Choosing which is the hardest or most skilled soccer position to play at is a constant debate among soccer/football players. It is impossible to find a 100% proven position that is the most skilled one to play at.
I’ve played soccer since I was 3 years old. I have tried at every position, from a goalkeeper to a forward. Some have been harder to play at than others for me, but that doesn’t mean that it will be the same for everyone. The correct question should be: What is the most skilled soccer position for YOU to play at?
So, what is the most skilled position? After years playing the different positions in the field and talking to many teammates about the topic, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most skilled position I’ve played at and the one I had the biggest responsibility was Central Midfielder.
At any moment I want to say that the other positions are not as important or that they are easier to play at. I just found being a central midfielder the most complete overall in all aspects of the game: physical, mental, tactical, and technical.
Choosing a Soccer Position
I’m assuming that if you typed this question on google was to find advice on what position to choose to play soccer or to win the debate against your friends.
To choose the correct position you need to look at your own strengths and weaknesses playing the game. No player is the best at every aspect of the game (physical, tactical, technical, and mental).
The position you choose has to be based on the aspect of the game you are most skilled at. Every soccer position requires different skills and abilities you need to develop to be the best at it.
Here is a quick guide I made based on what I truly believe are the most skilled positions in every aspect of the game:
Physically skilled
In every soccer team there is the typical player that you see running up and down the field all game long. You just see him and say: “Man, that guy just never stops!”, “I’m tired just by seeing him run.”, “He is everywhere!”
In most of my teams, that guy is the full back defender (left and right back defenders). It makes sense actually, because they have the big responsibility of defending their own goal and contributing to the attack when their team needs them, meaning they will be running up and down the field all game long.
Having great stamina and endurance is essential to play in this position. I wrote this article about Increasing Endurance and Stamina for Soccer in a month to help you improve this important aspect for every soccer player.
My favorite full back defenders are the Brazilians Marcelo and Roberto Carlos, and the Spanish Daniel Carvajal, all from Real Madrid. What I admire the most from them is the ability they have to become another attacker when Real Madrid is attacking. They get to the opponent’s goal pretty easily and are super complete players.
In the other hand, they always have to come back and defend or there will be a HUGE gap where the opponent’s attackers may penetrate the defense, and somehow they are always there. Knowing these, you should have a better idea of the physical skills this position demands.
Mentally skilled
Yes, soccer is not only about having good physical conditions and technique, but you also need to be mentally strong. When it comes to mentally tough positions to play, it is hard to beat the goalkeepers.
Goalkeepers are considered by most people the most important player on the field. Why? Because without a goalkeeper you can’t play, as easy as that. Therefore, they have a huge responsibility.
I also consider that being a goalkeeper is the most unfair position of all because you may make ten great saves in a game, but if you make one mistake, everyone will put the blame on you. Knowing that all the team relies on you and that you play in a zero error margin, makes you play under a huge pressure. In order to overcome this pressure, you need to be very strong mentally.
To be a good goalkeeper you need to be extremely confident about yourself, which is why I believe my article about confidence is guide every goalkeeper should have.
Contrasting to the other positions, in the field only plays one goalkeeper, making it even harder to earn a place in the team as you compete with many other players for one spot. Most backup goalkeepers will only have one chance to demonstrate what they are capable of, so they have to be strong mentally and confident about themselves.
It is human to make mistakes. Goalkeepers need to be capable of having the strength of overcoming them and pass from being the biggest villains to the great heroes of the game.
Tactically skilled
I would say the most tactically skilled position is either central defenders or central midfielders. I mention central defenders because they are usually the team’s captains and most authoritative players.
They have to constantly talk to their teammates and guide the team through the correct tactic and strategy. The plays always begins with them and they need to trace the correct line to where to start constructing the game. Also, they position their players in the right spots in corners and free throws. They have a bigger vision of the game.
However, I would also say central midfielders because the ball always has to pass through them. Usually central defenders will give the ball to them and they have to figure out what to do with it, to whom to pass it, switch to the other side or give it back to the defender or keeper.
Technically skilled
Most technically skilled positions will be most offensive ones like forwards, wingers, and attacking midifielders. The first examples that come to my mind are the Spanish player Isco and the Brazilian Phillipe Coutinho. Search their highlights in YouTube.
They are so technically rich players. Everything, from their ball control, dribbling skills, passing skills to shooting technique is on point.
If you occupy an offensive position you need to have the creativity to create goal opportunities and the technique to execute them correctly. You have to be capable of putting milimetric passes between the defenders and shooting to the only place goalkeepers can’t reach it, which requires a great level of technique.
Most skilled and hardest position I’ve played at
As I said before, the position I found the most difficult to play at was central midfielder. You probably noticed that it didn’t figure as the most skilled in any aspect of the game. In the other side, it is the one that requires you to be the most complete player and have a little of every aspect.
Here are 5 reasons why I found it the most skilled position to play at:
- Technique has to be on point: Every ball control, every pass, every switch to the other side has to be executed near to perfection. Central midfielders are usually the creators, where every play begins. They are given the ball in their own half of the field. If you make a bad reception or make a bad pass, your team runs serious danger of conceding a goal.
- Requires great spacial positioning: A central midfielder should always be aware of where his teammates and his opponents are without seeing that they are there. They need to act and take decisions quickly without hesitating.
- It’s one of the most physically sacrificed positions: The CM’s job is to both help the team attack and recover as many balls as possible in the midfield. They are literally everywhere in the field at every time. Where the ball is, they have to go, either to attack or defend. If a player, for some reason, is caught outside of his position, most of the times the responsible for covering his space is the central midfielder. Sometimes, CM’s need to duplicate themselves for the team’s good, which requires great physical conditions.
- The game is played to their rhythm: Tactically talking, they have to be the ones carrying the game. When the ball is given to them, they need to know what to do with it depending on the game’s situation. For example, if the team is winning, it is probably best to play the ball back and to make the time run. However if the team is losing, they need to find the way to make the team play forward.
- Also mentally strong: I’m sure you know Steven Gerrard, one of the greatest Central midfielders ever. He is now mocked until these days the time he slipped and lost the ball in the center of the field, the opponent team recovered it and scored the goal to make Liverpool lose the Premiere League. CM’s handle great pressure to deal with also in the midfield. The team relies on your creativity to create offensive plays and your tenacity to recover the ball when needed.
Players that perform great in this position are definitely admirable and totally complete soccer players. For me one of the best midfielders duo I’ve ever seen is Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. They are total magicians with the ball in their feet.
Here is a video I found of them and Casemiro, which is also a great central midfielder more to the defensive side. Carefully watch their movements and all the aspects I mentioned above. Click here to watch in youtube.
Conclusion
Every soccer position has it certain level of skill to it. You need to know what you’re the best at and what you’re not so good at in order to choose the correct position.
I personally have a massive respect for central midfielders because they demand a complete player that dominates every aspect of the game: physical, tactical, technical, and mental.
I would say there is not a position that can completely be named “the most skilled one”, but there are positions that might be harder to play depending on each individual.