5 world-class footballers whose contributions cannot be defined by stats
Thanks to the plethora of analytical tools available these days, it’s not unnatural to give in to the temptation of defining football by numbers.
Goals, assists, recoveries, and tackles, each one is an important metric, but they cannot give us the complete picture, not even close.
Analyzing a player and his impact just by numbers alone is a futile exercise, as many football stars tend to defy them every single week.
Today, we will take a look at five world-class footballers whose contributions go far beyond what the statistical companies suggest.
Here are five footballers whose impact cannot be adjudged by numbers:
#5 Rodri - Manchester City
Having risen through Villarreal’s youth academy, Rodri thrived for the Yellow Submarine for two great seasons between 2016 and 2018. Atletico Madrid returned for their former academy star in 2018 and signed him for a €20million fee.
Another great season later, Rodri got on a plane to Manchester and was presented at the Etihad Stadium.
Just Rodri showing some delicious skill with Thiago 
@SeFutbol😍 Just Rodri showing some delicious skill with Thiago 🇪🇸 @SeFutbol
https://t.co/WTNXgFWWvd
The Spaniard has been integral to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team since his €62.7million move from Atletico Madrid. Operating as a defensive midfielder, he helps maintain the shape of his team, switches play to the flanks, and carries the ball forward during counter-attacks.
His work rate is also one of the best in the league, which is a prerequisite for a player belonging to such a high-pressing team.
#4 Marco Verratti - Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain are arguably the most ambitious football club in the world right now. Having dominated the domestic scene over the last decade, they are determined to bring home European glory by winning the Champions League.
In Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, PSG have the most fearsome strikeforce in the world. However, it is their diminutive central midfielder Marco Verratti who might be the most important piece of the puzzle.
The Italian international does not score and assist regularly or produce game-changing trickery, and he surely isn’t the most intimidating player out there.
Yet, without him, PSG look frail in the middle of the park, always struggling to string passes together. In Verratti, the Parisiens have an immaculate passer, an exceptional ball carrier, and a press-resistant pressing machine.
Is there a better midfielder in the world right now?
Neymar on Marco Verratti:
🗣️ "I knew Verratti was an excellent player, but I didn't realise he was so spectacular. A genius. He's one of the best midfielders I've played with, along with Xavi Hernández and Iniesta."
🌍 Is there a better midfielder in the world right now? https://t.co/P5evTeSXy2
In the first leg of PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with Real Madrid,
Verratti was one of the stars of the show. Mbappe’s match-winning goal made all the headlines, of course, but the Italy international was integral to neutralizing Los Blancos’ coveted midfield.