20 Players Who Score Goals with Real Flair

There are those in football renowned for their mastery of goalscoring, but there are others who take that craft to an entirely different, often mind-boggling level.

Here, we take a look at 20 of the world's finest when it comes to not just hitting the back of the net, but doing so with a certain panache that simply not every player can boast.

The more outrageous the skill level, the higher a player may rank, but it's also something they will have to have shown on a frequent enough basis in recent months and years. For example, Fernando Torres was once revered for his flair in front of goal, but his descent in the last few seasons rules him out of contention.

Relevance is a key factor in our ranking, with players showing more recent flair in front of goal gaining precedence over those who are perhaps not netting as regularly these days.

Give us your thoughts on who should or shouldn't have made the cut in the forum below.

Ronaldinho

A 2005 Ballon d'Or winner and three-time UEFA Team of the Year entrant, Ronaldinho may be regarded by some as the most gifted player to have graced the sport when it comes to converting with flair.

Unpredictable to the end, the Brazilian always had a knack for adding something extra onto the ordinary, whether it be from open play or set piece, from the simplest of angles or the most acute.

Now with Queretaro of Mexico's Liga MX, the 35-year-old isn't exactly converting chances with as much frequency as he once did, but nevertheless deserves an honourable mention as a legend in these terms.

Erik Lamela

Had the Argentinian continued his momentum with Roma, Erik Lamela might have gone on to crack the top 20 of our rundown, but his stagnated form since moving to Tottenham Hotspur sees him just miss out.

However, a rabona goal against Asteras Tripolis earlier this season showed us what the former Giallorossi maestro still holds in his locker, willing to attempt the audacious with magnificent outcome.

It was clear from an early age that Memphis Depay was on course for a big future, taking his first steps among PSV's senior ranks at the age of 17 before making his international debut aged 19.

Now 21 years of age, Depay is showing his class in a new light and is currently the Eredivisie's top scorer this season with 17 goals and counting, sparing no expense in the style that's been added along the way.

Eight points clear at the head of the Dutch top flight, PSV have looked monstrous at times this term and have Depay spearheading their assault, clearly capable of moving on to even bigger and better things.

Palermo prodigy Paulo Dybala has shown his talents stretch far beyond that of simply goalscoring this season, providing the Sicilian outfit with a capable playmaking edge along with his superb finishing touch.

Following several seasons of struggling to hit stride, Dybala has given Palermo president Mauricio Zamparini renewed faith in his ability and cause to once again believe in comparisons with compatriot Sergio Aguero.

The 21-year-old looks set for a future in Argentina's international setup and possesses a superbly versatile ability to play almost anywhere in attack, aiding his knack for the outrageous.

Newcastle United's Papiss Demba Cisse is far from the most prolific inclusion on our list, but it's perhaps the striker's attempts to finish things with style that sometimes hold back his scoring rate.

Whether it's from long range or a seemingly harmless angle, the former Freiburg forward seems willing to take a whack—whack being the operative word in most cases, as shown against Chelsea in 2012 (see video).

From his days in Germany to his current home in the English top flight, achieving the incredible is something that comes hand-in-hand with the Senegalese, along with no small dose of controversy.

Alexandre Lacazette's job at Olympique Lyonnais this season has been to score goals first, with style as a secondary objective, but he's certainly managed to accomplish both en route to leading the club to second in Ligue 1.

With 23 goals in 26 appearances this season, some of the France international's strikes are bound to be routine, but he's also displayed a passion for shooting outside the box on a frequent basis.

Aided by the supplementary skills of Nabil Fekir, Jordan Ferri, Maxime Gonalons and others, Lacazette has succeeded in bringing his game to an entirely new level this year, accompanied by all the bells and whistles.

Did he have to do it? Of course not, but as the video above will show, Roberto Firmino isn't exactly a player who relies on the accepted understandings of what must be done on a football pitch.

