Player Attribute

A player with serious skill and confidence. The term came from basketball but crossed over into football through street culture and social media. Calling someone a baller means they've got technique, they're not afraid to try things, and they look good doing it. It's a compliment about style as much as ability.

Looking behind you before receiving the ball to see where defenders and teammates are. The best midfielders do it constantly, multiple times before the ball arrives. It lets them know whether to turn, lay it off, or switch play. Players who don't check their shoulder get caught on the ball or miss options. Xavi was famous for how often he scanned the pitch.

How well a player keeps the ball under pressure. Good ball retention means they don't lose it often, even in tight spaces. Different from just passing accuracy because it accounts for pressure, body position, and shielding. Players with good retention can receive in difficult situations and give teammates time to move. Possession teams value it highly.

A player who spends their whole career at one club. Rare now because the transfer market moves everyone around. When it happens, the player becomes a club legend and symbol of loyalty. Totti at Roma is the modern example - he turned down Real Madrid and United to stay in his hometown for 25 years. Cynics point out some one-club men just never got offers to leave.

A player who times runs into the box from deep, arriving just as the ball is being played. Harder to track than someone who starts in the box because defenders are focused on the initial threat. The best late runners know when to go, how fast to move, and where to end up. Not just about pace - it's about anticipation and getting the timing exactly right.