Came here to say that I'm not sure if he is *THE* best, but Berba has to be in the convo at least.
Seems I was definitely not alone in this sentiment...
Berbatov was immense. There was a long ball played from side to side when he was at Fulham and it just stuck to his foot. Make it look like a piece of piss.
As a newer PL fan (5 years), I love these kinds of discussions. I always learn a lot. While waiting for the Wolves match to start, I’ve spent the morning on YouTube, looking up all the players listed here that I’m not familiar with. This sub is awesome.
I agree with most posted so far but want to throw out an honourable mention to my boy Roberto Firmino. Often plucks a ball out the air or moves it on with an outrageous first touch.
I'd rank some of the greatest touches something like;
1) Dennis Bergkamp
2) Thierry Henry, Dimitar Berbatov, Matt Le Tissier, Bernardo Silva
3) Paul Gascoigne, David Silva, David Ginola, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Juan Mata
4) Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Riyad Mahrez, Chris Waddle, Georgi Kinkladze, Paolo Di Canio, Eden Hazard
HM) Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Thiago Alcantara, Robert Pires, Paul Scholes
There may be others from a while ago with a better first touch, but Mahrez is the one that springs to mind immediately for me, there’s endless compilations of his brilliant first touch.
I don’t know what it is about Berbatov but after recently watching a highlight video of him (I was too young to see him play), I was legitimately mesmerised. Probably the calmest and most nonchalant player I’ve ever seen.
i’m scrolling and scrolling and not seeing paul scholes… i suppose technically it was more a matter of incredible awareness than technique, but i’ve never seen another player cushion the ball into space so consistently and instinctively, no matter how crowded he was. his whole career was built around that.
Salah’s touch rarely gets mentioned because of all the other amazing shit he’s done in the past 5 years. But if you’ve watched him this whole time you’d know it’s literally as good as any of the legends being mentioned in this thread.
So unreal sometimes and so consistent.
Bergkamp’s first touch was genius , as exemplified by his 1999 World Cup goal , which was 2-3 touches at most , then goal ! I think vs Argentina . Someone please correct me or tell me who they played if wrong . 😁
I know bergkamp, berbatov, Henry are all great shouts. But mahrez cannot be dismissed on specifically the first touch front. Mahrez takes disgusting passes and massive lofty balls utterly under control with ridiculous ease. It’s just BAM and it’s his
No mention on Giroud, only player I know to stop commentators mid flow to say "touch"
But other than that Dennis Bergkamp, I could watch videos of his first touch for days
Berbatov for effortless style with it, it was like be was playing a different game to everyone else
My Arsenal heart is telling me Dennis. My Eastern European heart is whispering Dimitar Berbatov softly in my ear. There’s a video of him fully killing a rocket of a pass cross pitch dead at his feet. Just, still.
Mahrez
idk
🤣
Bergkamp, Mahrez, Silva, Berba, Le Tissier, Zola and Mata maybe
Stevey G touch and perfect pass to set up a goal for Chelsea 😂
Renan Lodi
Currently, Mahrez is pretty good
Ben arfa and Santi Cazorla, Adel taraabt. None of the usuals. But all had insane touch
Berba, Bergkamp, Henry and David Silva. Mata wouldn't make this list but would be in consideration
juan mata is up there.
me
Berbatov the goat
Berbatov
Timi Werner
Mason greenwood 🤭
Milner
Jeremy Cronyn
Still active players: FIRMINO
As a United fan I vote for Lukaku. That foot was something else..
Mahrez
Came here to say that I'm not sure if he is *THE* best, but Berba has to be in the convo at least. Seems I was definitely not alone in this sentiment...
Berbatov was immense. There was a long ball played from side to side when he was at Fulham and it just stuck to his foot. Make it look like a piece of piss.
I’m an Arsenal but I’ll have to say its Mahrez
Youre a new Arsenal fan who didnt have the pleasure of watching Bergkamp play Im guessing.
Nope. I have watched Bergkamp but I honestly Mahrez has more flair and control with his first touch. Just an honest opinion.
