It’s something that some football fans will never understand. The fact that some world-class footballers earning hundreds of thousands of pounds each week can only kick the ball with one foot.
That’s despite training almost every single day for their entire career.
Take Lionel Messi for example.
The Argentine superstar is widely considered as the greatest player to have ever played the game. And yet he only really uses his right leg to stand on.
Not that it impacts him negatively, though.
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- Check out our new GIVEMESPORT homepage
But are the best players usually left-footed or right-footed?
The general conception is that left-footers are usually more skilful and can often strike the ball sweeter than their right-footed counterparts.
And GIVEMESPORT have decided to have a theoretical left-footed vs right-footed match and ask: ‘Who would win?’
LEFT-FOOTED XI
RIGHT-FOOTED XI
GOALKEEPER
Left-footed: Ederson
Right-footed: Alisson
Verdict: As Alisson gets the nod for the Brazil national side, we’re giving this one to the Liverpool ‘keeper
Left-footed XI 0-1 Right-footed XI
RIGHT-BACK
Left-footed: Andy Robertson
Right-footed: Joshua Kimmich
Verdict: We’re well aware Robertson is not a right-back - but can you name another left-footed right-back? We’re sure he can do a job, but maybe not as good as Kimmich.
Left-footed XI 0-2 Right-footed XI
LEFT-BACK
Left-footed: Jordi Alba
Right-footed: Cesar Azpilicueta
Verdict: A similar problem to right-back - but at least Azpilicueta has experience of playing left-back. But Alba wins this one.
Left-footed XI 1-2 Right-footed XI
CENTRE-BACK
Left-footed: Aymeric Laporte
Right-footed: Virgil van Dijk
Verdict: The two best centre-backs in the Premier League. But Van Dijk edges this one.
Left-footed XI 1-3 Right-footed XI
CENTRE-BACK
Left-footed: Samuel Umtiti
Right-footed: Sergio Ramos
Verdict: Barcelona vs Real Madrid. Real Madrid win this one.
Left-footed XI 1-4 Right-footed XI
CENTRE-MIDFIELD
Left-footed: David Alaba
Right-footed: N’Golo Kante
Verdict: We needed a slightly defensive midfielder and Alaba can do that - despite also being a full-back. But Kante is the best defensive midfielder in world football
Left-footed XI 1-5 Right-footed XI
CENTRE-MIDFIELD
Left-footed: David Silva
Right-footed: De Bruyne
Verdict: A battle of the Man City midfielders. De Bruyne claims it.
Left-footed XI 1-6 Right-footed XI
CENTRE-MIDFIELD
Left-footed: Bernardo Silva
Right-footed: Frankie de Jong
Verdict: De Jong is one of the best young midfielders in the world but Bernardo is a star in Pep Guardiola side.
Left-footed XI 2-6 Right-footed XI
FORWARD
Left-footed: Mohamed Salah
Right-footed: Eden Hazard
Verdict: Salah has won the Golden Boot for two years in a year, leaving Hazard trailing in his wake.
Left-footed XI 3-6 Right-footed XI
FORWARD
Left-footed: Antoine Griezmann
Right-footed: Kylian Mbappe
Verdict: There’s little doubt Mbappe is a future Ballon d’Or winner. He beats Griezmann here.
Left-footed XI 3-7 Right-footed XI
FORWARD
Left-footed: Lionel Messi
Right-footed: Cristiano Ronaldo
Verdict: The ultimate question. Five Ballon d’Ors each. But we’re giving it to Messi.
Left-footed XI 4-7 Right-footed XI