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Barcelona versus Real Madrid. The biggest club match in football, loaded with political and cultural baggage between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. It pulls in over 400 million viewers globally. The Messi-Ronaldo years (2009-2018) turned it into a personal duel between the two best players on the planet, and they faced each other 34 times. The history is full of wild games, controversy, and individual brilliance.

Argentine term for the classic number 10, roughly meaning "hook" or "connection." Plays centrally behind the strikers, linking midfield to attack through vision and passing rather than running. The enganche gets creative freedom but doesn't track back much, which makes the role rare now that everyone has to press. Riquelme was the perfect example - all touch, all passing, zero interest in defending.

Same as a third man run but emphasizing the passing combination. Player A passes to B, who lays off to C, who passes to A running beyond - it's a quick combination that uses the third man to unlock space. The timing and execution have to be sharp. When it works, it cuts through defenses that are set up to deal with direct passes.

A player who looks good only because of the team or manager they're in. The implication is they'd struggle elsewhere because they're not that talented individually. Sometimes accurate - some players thrive in specific setups - but often used to discredit anyone who succeeds under a great manager. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been called a system player despite his clearly individual passing ability.

Sprinting back to help defensively after being caught up the pitch. Full-backs who've pushed forward, midfielders who've joined an attack, strikers who lose the ball - they all need to make recovery runs. The best players do it without thinking, even when tired. Recovery runs prevent counters and show commitment. Players who don't make them become defensive liabilities.