Top 10 showboaters

We do tend to get a little bit bogged down in winning matches and scoring goals don't we? Take time out to appreciate some sexy skills and tantalising trickery, why don't you...

6) Rene Higuita To be a showboating goalkeeper requires a certain amount of craziness, and if it's craziness you're after, Higuita is your chap. This is a man who was imprisoned for kidnapping, tested positive for cocaine in 2004 and had plastic surgery operations live on television in a bid to become "handsome Rene." His inclusion on this list was guaranteed in September 1995 when, in an international between England and Colombia at Wembley Stadium, he casually chose to block a long range shot from Jamie Redknapp by jumping forward and kicking the ball with his heels. The Scorpian Kick was born. 5) Rivelino The moustachioed Brazilian beauty earns his spot in our countdown on the back of his flip flap, or elastico as it's sometimes known. In fact, some students of the game claim that Rivelino may well not have even been the first exponent of the trick, but let us not worry ourselves with facts right now. This is art, not science. What is certain is that Rivelino was a wonderful exhibitor of skill, and would torment a defender with a trick that involves flicking the ball slightly one way, before then pushing it back the other way with an increased impetus to beat a defender already wrong-footed. Any trick that Ronaldinho attempts to, and pretty much achieves at mastering, deserves respect. That's a couple of pretty sumptuous Brazilians. 4) Juan Roman Riquelme Even if you consider Riquelme to be more flawed genius and wasted talent than South American icon, there is little doubting the Argentinean's brilliance. In fact, there is an argument that Riquelme was the first 'hipster footballer', the evidence for which is the following paragraph from Jonathan Wilson: "Riquelme is not just a player; he is the cipher for an ideology: graceful of movement and deft of touch, he is the embodiment of the old-style enganche - literally the "hook" who links the midfield with the attack. Not for him the modern arts of closing down defenders; he created, and created only, and that made him a glorious anachronism." That's drowning in hipster dribble. But when you watch the graceful Argentine in action, all touch, feel, vision and guile, it's easy to find yourself getting carried away. 3) Johan Cruyff A skill so globally consumed and renowned that it is the first trick taught to children when starting to play the game now. Cruyff may have become increasingly associated with the theoretical or tactical side of football, but during a 1974 World Cup group game against Sweden he wowed the world with a trick that became phenomena. The reaction of the defender is perfection, as he genuinely loses concept of where Cruyff, the ball and his dignity have gone. Those were simpler days, with blacker boots, shorter shorts and a worldwide audience that was more easily impressed by a skill that was pure simplicity. 2) Gerrie Muhren Juggling the ball whilst in ten yards of space might not seem worthy for this list, but when it's in a European Cup semi-final against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu and you've already scored the winning goal, it certainly does count. Muhren's offering was all about the moment. With Ajax leading their renowned Spanish opponents a merry dance on their own patch, Muhren managed to underline his side's superiority with some impromptu, understated and, best of all, utterly unnecessary showboating. The deft touch to control, the effortless kick-ups, the balancing of the ball and the laziness of the pass all combine to make perhaps the coolest ten seconds of football ever. Not the normal actions of a man whose middle names are Dominicus and Hyacinthus 1) Len Shackleton The original and the greatest. The showboater against which all others shall be measured (and ultimately fall short). England international Len Shackleton - we salute you. Shackleton's nickname was the Clown Prince of Football, and that effectively sums up his attitude to the game. He scored almost 300 league goals throughout a career interrupted by the Second World War, but the goals almost became secondary to his outrageous arsing about. In a match against Arsenal he dribbled the ball into penalty area before putting his foot on it, pretending to comb his hair and looking at his watch. He was also known to play one-twos with the corner flags and would often round a goalkeeper only to refuse to put the ball into the net until his opponent attempted to tackle him. However, the best story regarding Shackleton regards his retirement. After announcing it to a group of waiting journalists, he took out a shiny new penny out of his pocket, threw it into the air, caught it on his shoe and then flicked it into the air before catching it in his top pocket and casually walking away. Wonderful stuff. A version of this article first appeared on Football365