Following a lengthy campaign for his inclusion, the Hoffenheim forward is making waves in Brazil's national team, the Selecao having housed some of the world's most technically gifted players down the decades.

Recent seasons would suggest Firmino is assuredly capable of becoming part of that next generation, the 23-year-old having netted his own share of corkers since arriving in the Bundesliga as a teenager.

Since going through something of a revival after returning to former club Sporting Lisbon on loan, Manchester United's Nani has reminded the football community just what it is he still offers on the pitch.

With confidence once again sky-high—if it ever truly faded—and courage booming, the Portugal international is back to his old tricks of attempting the incredible, but now boasts a higher success rate.

One can only guess as to whether Nani would be capable of translating the form back to the Premier League this summer, but as the attached video illustrates, he's enjoying his spell in Lisbon while it lasts.

Not since the 2006-07 campaign, his first in European football, has Sergio Aguero failed to score goals in the double-digits, mustering at least 17 finishes in every single season he's played since then.

One doesn't amass those kind of numbers and not get the opportunity to show off every once in a while, especially when it's a team packed with creative maestros, such as Manchester City.

Scoring with either foot and with distance apparently not a diminishing factor to the Argentina international, Aguero is a deadly sharpshooter from just about anywhere in the final third and, more often than not, ends up looking superb while going about his scoring exploits.

Bayer Leverkusen's Hakan Calhanoglu is arguably the best set-piece taker in Europe at present—no slight achievement considering the Turkey international is still just 21.

In short, there's little the youngster does in his play that doesn't reek of flair. Whether from a dead-ball scenario or open play, he brings some sizzle to the German top flight.

As Calhanoglu progresses, we're seeing more of that long-range glitz added into his open play, and one can only hope it continues to progress along its current path.

On his day, Marco Reus is the most valuable instrument to Germany manager Joachim Low, an indicator of his majesty in attack and what a miss he was at last year's World Cup.

The man they call "Rolls Reus" aptly lives up to his nickname: Luxurious, a joy to watch when going at full speed and with horsepower to spare, just like the expensive German vehicle.

A complete attacker in the sense he can both finish and provide for those around him, Reus regularly makes the unlikely look simplistic in front of goal.

Another entrant hailing from the stylish stomping ground of Brazil, Zenit St. Petersburg star Hulk isn't under the football spotlight as regularly since moving to his outpost in the Russian Premier League.

That being said, the former Porto phenomenon can still be caught pulling off astonishing acts under Andre Villas-Boas and scored an impressive 22 goals last season, a number of which came from set-piece situations.

"Power" would be one word most succinctly summarising Hulk's style of play, and there aren't many in Europe who have shown the same long-range proficiency in recent years.

He may not have been permitted to show it during a few years of his Paris Saint-Germain exile, but a move to Milan has given Jeremy Menez a new lease of life as a fashionable forward once again.

The Frenchman has taken little time to strut his stuff in front of a Serie A audience and currently sits second only to Carlos Tevez in the top-scorer count.

As with many of the Rossoneri forwards, Menez brings a certain maestro-like presence to the club's front line, with many of his goals this season almost seeming to defy the laws of physics (although the linked example was disallowed, unfortunately).

Many of the names included in our rundown are relatively new to the hierarchy of scoring through incredible means; Arjen Robben has been doing it for a decade, but he has really excelled since moving to Germany.

Not many might have predicted the Dutchman would go on to become quite so awesome with Bayern Munich, earning Ballon d'Or nominations and European titles thanks to his countless injections of sheer wonder.

Robben's left foot is something out of this world, and although the winger isn't quite as one-dimensional as some might suggest, it's his left peg that does most of the talking—or should that be a deafening scream?

From his days at Le Havre through to the Manchester United academy and to his latest stamping ground at Juventus, Paul Pogba always had something special about him.

Recent years have gradually allowed us to see more and more of that something, and thankfully, it's the France international's penchant for scoring sensational goals that's getting better season by season.

