Who are the top 20 best left-footed football players as of 2023?

Football has captured the hearts of millions of people all over the world. It is a game that requires physical strength, skill, and strategy. The ability to use both feet equally is one of the most sought-after qualities of a football player. Some players stand out for their exceptional use of their left feet, making them a valuable asset to their teams. Here are some of the world's best left-footed football players.

From their impressive dribbling skills to their pinpoint accuracy when taking free kicks, these players have proven time and time again why they are some of the most talented footballers in the world. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or simply someone who enjoys watching the sport, read on to discover more about these amazing left-footed players.

Who are the best left-footed football players?

Many footballing legends prefer using their left foot over their right. Below is a list of some of the best left-footed players of all time.

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Football

20. Bernardo Silva

• Full name: Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
• Date of birth: August 10, 1994
• Age: 28 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Lisbon, Portugal
• Height: 1.73 m
• Current team: Manchester City
• Position: Forward/Winger/Attacking midfielder

While he is comfortable using both feet, Bernardo Silva's left foot is considered to be his stronger foot. As a midfielder and winger, using both feet effectively allows him to create opportunities and score goals from different angles and positions on the field.

19. David Alaba

• Full name: David Olatukunbo Alaba
• Date of birth: June 24, 1992
• Age: 30 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Vienna, Austria
• Height: 1.80 m
• Current team: Real Madrid
• Position: Centre-back/Left-back/Midfielder

David Alaba can play as a left-back, centre-back, or defensive midfielder. His left foot is considered stronger, and he is known for delivering accurate crosses and set pieces using his left foot.

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18. Ruud Krol

• Full name: Rudolf Joseph Krol
• Date of birth: March 24, 1949
• Age: 72 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Height: 1.81 m
• Current team: Retired
• Position: Left-back/Sweeper

Ruud Krol is a retired Dutch footballer who was known for being left-footed. Krol played as a defender and was renowned for his technical ability, intelligence on the field, and excellent left foot.

17. Leighton Baines

• Full name: Leighton John Baines
• Date of birth: December 11, 1984
• Age: 38 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Kirkby, Merseyside, England
• Height: 1.70 m
• Current team: Retired
• Position: Left-back

Baines was a left-footed player known for his excellent crossing ability and accuracy from set pieces. He played for clubs such as Wigan Athletic and Everton and earned 30 caps for the England national team.

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Football

16. James Rodriguez

• Full name: James David Rodriguez Rubio
• Date of birth: July 12, 1991
• Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Cucuta, Colombia
• Height: 1.80 m
• Current team: Olympiacos
• Position: Attacking midfielder/Winger

James Rodriguez is known for his technical ability, vision, and accuracy, particularly with his left foot. He is also known for his creativity, excellent passing ability, and eye for goal. He has played for Porto, AS Monaco, Real Madrid, and Everton clubs.

15. Alvaro Negredo

• Full name: Alvaro Negredo Sanchez
• Date of birth: August 20, 1985
• Age: 36 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Madrid, Spain
• Height: 1.86 m
• Current team: Cadiz
• Position: Striker

Negredo is known for his physicality, excellent finishing ability, and ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play, especially as a left-footed player. He has played for clubs such as Sevilla, Manchester City, and Valencia and has earned 21 caps for the Spanish national team.

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14. Juan Mata

• Full name: Juan Manuel Mata Garcia
• Date of birth: April 28, 1988
• Age: 33 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Burgos, Spain
• Height: 1.70 m
• Current team: Galatasaray
• Position: Attacking midfielder

Juan Mata is a Spanish professional footballer who has played for top clubs such as Valencia, Chelsea, and Manchester United. He is a versatile attacking midfielder making him one of the best left-footed players in 2023. He can play on both wings or as a central attacking midfielder. He has earned over 40 caps for the Spanish national team and has won numerous titles throughout his career.

13. Kevin Strootman

• Full name: Kevin Johannes Willem Strootman
• Date of birth: February 13, 1990
• Age: 33 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Ridderkerk, Netherlands
• Height: 1.86 m
• Current team: Genoa
• Position: Defensive midfielder

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Kevin Strootman is a versatile midfielder who can play in multiple positions, including central midfield and defensive midfield. He has also played for the Dutch national team, earning over 40 caps.

12. Jordi Alba

• Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos
• Date of birth: March 21, 1989
• Age: 33 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
• Height: 1.70 m
• Current team: FC Barcelona
• Position: Left-back

Jordi Alba is regarded as one of the best left-footed players in FIFA, with his attacking abilities and left-footedness being key factors in his success. He is known for his ability to overlap with the forwards, his pace, and his accuracy when crossing the ball with his left foot.

11. Antoine Griezmann

• Full name: Antoine Griezmann
• Date of birth: March 21, 1991
• Age: 31 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Macon, France
• Height: 1.76 m
• Current team: Atletico Madrid
• Position: Forward

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Antoine Griezmann is known for his excellent left foot and can score and create goals with it; hence, he is one of the best left-footed midfielders. He is also proficient with his right foot and is a versatile player who can play multiple positions in the attacking third of the pitch.

10. Angel Di Maria

• Full name: Angel Fabian Di María
• Date of birth: February 14 1988
• Age: 34 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
• Height: 1.80 m
• Current team: Juventus
• Position: Winger/Attacking midfielder

In addition to his ability to play as an attacking winger, Di Maria can also play as a central attacking midfielder or on either side of the pitch. Despite his small stature, he is a quick dribbler with superb ball control and quickness, enabling him to defeat his opponents.

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9. Mesut Ozil

• Full name: Mesut Ozil
• Date of birth: October 15 1988
• Age: 34 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen, West Germany
• Height: 1.80 m
• Current team: İstanbul Başakşehir
• Position: Attacking midfielder

Ozil was often dubbed The New Zidane during his time at Real Madrid. As an accomplished left-footed player, he possesses many skills to get into good attacking positions, creating numerous chances for his teammates or even scoring goals.

