20 Most Two-Footed Players in Football History (Ranked)

Who are the most two-footed players in football history? As kids, we were always told to use our weaker feet as much as possible, as it was imperative to be able to use both. Some of the best players to have graced a football pitch have been so good on both sides that it’s hard to know which is their preferred foot.

While it’s an obvious advantage, it’s not imperative. Arguably the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, is unashamedly one-footed. Okay, he’s more than capable of using his right foot, but you certainly wouldn’t call him two-footed.

The legendary Argentine doesn’t make our list of the 20 most two-footed players in football history – nor does Diego Maradona, who was also very left-footed. We’ve spent time thinking of the most ambidextrous players in football history. It was a tough task compiling 20 players, let alone putting them in the correct order. There are no doubt players we’ve missed out, but here is our ranking of the 20 most two-footed players ever, with the rankings weighing up overall player quality combined with their two-footedness.

Ranking factors

In order to rank the players, we considered the following factors:

• Technical ability with both feet.
• Career achievements.
• Longevity.
• How good their ‘weaker’ foot actually was.

20Ivan Perisic

‘Stronger’ foot: Left

On his Tottenham debut in 2022, Perisic wowed fans by taking set pieces with both his right and left feet. Only special two-footed players can do that, and the Croatian is certainly special in that sense. He’s also scored penalties with both feet during his career.

Perisic’s long career has seen him win league titles in Germany and Italy as well as a Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich. He’s been capable of playing on both flanks with his ability to go either left or right, giving opposing defenders nightmares, and has even transitioned into a wing-back role almost seamlessly in his twilight years.

19Pavel Nedved

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

Pavel Nedved is a forgotten Ballon d’Or winner, having claimed the prestigious award in 2003. He was naturally right-footed (we think) but was brilliant with either. The long-haired wide player was a joy for fans to behold, particularly in his Juventus days.

He was named his nation’s Player of the Year on four occasions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2004). Nedved was even handed a Golden Foot award in 2004, which is an honour given to football players for their athletic achievements and their personality. In over 600 club appearances, the winger scored 148 goals in spells for Juventus, Lazio and Sparta Prague.

18Toni Kroos

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

Both Toni Kroos and his Real Madrid midfield partner, Luka Modric, were contenders for a spot on this list, but we’ve gone for the classy German. He’s capable of splitting a defence – or scoring a goal – with either foot. When it comes to the most technically gifted players on the planet, the ex-Bayern Munich star is up there with the very best.

Kroos decided to call it quits after a renaissance season in 2023-24, in which he reclaimed a starting berth in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI and won a La Liga and Champions League double. His vision and ability to never lose possession, no matter which foot he used, remained until his final match. He could have continued playing much longer, making him one of the finest to have retired far earlier than he could have done.

17Pedro

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

The former Barcelona and Chelsea man perhaps didn’t have the same power with both feet, but he was equally capable of scoring with his left or right. Very ambidextrous. The Lazio forward goes under the radar when discussions come up about the most underrated players in the past decade.

He played a huge role in a vastly successful Barcelona side alongside David Villa and Lionel Messi in the early 2010s and has performed well everywhere he’s gone since then. While playing in the Premier League, the Spaniard netted 29 times and registered 16 assists before moving on to Serie A.

16Diego Forlan

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

After arriving in England with Manchester United, Forlan struggled to score with either foot. But later in his career, with the likes of Villarreal and Atletico Madrid – as well as with Uruguay in various tournaments – it soon became clear that Forlan was incredibly two-footed and a fantastic finisher. Upon viewing the ex-striker in action, it was never truly apparent which foot he favoured.

Forlan once explained how he trained to become both-footed, telling reporters: “Even as a kid, I’d kick a tennis ball against a wall with both feet for hours. That was one way to become two-footed.” He had one of the most feared shots in world football, as demonstrated at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

15Neymar

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

Another player who is an absolute nightmare to defend again. Will he go right? Will he go left? It doesn’t matter to the Brazilian because he’ll make you look silly either way. He’s definitely among the best players to come from the South American country, which is known to produce some of the most technically gifted footballers ever.

This lends itself to the belief that there’s very little the Santos superstar can’t do with a football at his feet. Neymar has won trophies everywhere he’s gone, including league titles in Ligue 1 and La Liga, the Champions League, and many cup competitions. The 33-year-old will go down as one of the greatest players of his generation when he finally hangs up his boots, but with his pure natural talent, many will feel he could have achieved even more.

14Wesley Sneijder

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

Okay, Wesley Sneijder may not be in the argument when it comes to the greatest players of all time, but he had a fine career, and was unlucky not to win a Ballon d’Or. What’s more, he’s certainly one of the most two-footed players that we’ve had the joy of watching. The former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Galatasaray midfielder was a superb creator in his prime years.

He could see passes that were even difficult for those in the stands or watching from home to spot, and he could deliver the ball to the feet of his teammates with precision and accuracy. Something that won’t come as a surprise to many is that the Netherlands hero could also pick out the corners of the net with both feet.

13Son Heung-Min

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

Everyone has seen Son Heung-Min cut in from the right wing and curl one into the top corner with his left foot time and time again. So often, in fact, it’s easy to be forgiven for thinking the South Korean was left-footed. It’s not until he takes free-kicks and penalties with his right that you realise which foot is actually his strongest.

In August 2024, Son broke the record for the most goals in Premier League history scored with a ‘weaker’ foot, with 46. This was more than his former teammate Harry Kane, who everyone knows is also brilliant on both feet. Transitioning into a more central role at times for Tottenham, defenders have a hard time trying to figure out which way they are going to be dragged by the wonderful forward.

12George Best

‘Stronger’ foot: Right

George Best was right-footed, but he’s another legendary player who could comfortably use both. The story of how he became so two-footed is a fascinating 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. He 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.

11Paolo Maldini

‘Stronger’ foot: Left

Paolo Maldini was left-footed, wasn’t he? Well, according to reports, the legendary Italian may have been right-footed. Remarkable. Maldini is one of the best defenders of his generation, making 902 appearances for AC Milan during his illustrious career.

The Italian icon represented the Rossoneri in three separate decades, showing his incredible longevity in the sport. He played as both a central defender and on the left-hand side of the back-line, and he was just as comfortable using his right foot as he was with his left. Whether that be to intercept a pass or put in a goal-saving challenge, he rarely put either foot wrong in his incredible number of games.