Working with the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez in Turin looks to be coaxing the risk-taking side of Pogba's personality out further and further, which we should all be extremely glad of.

Even in a campaign where all isn't going precisely to plan at the Bernabeu, Gareth Bale remains a talent whom most will agree is capable of things only a minute percentage of the football fraternity can dream of.

Many will remember a hat-trick display at Inter in October 2010 as the moment Bale announced himself as something extraordinary, a night where his speed and exceptional left boot opened doors against a lacklustre Maicon.

Although some Real Madrid fans might say the winger is going through a rough patch, Bale continues to prove he's capable of great things in front of goal, although his weaker foot could do with making a little more contribution.

Another Real Madrid figure who might have hoped for more this season, James Rodriguez's first campaign at the Bernabeu has been halted by a metatarsal injury.

Prior to that setback, however, we had just started to see bits and pieces of the player who lit up the 2014 World Cup, winning the tournament's Golden Boot and the 2014 Puskas Award for his goal against Uruguay.

As a creative midfielder, Rodriguez doesn't necessarily take on every sight he has at goal, preferring to create for others, but it tends to mean something special's en route when he does try his hand himself.

Without flair, there is no Neymar—the Barcelona star bases almost his entire body of work around his inherent ability to dazzle, which has in turn gifted him a place in arguably the world's most fearsome attacking trio. 

Like Pele before him, Neymar made his name as a youngster at Santos, bringing a quick pair of feet and an even quicker mind to the field, resulting in some ridiculous scoring feats.

Not least of which was the Brazilian's 2011 Puskas Award winner (see video), a demonstration of skill that simply doesn't dilute in terms of entertainment—no matter how many times one watches.

Lionel Messi has risen to become one of football's most celebrated talents, largely through a uncanny sense of close control and out-of-this-world dribbling ability, but scoring flair isn't necessarily a main attribute of his.

In fact, one might say the Barcelona icon operates on a no-frills basis for the most part, doing what's simple—at least by his own stellar standards—instead of necessarily doing what looks the best.

With that said, one doesn't become the highest scorer in La Liga history without their fair share of glitz and glamour intertwined within, but we more often than not see Messi scoring through similar, close range means.

By no way should that dilute the quality of those exploits, but those ranked above the Argentinian ace merely show their flair in front of goal in a higher proportion.

Only a man who often comes across as genuinely believing he originates from a higher plane of existence could attempt the things Zlatan Ibrahimovic does, which are fittingly out of this world.

To the Swede, it matters not who stands in front of him or just what obstacles rest between him and his target—if he's in a confident mood (always), then the objective is within reach.

Possessing a certain level of talent is obviously a prerequisite in scoring with flair, but Ibrahimovic may be evidence to the notion that simply having a certain audacity and faith in one's own ability is half the battle.

Some may wonder why Luis Suarez is above Messi in these rankings when the latter is largely viewed as the superior talent, which is probably true by all means.

However, when it comes to variety of scoring means and the attraction of their exploits, it's the Uruguayan who seems the superior asset and is slowly starting to show it at the Camp Nou.

After all, Suarez isn't too far from being a hitman as prolific as Messi, having netted 61 goals during his last two terms at Liverpool and more regularly having to conjure up brilliant individual feats in that time.

When it comes to style and doing things with a certain signature, there really isn't anyone who can yet contend with Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who has evolved what the modern footballer should be capable of.

Some argue that Ronaldo isn't the most caring of team-mates, an egotist if one will, and such claims could well be true. However, it only helps in emphasising further what he's able to accomplish as an individual.

Every portion of the Portugal captain's body is a scoring weapon, versatile to the extreme and hardly ever caught in a position where he looks helpless or unable to summon something out of nothing.

Oftentimes, Ronaldo will bring flair to a goal not because it helps and certainly not because it's necessary—but merely because he can.