And while these include his vision and positioning sense, he can score goals and even set up other players for success.

8. Leroy Sane

• Full name: Leroy Aziz Sane
• Date of birth: January 11 1996
• Age: 27 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Essen, Germany
• Height: 1.83 m
• Current team: Bayern Munich
• Position: Winger

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Sane has won two Premier League championships with Manchester City in four years. Most of his left crosses are driven, whereas most of his right crosses are in the air. Sane often enjoys the space a high block provides and makes frequent runs.

7. Riyad Mahrez

• Full name: Riyad Karim Mahrez
• Date of birth: February 21 1991
• Age: 32 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Sarcelles, France
• Height: 1.79 m
• Current team: Manchester City
• Position: Winger

Left-footed Mahrez is often used as a right-winger, where he can use his more muscular foot to cut inside and shoot on goal or make deliveries into the penalty area. However, he is a versatile player who can play anywhere along the front line, in a central role as an attacking midfielder, a winger on either flank or even a false nine upfront.

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6. Erling Haaland

• Full name: Erling Braut Haaland
• Date of birth: July 21 2000
• Age: 21 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Leeds, England
• Height: 1.94 m
• Current team: Manchester City
• Position: Striker

Erling Haaland is a legend presently playing for Manchester City. He is one of the most sought-after players in the football arena and exploded into the scene like a few other players. His fantastic athleticism and superb finishing are weapons that any club would love to have.

Additionally, he has the potential to become one of the best players of this generation at a young age. His best foot is the left.

5. Romelu Lukaku

• Full name: Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli
• Date of birth: May 13 1993
• Age: 28 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Antwerp, Belgium
• Height: 1.91 m
• Current team: Inter Milan
• Position: Striker

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Lukaku is renowned for his aggressiveness, which he often used to surpass opponents and score goals. His physical and tactical flexibility allows him to play as a striker or a poacher on the flank.

4. David Silva

• Full name: David Josue Jimenez Silva
• Date of birth: January 8 1986
• Age: 37 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Arguineguin, Spain
• Height: 1.70 m
• Current team: Real Sociedad
• Position: Midfielder

A left-footed Spanish-based professional footballer, David Silva, is now playing for Real Sociedad and the Spain national team. Attaining midfielder Silva may also play on the left or right of the striker. David Silva is among the best left-footed players now globally.

3. Paulo Dybala

• Full name: Paulo Exequiel Dybala
• Date of birth: November 15 1993
• Age: 28 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Laguna Larga, Cordoba, Argentina
• Height: 1.77 m
• Current team: Roma
• Position: Forward/Attacking midfielder

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Paulo Dybala is known for his dribbling skills in tight spaces, close control of the ball, and ability to beat adversaries in one-on-one situations. Since his debut, he has earned over 30 caps, including appearing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 World Cup.

2. Mohamed Salah

• Full name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
• Date of birth: June 15 1992
• Age: 29 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Nagrig, Basyoun Egypt
• Height: 1.75 m
• Current team: Liverpool FC
• Position: Forward

This Liverpool's most lethal attacker in European soccer has won the Champions League and Premier League with his team. During his first season at Anfield, the Egyptian striker netted 44 goals, which he followed up with another 27 in the next campaign after signing a new deal with the club in the summer of 2018. He is one of the most famous soccer players globally and among the best left-footed soccer players.

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1. Lionel Messi

• Full name: Lionel Andres Messi
• Date of birth: June 24 1987
• Age: 34 years old (as of 2023)
• Place of birth: Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
• Height: 1.69 m
• Current team: Paris Saint-Germain
• Position: Forward

Another left-footed player, Lionel Messi, has been compared to glue because of his ability to keep possession and control of the ball. Messi is one of the greatest dribblers in soccer history and is primarily a left-footer. He is a playmaker because of his excellent passing skills and vision to find teammates in space with precise passes.

Top 20 best left-footed football players

Below is a summary list of the top left-footed players in the world.

1. Lionel Messi
2. Mohamed Salah
3. Paulo Dybala
4. David Silva
5. Romelu Lukaku
6. Erling Haaland
7. Riyad Mahrez
8. Leroy Sane
9. Mesut Ozil
10. Angel Di Maria
11. Antoine Griezmann
12. Jordi Alba
13. Kevin Strootman
14. Juan Mata
15. Alvaro Negredo
16. James Rodriguez
17. Leighton Baines
18. Ruud Krol
19. David Alaba
20. Bernardo Silva

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Who are the best left-footed Premier League players in 2023?

Some notable left-footed footballers in the Premier League include Lionel Messi, Mohammed Salah, Antoine Griezmann, Arjen Robben, David Silva, Robin van Persie, and Juan Mata, among others.

What is the advantage of left-footed soccer players?

Left-footed soccer players have several advantages on the soccer field. Here are a few of them:

• Unpredictability: Left-footed players are less common than right-footed players, making them more challenging to defend against.
• The angle of approach: The angle of approach to the ball of a left-footed player differs from that of a right-footed player. This distinction can make predicting the player's next move more difficult, especially if the player is skilled at using both feet equally.
• Free-kick and corner-kick advantage: Left-footed players can deliver free and corner kicks from a different angle, confusing the opposing team's defence. In some cases, the spin of the ball changes when struck with the left foot, making it more difficult for goalkeepers to make a save.

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The best left-footed football players can bring a unique advantage to the field, both in their playing style and ability to surprise opponents. However, it's important to note that soccer is a team sport, and individual skill is just one aspect of a player's overall contribution to their team's success.

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