Football has always romanticized its specialist positions-the cultured playmaker, the authoritative centre-back, the deadly striker-but the modern game prizes versatility most of all.
With just about every single position on the pitch requiring different aspects of the players, versatility is one of the highly sought-after traits that could mean a lot in terms of a team’s tactical flexibility.
Versatile players fill multiple positions across the pitch, presenting managers with valuable options should an injury crisis strike or while ringing new tactical setups.
These players are more than versatile; they are incredibly in tune with the game, such that they can play different roles and keep the team purring along.
We are talking about players who can change flanks on a whim, the type of player who can play in completely different, often specialist positions without skipping a beat.
With that said, here are ten of the most versatile footballers in history: men who have managed to make a difference by bossing the game from any position on the pitch.
1. James Milner
James Milner is versatility incarnate: in two decades, the Englishman has been playing across the pitch with unsung brilliance.
Whereas most find their position and stick to it, Milner has made a career out of the opposite. A central midfielder majorly, he played 235 times there.
He has also excelled on the wings, with 183 games as a right midfielder and 86 on the left.
Still, his reinvention at Liverpool truly cements his place at the number one on this list. When Jürgen Klopp needed a left-back, Milner stepped in, playing 72 games in that unfamiliar role.
He has also been used as a right-back, an attacking midfielder, and even as a makeshift forward.
Milner’s career speaks to his proof of understanding the game and work ethic, putting the team first no matter where he is asked to play.
The 38-year-old remains an asset and proves with adaptability, intelligence, and just sheer determination, a player can extend his career so much further than most can see.
2. Lionel Messi
Messi might be best known as one of the greatest footballers of all time, but he’s also one of the most tactically flexible.
While his magical left foot and incredible vision have often seen him deployed on the right wing-he did feature in 454 games. Messi’s ability to adapt has seen him flourish in several roles.
He has played 328 games as a center-forward, 68 as a secondary striker, 28 as an attacking midfielder, and even did some time on the left wing.
Messi is adaptable, not only in positional terms but also mentally.
In a career evolving from an unbreakable on-ball player, he has grown into a deep-lying playmaker who dictates the pace of the game with his passing and vision.
His desire to change his role for the improvement of Barcelona, PSG, and Argentina further emphasizes his football intelligence and unselfish nature.
3. Philipp Lahm
The career of Philipp Lahm is somewhat of a master class in the art of positional adaptability.
A German legend who started as an accomplished full-back, capable of pulling on either flank with equally impressive effectiveness, he could have been content with an already burgeoning reputation as one of the greatest on either side.
When Pep Guardiola came to Munich, however, Lahm became remade into a central midfielder where, through his football intelligence, tactical awareness, and immaculate passing, he continued to excel.
With his ability to read the game, perceive any danger, and then make such intelligent decisions, Lahm proved priceless, whether he played as a left or right back or even in the more central midfield positions.
The ease with which he transformed from defense into midfield has not only proved his ability but also his good understanding of space, tempo, and the demands of those different roles.
Lahm retired with eight Bundesliga titles, one Champions League trophy, and one World Cup, having shone in several positions at the highest level.
4. Javier Mascherano
When Javier Mascherano stepped off at the Catalonian capital, he was a feisty, tackling, defensive midfielder with great leadership qualities on the pitch.
He was now up against a lot of the best midfield talent, courtesy of Sergio Busquets and Xavi. Instead of warming up the benches, Mascherano changed and molded into a capable center-back.
Though his height was too short to play traditionally as a central defender, his intelligence, positioning, and combative nature had him become an intrinsic component of Barcelona’s defense.
In his time at Barcelona, Mascherano has made 319 appearances as a center-back and played an influential role in the team’s dominance in both domestic and European fields.
That he accepted such a role, despite his protests at how it would weigh heavily on his body, says a great deal about his character and his will to adapt. Mascherano puts into perspective the fact that football, just like any other sport, is all about mental strength just as much as it relates to physical ability.
