Football fans’ build ‘perfect’ Premier League player – as top traits revealed | Football | Sport

What happens when you ask football fans to build the ultimate Premier League baller? Well according to 2,000 football fans, the perfect player ends up looking like a hybrid of the league’s best players, as well as some old time legends too. According to the poll, commissioned by OLBG, the perfect Premier League player would have Mo Salah’s left foot, N’Golo Kanté’s work rate, and Kevin De Bruyne‘s game IQ.

What’s more, almost one in six would give their ‘perfect player’ the sense of humour of former Stoke and Liverpool striker, now podcaster and pundit, Peter Crouch. And the leadership qualities of fellow broadcaster Roy Keane, from his prime.

Jake Ashton from the brand said: “Putting together these legends of the Premier League into one skin is such an interesting debate, as the options are endless.

“The fans have spoken, but there were so many other combinations and great candidates on the table – some of the nominations could have gone either way.”

Cristiano Ronaldo was also the top pick by fans who want the perfect player to have his dribbling and trickery. The Portuguese legend, now playing for Al Nassr, also led the opinion poll for other characteristics such as ball control and heading ability.

With so many characteristics included in the perfect player, it’s no surprise one in five footie fanatics put Ronaldo at the top of the list of best all-round Prem players of all time.

However, when it came to passing, Kevin De Bruyne’s name was again top of the list, with former Chelsea star N’Golo Kanté also picked for a second time – thanks to his superior tackling.

Didier Drogba muscled his way into the mix, as more than one in 10 fans would want to see his strength injected into the concept player. And recently knighted Sir David Beckham was given the nod to be included for his freekick taking ability, by almost a third of the fans polled.

The ingredients fans feel most important when making the perfect player include finishing ability, passing ability and ball control. With 43% of supporters putting football IQ and pace on par with one another.

When asked what qualities are missing in today’s top Premier League players compared to legends of the past, loyalty to one club (44%) came top of the list. Humility and a grounded attitude, along with consistent work ethic (both 35%), made up the top three, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Jake Ashton for OLBG added: “Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo at the forefront of fans’ minds when it comes to characteristics which make the perfect player shows just how good he has been.

“Especially as he played in the same era as greats like Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes and Henry – all of whom, in their own rights, have been touted as some of the greatest ballers to play in the league.

“There are some amazing new and emerging talents coming through and being signed from overseas each year.

“It would be really interesting to see how much of the Portuguese legend people would still put into the perfect player in 10 years’ time, once those young talents have made their own mark.”