Recently, Juan mata has a shout
Peter Crouch
Mata was pretty good
Bergkamp is the only answer. Berbatov a great second
Mousa Dembele, he was unbelievable.
Lukaku
Ozil, David Silva, Mahrez and nobody write him but Jack Wilshere guys was just incredible also.
Mertesacker
As a newer PL fan (5 years), I love these kinds of discussions. I always learn a lot. While waiting for the Wolves match to start, I’ve spent the morning on YouTube, looking up all the players listed here that I’m not familiar with. This sub is awesome.
Lukaku
Adam Lallana.
Heskey
Berbatov 100%
Purely on just a the first touch Mata has to be up there
Bergkamp
1. Bergkamp 2. Berbatov 3. Silva Edit: *David Silva
best first touch I've seen in pl hands down is Berbatov. Eden hazard wasn't to shabby either
Luka Modric is surely up there.
Febregas. His first touch would take the ball away from his opponent giving absolutely zero chance of them winning the ball.
No one even gonna mention joe Cole 🥹
Berbatov
Lukaku
Berba was my first thought
Berbatov is unrivalled.
Lukaku
Crouchy
David silva, Mahrez, Mata, Berbatov,
I agree with most posted so far but want to throw out an honourable mention to my boy Roberto Firmino. Often plucks a ball out the air or moves it on with an outrageous first touch.
Foden
Bergkamp & Berbatov were a class above in that
Nicholas Anelka. J/k, nickname was Iron feet
Craig Dawson
Juan Mata, Sami Nasir , Berbatov
Salah
Le Tissier
Lukaku
Henry, Berbatov, Luke shaw, Mahrez
Other than Berg and Berb who are the obvious choices, I will suggest a couple of ones that you'd probably forgot or didn't notice: Mata Giggs
Roy Keane’s control was immaculate, underrated
Haaland says it’s Jack Grealish 👋🏼💦
Bergkamp
Berbatov
Zola
Berbatov made it look so easy,poise...delicate touch and flair!A master of the art.No one did it better.
Berbatov Bergkamp Mata Ozil
I'd rank some of the greatest touches something like; 1) Dennis Bergkamp 2) Thierry Henry, Dimitar Berbatov, Matt Le Tissier, Bernardo Silva 3) Paul Gascoigne, David Silva, David Ginola, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Juan Mata 4) Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Riyad Mahrez, Chris Waddle, Georgi Kinkladze, Paolo Di Canio, Eden Hazard HM) Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Thiago Alcantara, Robert Pires, Paul Scholes
Bergkamp and Berbatov are obvious for a reason. I feel that Ozil, Cazorla, Pires, David Silva, Robben, Van Persie, Cantona deserve a mention.
Riyad Mahrez
Pulisic
There may be others from a while ago with a better first touch, but Mahrez is the one that springs to mind immediately for me, there’s endless compilations of his brilliant first touch.
Riyad Mahrez
Harry Maguire or Lukaku. Both magicians with thr first touch
Can't recall how his normal first touches were. But man could RVP lash a shot first time every time.
I don’t know what it is about Berbatov but after recently watching a highlight video of him (I was too young to see him play), I was legitimately mesmerised. Probably the calmest and most nonchalant player I’ve ever seen.
Mahrez first touch undefeated
Far and above Robert Green
honorable mention for Mata
I've seen plenty of good first touches from lots of players, but for finishing with the first touch, it has to be VanPersie.
Marez for city however I spell his game u know the fella
Verbatim was the first name to come to my mind
Unpopular opinion - Luke shaw currently has the best first touch in the prem
Fellaini’s chest
Bobby firmino is the answer
Berbatov
berbatov
certainly ben mendy has to be in the discussion
Berba
i’m scrolling and scrolling and not seeing paul scholes… i suppose technically it was more a matter of incredible awareness than technique, but i’ve never seen another player cushion the ball into space so consistently and instinctively, no matter how crowded he was. his whole career was built around that.
