In the modern football era, stars like Messi, Ronaldo, and Haaland grab the news and social media headlines. Yet, beneath this glittering facade lies a treasure trove of underrated players—footballers who consistently deliver magic on the pitch while often remaining under the radar. These unsung heroes bring flair, reliability, and unmatched passion to the game, enriching the beautiful sport with their subtle brilliance. Let’s take a closer look at these underrated players and uncover the unique qualities that make them indispensable to their teams.
Exploring Why Underrated Footballers Often Fly Under the Radar
There are several factors behind some players being underrated footballers:
- Relegation matches against strugglers instead of league leaders
- Doing mundane tactical tasks that will not be highlight-reel-worthy
- Media coverage biases based on geography and culture
- Introverted personalities that do not self-promote
These underappreciated assets are the under-the-radar strengths of winning teams, the building blocks upon which more glamorous players create their highlight reels.
Unsung Heroes: Defensive Stalwarts
Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr)
Though integral to Manchester City’s success before his move to Saudi Arabia, Laporte never topped the headlines for more celebrated center-backs. His passing range, positional sense, and ability to play from deep make him the perfect center-back for modern times.
Most surprising regarding Laporte’s underappreciated status is his technical ability. Few center backs have his defensive solidity and capability to play with the ball. His transfer to Al-Nassr in 2023 only served to extend his exile from the limelight of European football.
Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
Though far from obscure, Trippier’s relentless excellence goes unmentioned in wider football discourse. His peerless set-piece delivery, tactical awareness, and leadership skills have been at the heart of Newcastle’s revival.
What makes Trippier different is that he can maintain top-class crossing potential while also providing defensive solidity—a trait which is all too fleeting among contemporary full-backs who often excel in one area but sacrifice the other.
Midfield Engines: The Backbone of Success
Rodri (Manchester City)
Despite growing recognition for Rodri after his pivotal goals in major-tournament matches, he is still underappreciated compared to his colossal contribution. With the metronomic function of Manchester City and Spain, Rodri’s tactical awareness, ability to withstand the press, and spatial awareness place him among the greatest footballers.
His absence is most noticed when he is not on the field—both City and Spain both struggle quite a lot without his stabilizing influence. Yet, he is not even mentioned among the world’s best midfielders on a daily basis given his performances.
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United)
Guimarães is the quintessential contemporary central midfielder: technically gifted, physically dominant, and tactically adept. Since joining Newcastle, Guimarães has transformed their midfield with his blend of defensive strength and attacking flair.
What distinguishes him is his excellent ability to do the less glamorous defensive work without losing his ability to be a valuable contributor to attacking play. His heat maps tend to be evidence of commitment throughout the pitch, with a complete midfielder who is capable in most parts of the game.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham/Atlético Madrid)
Far too often underestimated as nothing more than a defensive midfielder, Højbjerg’s progressive passing range and game intelligence remain underappreciated. His ability to unlock lines of opposition with penetrative passing is often overlooked in favor of flashier, more high-profile creative midfielders.
The Danish international is the very definition of how statistical analysis has let down some player profiles—his value lies way above the norms, in game management, tactical positioning, and leadership that cannot be quantified by analytics.
Attacking Talents: Clinical Yet Underrated Footballers Often Unheralded
Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Despite his excellent goal return and technical quality, Isak remains in the shadow of more touted strikers. His combination of physicality, technical class, and finishing makes him one of the best-rounded forwards in Europe.
What sets Isak apart from most forwards is his well-rounded skill set—equally as adept playing off his back to goal as running in behind defenses. This makes him adaptable to fit into various tactical systems but still score consistently.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Prior to his big-money transfer to Bayern Munich, Olise regularly produced first-class performances for Crystal Palace without receiving the deserved accolades. His close ball control, inventive vision, and capacity to score in congested areas make him a rare gem.
Olise’s biggest strength is his decision-making—when to press defenders and when to play off them. The game smarts that he has combined with technical skill portend to be one of the top attackers in the world now that he’s playing on one of Europe’s biggest stages.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Rarely spoken of alongside the Premier League’s best strikers, Trossard makes consistent, decisive contributions in his role as a starter or substitute. His tactical versatility, which enables him to play effectively across the entire front line, makes him priceless to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
What is most striking about Trossard is his efficiency—maximizing effect with few touches, frequently in congested spaces. Such efficiency, combined with tactical acumen, allows him to win matches without necessarily controlling possession.
Beyond Numbers: The Impact of Underrated Footballers When Stats Fall Short
One of the intriguing things about underrated footballers is how traditional statistics don’t pick up on their contribution. Consider Liverpool’s early “lighthouse” Fabinho in his peak years—his statistical record never matched his value to Liverpool’s system. In the same vein, the likes of N’Golo Kanté redefined positions without statistical supremacy.
Sophisticated analytical techniques are evolving to better measure these contributions:
- Defensive moves in pre-team possession sequence
- Progressive carries and transfers that cut across opposition lines
- Creating space for teammates through off-ball movement
- Pressure application that forces opposition errors
These statistics do serve to foreground the contributions of the previously de-emphasized players, albeit newspaper reports still fall short in foregrounding such important but less visible dimensions of performance.
Geographical Bias: Forgotten Leagues and Countries
Another important reason for producing underrated footballers is the uneven emphasis on the conventional European powerhouse leagues. World-class players in the likes of Portugal’s Primeira Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, and other South American leagues consistently produce world-class performances with little coverage.
Consider players like:
- Mehdi Taremi (ex-Porto) – always high goal and assist figures prior to his transfer to Inter Milan – Lisandro Martínez – one of those seen as a gamble signing by Ajax before showing class at Manchester United
- Luis Díaz – eyed suspiciously by everyone after joining Liverpool despite dominating Portuguese football
This geographical imbalance is not just apparent in club football but also in international representation, with players from countries outside the established powerhouses generally requiring outstanding performances in order to be equally well-known.
The Importance of Recognizing Underrated Footballers: Beyond Personal Admiration
The popularity deficit endured by most underrated footballers is more than just a popularity contest. It often strikes:
- Contract and pay negotiations
- Chances to transfer to larger clubs
- National team selection
- Post-career media and coaching opportunities
More significantly, they affect our understanding and discussion of football itself, probably restricting appreciation of the diverse skills and characteristics which underpin football greatness.
Conclusion: Celebrating the Hidden Treasures of Football with Underrated Footballers
The beauty of the beautiful game is in part finding and enjoying these underrated footballers who play without fanfare. Their tales remind us that the beauty of football is far greater than highlight reels and social media moments.
The next time you watch a game, consider devoting some of your attention to these lesser-known stars—perhaps you will find a new football delight, one of subtle excellence rather than of flashy highlights. The player who is getting the least amount of camera time may be the one who makes everything else work. Who underrated footballers impressed you the most? Do you have underrated gems in your team that need more limelight? Tell us in the comments below, and let us take a moment to appreciate football’s underrated heroes together!
A dedicated tactical analyst with over 10 years of experience studying European football’s elite leagues. Imran follows the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga with particular focus on managerial systems and tactical evolution. Watching 2-3 matches weekly across these competitions, he has developed deep insights into how different coaching philosophies translate across leagues and cultures. At Latest in Football, Imran specializes in breaking down complex tactical decisions and managerial appointments for everyday football fans.
