BBC Sport has ranked football's greatest showboaters, with Ronaldinho claiming the top spot in a list that celebrates the sport's most flamboyant entertainers. The Brazilian magician, known for his elastico moves and Champions League brilliance, is described as 'virtually unplayable' at his peak - a grinning chess grandmaster with an arsenal of deadly tricks.

Former Swansea forward Lee Trundle, dubbed the 'Showboat King' during his Soccer AM fame, explains the appeal: 'You want to see people doing something that you can't.' The ranking includes modern mavericks like Neymar Jr., whose rainbow flicks and feints made him a YouTube sensation, though his recent form has been questioned. Former Premier League winger Yannick Bolasie defended Neymar as 'the king' who 'played real street soccer on the elite stages'.

Other showboaters making the list include Mario Balotelli, whose rabona goals and eccentric personality entertained fans, and Ricardo Quaresma, master of the trivela and rabona. The ranking also highlights Kerlon, the Brazilian known for his unique 'seal dribble' where he would flick the ball onto his forehead and scurry past defenders. From Jay-Jay Okocha's Bolton Wanderers wizardry to Joe Cole's early West Ham exploits, the article celebrates players who brought joy through flamboyant skills that defenders could only dream of stopping.