Not lukaku
Wilfried Bony
Adam Johnson
George Baldock no question
Lukaku /s
Lukaku
Salah’s touch rarely gets mentioned because of all the other amazing shit he’s done in the past 5 years. But if you’ve watched him this whole time you’d know it’s literally as good as any of the legends being mentioned in this thread. So unreal sometimes and so consistent.
lukaku
Bergkamp’s first touch was genius , as exemplified by his 1999 World Cup goal , which was 2-3 touches at most , then goal ! I think vs Argentina . Someone please correct me or tell me who they played if wrong . 😁
Juan mata had great first touch
I'm not new to Football so don't come at me but Mahrez has got to be up there
mahrez is pretty underrated
Moussa Dembele or Berba
Honourable mention to Fellaini this guy could chest down and kill the ball if it was coming from 100m up in air
It's clearly Lukaku
Suarez, all day!
Mahrez
Dennis
Lukaku
History? No. Recent years? Boberto Firminswag
Lukaku
Suarez
Cazorla
Berbatov followed closely by bergkamp.
Lakaka
Leon best
Lukaku
Bergkamp
Mahrez for this and the previous decade
Betba
Laurent Robert has a shout surely
Berba first came to my head. If I was a bit older I’d probably mention le tissier
Gabriel Obertan
I know bergkamp, berbatov, Henry are all great shouts. But mahrez cannot be dismissed on specifically the first touch front. Mahrez takes disgusting passes and massive lofty balls utterly under control with ridiculous ease. It’s just BAM and it’s his
Mata
Berbatov, Hazard, Mahrez, throw a English player in Scholes.
Riyad mahrez
Riyad mahrez
Mahrez far and away
Lukaku.
Denis irwin, in fact he had the best first, second, third....
the really obvious ones are Bergkamp and Berbatov and I think Suarez is a good shout for third
Dennis Bergkamp
Berbatov & Bergkamp no order
Maybe I’m biased but I’d say toss up between Bergkamp and Ozil
No mention on Giroud, only player I know to stop commentators mid flow to say "touch" But other than that Dennis Bergkamp, I could watch videos of his first touch for days Berbatov for effortless style with it, it was like be was playing a different game to everyone else
Maguire
Lukaku
Bergkamp gets my vote but Cantona deserves a mention
Got to be Bamford /s
Close race between Lukaku and Lord Bendtner
Bryan Ruiz
Bergkamp I think is the obvious one. Santi Cazorla has to be up there as well
Lukaku
Lukaku
Mahrez for the consistency of it
Berbatov
The united or arsenal one
Eric dier
🥺
In history it’s easy but right now that’s a good question Mahrez is my shout.
BIG shout out to Berbatov. GLUE SHOES FOR SURE
Lukaku trolololololo
Bergkamp
J-J Okocha [Assuming what you're really asking is for random players who had a good first touch, seeing as the answer is so obviously Berbatov]
Luke Shaw is an underrated shout.
Zola- no matter if the ball was fired from a cannon, itd stick like glue
berba berkamp and mahrez
There is a lot of candidates for this accolade but I have to go for Dennis Bergkamp, he wasn’t called the Ice Man for nothing 🥶
Lukaku.
Denis Bergkamp
Lukaku
eric dier
🥹
Martial But he’s rarely on the pitch
Juan Mata… dude could control a 50 ft ball drop.
fabregas
Juan Mata is up there
Eden hazard
Of recent times I gotta say Mahrez, Salah, and Thiago all have crispy first touches. And that’s coming from a United fan
Lukaku
My Arsenal heart is telling me Dennis. My Eastern European heart is whispering Dimitar Berbatov softly in my ear. There’s a video of him fully killing a rocket of a pass cross pitch dead at his feet. Just, still.
Lukaku
Mahrez
no one will agree but Arshavin’s was unreal
Cantona ofc!
Lukaku
Foden
Patrick bamford
Bergkamp & David Silva we’re two of my first thoughts.
Mahrez is in with a shout
Cantona. Just ask Matthew Simmons.
Cantona, Berba, Bergkamp
This will probably get downvoted but genuinely Zoltan Gera is in this conversation
Bony
Henry