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5. Joshua Kimmich
Versatility bears the name Kimmich. Comfortable in midfield or the defense, after having played his first 111 games as a right-back, he became a world-class defensive midfielder.
He played 234 times in this position to the level of being one of the most complete players in the world by intelligence on the football pitch, precise passing, and tactic acumen.
His versatility has allowed Bayern Munich to adapt their tactics seamlessly, knowing they have a player who can change from orchestrating the play in midfield to a player who can lock down an opponent on the flank.
His ability to read the game and perform under pressure, no matter the position, makes him a cornerstone of both his club and the German national team.
6. David Alaba
One of the peculiar aspects of David Alaba’s career has to be the transitional curve that it has taken.
Aggressive and dynamic, pacey, and skilled at the kind of left-back he was in the beginning- gradually transformed into a central defender in which his intelligence and ability to play with the ball came out very well.
Thus, Alaba has played 261 games as a left-back and 204 as a center-back, making him one of those few players capable enough to master two vastly different defensive roles.
Outside of these primary roles, Alaba has played as a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder, and even on the right side of midfield.
His tactical versatility has been vital in the massive successes of both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, where his adaptability and leadership are highly valued.
7. Bernardo Silva
With a team full of flexible players, Bernardo Silva still managed to be one of the class acts. Portuguese playmaker has been deployed in several roles for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, telling a lot about his intelligence, work rate, and technique.
Bernardo has played 134 games as an attacking midfielder, 129 as a right winger, 69 as a right midfielder, and even 109 games as a central midfielder.
He can be deployed at almost any position, depending on where his team needs him most in breaking stubborn defenses, pressing high up the pitch, or controlling the tempo of the game.
All these, besides his tenacity and skill, have combined well to make him indispensable in City’s recent dominance due to tactical adaptability.
8. Antoine Griezmann
Few players can claim to be as versatile as Antoine Griezmann.
The tactical sense and all-round ability of the French forward mean he can function anywhere in the final third with equal effectiveness.
Thus far, Griezmann has left his mark as a second striker-198 games, left winger-191 games, and center-forward-173 games as a right winger and attacking midfielder.
His willingness to adapt his game to whatever the team requires tracking back, pressing, or changing positions at different moments of the match has been pivotal for both club and country.
Well, his role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph highlighted his versatility, with Griezmann mixing defensive duties with creative flair and goal-scoring.
9. Thomas Müller
Such has been the uniqueness of Thomas Müller’s skill set that a new football term was coined to describe him as the “Raumdeuter” or “space interpreter.”
Though Müller’s primary position on paper has often been a second striker-322 games roughly, his tactical acumen allows him to pop up anywhere in an attack, often finding spaces others don’t see.
He has played 217 games as a right winger, 83 as an attacking midfielder, and 53 as a center-forward.
Müller’s game isn’t about speed or physicality but about positioning, timing, and uncanny understanding of where to be at the right moment.
His versatility has been a key asset for Bayern Munich across multiple managerial regimes, each of whom has found a way to utilize his unique talents.
10. Adam Marušić
Perhaps less known than others on this list, Marušić has been quite versatile at Lazio: the Montenegrin played right wing-back, right-back, midfielder, and winger as he showed adaptability across various positions on either flank.
Compared to all the players listed above, Marušić has shown a more discrete predisposition towards one side of the pitch, with 97 games in midfield and 66 at right-back, but he has also often played on the left, 82 games as a left-back.
The ability of Marušić to switch from attack to defense duties within one game underlines his tactical awareness and selflessness.
His versatility in a team like Lazio, with different ambitions, gave an excellent balance and depth that kept them competitive in many fronts.
Other Versatile Footballers Of All Time
Other sets of players who have proved immense adaptability include:
- João Cancelo
- Mauricio Isla
- Juan Cuadrado
- Wayne Rooney
- Dušan Tadić
- Daley Blind
- Ivan Perišić.
