only twice did he remain scoreless – in the water battle with Germany in Frankfurt and in the group game with Argentina. A substitute in Poland’s 1972 Olympic success, he was a major factor in the side’s subsequent   -- World Cup successes in Argentina (1978) and Spain (1982).  -- http://worldcup.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?contenutoId=74958

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoU1rp-jYwM Lato, super-fast, a favor your best foot, dribble every 2 paces a third of the time, dribble every four paces two thirds of the time, rely on speed of approach to beat the defender type of guy. Yet another white guy who seems to get by on his uncanny sense of position and teamwork.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHPMRT7NYoo twice again he shows how he is a fast every four paces favor the best foot guy. Once he gets the ball facing the sideline and does a tight 270 degree turn clockwise and passes for an assist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b5PqVkmVWY You can see one of his goals shown here again how he was a favor the best foot (in his case the right) touch the ball every two or every four paces type guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnYI6N9jztQ No Lato action here that  I can see

Searches https://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=lato%20soccer&search_sort=video_view_count&search_category=0    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lato+football

This hyar Lato was extremely fast and strong, more of a physical and mental as opposed to a skilled ball control type guy.










1974-1978

 Johnny Rep
NED
74
4/1
78
3/0
 
7/0
14
Could not find anything specifically about Rep at youtube
 











1974-78
 Kempes
74
?/2
78
6/1
6/3
15
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsbPxZp9X7M hangs in front of goal, opportunistic, quick movements sideways and forwards with ball without much feinting. Weirdly this vid came up on a search for Passarella but not on the Kempes search.











1978-1982
 Passarella
78
?/2
82
2/1

2/3
7
Nothing on Passarella at youtube except little 10 second scores a goal type clips.
 











1978-1982
 Rossi
78
3/2
82
6/1

9/3
21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z6Vv29q-Us nothing showing Rossi dribbling Italy vs brazil 82.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwzttm50Db0 does not show rossi dribbling
 











1978-82
 Rummenigge
78
3/0
82
5/0

8/0
16
Nothing significant about Rummenigge in isolation
 











1982-1990
 Littbarski
82
2/5
90
?/2

2/2
6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQbJcE9THTw A touch every four to five paces, diagonal change of direction type dribbler, favoring his right foot. His favorite move--cut ball with left rightwards, then immediately leftwards with right foot, or vice versa. Did tight little circles, using the right foot moving counterclockwise. Would send ball to his right through defender's legs with outside of his right foot like Cubillas. Pulls ball back with sole of right foot, then sends it forward and to left getting by defender. Sometimes shifts into every five or every six pace gear on dribble. Only Littbarski video I could find at youtube.











1986-90
 Maradona
86
5/5
90
?/2

5/7
17
https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/Free_Maradona_video_clips.htm











1986-90
 Lineker
86
6/0
90
4/0

10/0
20		  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrS-Gk12h4w
 Lineker like Muller hangs around less than twelve yds from the goal and knocks it in. No dribbling evinced. Seems Lineker Muller etc get too much of the credit that should go to the team-mates who manage to set them up with passes when they are so near the goal.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvY5OkFaRTM more of Lineker knocking it in from close in.
 
That is the two significant vide devoted to Lineker.
 
 











1990-98
 Klinsmann
90
3/1
94
5/0
98
3/1
11/1
23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaj7fPcKSxI stops ball rolling to him with his left, uses his right to cut in direction ball was rolling, after ten paces catches up to ball again and shoots with right though moving to his left on left side of field. Very right footed. Rolls ball in front of him and fakes left and right without stepping over or lunging or even moving foot at ball--his fakes consist of the preparatory body movements used prior to mo moving the foot at the ball. Every four steps fast paced approach at defense. Moves ball backwards a couple of paces then forward and right and scores. Unbelievably, dives at ball with head, misses it, and uses apparently heel behind back to flick ball into goal. Stands in middle of field, ball rolls towards him from sideline, flicks ball up and behind him to his right, turns clockwise to volley ball into goal with left. Generally an every two to four steps right footed dribbler, expert not at dribbling by a defender, but a great natural talent for volleying in the ball from in front of the goal.
 
1st relevant result checked at:











1990-94
 Donadoni
90
?/2
94
?/2
 
?/2
2
 











1994-98
 Bebeto
94
3/2
98
3/2

6/4
16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T4VyY7EEtk When he had space he was in one instance an every six paces left footed dribbler.
At 1:44 he is shown slanting backwards to his right, then forwards to his left, then backwards to his right, beating the defender.
Looks like a Muller/Lineker, surrounded by good passers, hanging in front of the goal near the goal knocking the ball in.\
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTaQ0JndeYg Bebeto shown doing the Cruyff move, retreating backwards on a slant and then scoring,
Not much of a feinter, traps the ball and then makes a little yd or two cut.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oExPjYX83D0 Shown making sharp cuts left and right touching ball every four paces beating defender.
Utilizes short one or two pace cuts left right and backwards. Not a feinter.
 
Seems the above three are the significant Bebeto clips at youtube.
 
 
 
 











1994-98
 Hagi
94
3/4
98
?/2

3/6
12
http://galatasaray.hypermart.net/hagi/eng.htm Gheorghe Hagi, was 5 feet eight inches tall, and wore SIZE FIVE SOCCER OR FOOTBALL SHOES!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3ZIo673K8  Hagi shows himself to be a left footed dribbler, kicking the ball every four or six paces at a fast pace on the attack. Hagi kicks ball with left behind his right foot and forward. Defender was expecting ball to go to Hagi's right.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Cp_Me827A Hagi shows he is a left footed every four and every six pace type dribbler. He could shoot with his right from 25 yds effectively. He could score from 30-35 with his left foot. He did stepovers. Dribbled with right when he needed to. An every five pace switch left to right type also.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR5d7Cko9ww Chasing a ball towards the sideline, Hagi moves his left foot over it and then with the outside of the foot passes it down the field in the direction of the other team's goal line.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_VaHZk2rHA Adept with accurate long 30-35 yd chip shots that do not move too fast but find the corners of the net. An every 7 paces left and right dribbler. He would face defender even when this entailed facing away from opposing endline then cut--he jumps slightly before cutting. No feint involved. Second half of this clip just off-field stills.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvbDxPgW9gM slow moving alot of off-field, and fans, and players celebrating type footage. Not alot Hagi specifically.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvbDxPgW9gM Every six and every eight paces type dribbling; moves left and forward then cuts right and slightly backwards using defender's momentum against him to ain time and space.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFN7BH93tFA kicks ball to right with left, goes seven paces, shoots with right, scores. His dribbling moves seem almost lazy, loosely controlled but well placed.
 
1st 6 checked at
 











1994-98
 Baggio
94
5/0
98
2/2

7/2
16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yHoqyqdfr8 as ball was rollling forward he would make like he was about to kick it and just let it roll forward without moving his foot at the ball, like Klinsmann. Fakes by just kicking at ball without touching it as opposed to full lunge or stepover. Resembles a Bebeto/Lineker/Muller. An oppportunist rather than a master dribbler. This looks like the most significant Baggio clip at youtube.
 











1994-98
 Batistuta
94
4/0
98
5/0

9/0
18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pgWCXldwrM Batistuta looks like another lurk in front of the goal opportunist, but he had his hard charging fast paced attacking side, touching the ball about every four paces, then blowing by the defender on an eight pace dribble. Liked to cut the ball backwards on a slant before shooting.
 











1994-98
 Bergkamp
94
3/1
98
3/3

6/4
16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CqR6h8pxOo Quick shot, good with line drive shots and chip shots from 25 yds. Not much of a dribbler or a feinter...a master shooter.
 











1998-06
 Zidane
98
2/1
06
3/1

5/1
11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYUtKKbBTkw  Zidane, very big on 360s using sole of foot...also, 360s with side of foot, stepovers, cruyff move. Not much of a feinter. Like many of the best, always very aware of opportunities to score with a shot.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=zidane&search_sort=relevance&search_category=0











1998-06
 Ronaldo
98
4/3
02
8/0
06
3/1
15/4
34
https://www.angelfire.com/ma/vincemoon/Ronaldo__Brazil__free_video_clips_guide.htm











1998-02
 Vieri
98
5/0
02
4/0

9/0
18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucUBxmSMslo Not much ofa feinter or dribbler. Could be a hard charging touch ball every five paces type guy when he had the time and the space.
 











1998-02
 Rivaldo
98
3/2
02
5/2

8/4
20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS8b8Q5bs2s fast paced touch ball every four to six paces with favored foot type when he had the time and the space. Not much of a feinter. Big on bicycle kicks. Not a sophisticated dribbler.
 
 











1998-06
 Henry
98
3/0
06
3/0

6/0
12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ymh2-9svqM Another touch the ball every 4-6 paces with the favored foot type dribbler. Does best air dribble I have seen in these clips, touching the ball with his foot three times as he runs forward and then hitting it with his thigh, covering about ten yds at a jog. Seems like a physical ability plus smarts type. Doesnt feint but sort of changes his mind.
 











2002-06
 Klose
02
5/1
06
5/1

10/2
22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7pYXXKiV0Q Klose an opportunist lurking in front of the goal to knock balls in as opposed to a master dribbler. Appears to be a touch ball every four paces with favored foot type when he has the time and space.
 











2002-06
 Beckham
02
1/3
06
1/2

2/5
9
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yz0Vk0WJQ8 Good on free kicks, long shots, long passes.
 











OTHER



Cruyff