Ranking the 15 greatest individual football performances of all time - Zidane vs Brazil 2nd

There is a very good reason behind the fact that football is known as the ‘beautiful game’.

Be it Cristiano Ronaldo terrorising defences, Lionel Messi gliding across the pitch and leaving goalkeepers helpless, or Zinedine Zidane’s nonchalant wizardry, when played well, football is just unbeatable.

While it may be a team game, the result of any game can often hinge on the performance of an individual who, on their day, has chosen to take a match by the scruff of the neck and haul their teammates to victory.

So, with that in mind, we thought we would have a go at ranking some of the greatest individual performances of all time.

From Ronaldinho to Michael Owen, Gareth bale to Petr Cech, these individuals truly went above and beyond in the pursuit of glory both for themselves, and their teams.

15. Michael Owen vs Germany – 2001

England’s Michael Owen-inspired victory over Germany in the early 2000’s was one of the most memorable in the nation’s modern history.

Having fallen behind in a crucial World Cup qualifier, Owen rallied to smash an unforgettable hat trick as England secured a rollicking 5-1 win.

14. Dimitar Berbatov vs Liverpool | 2010

Old Trafford has been home to so many incredible strikers that quite often, and criminally so, one of the best is overlooked.

Dimitar Berbatov possessed an angelic touch and, alongside his penchant for the outrageous, was capable of pulling massive rabbits out of tiny hats.

In 2010, The Manchester United man tore a hapless Liverpool apart with a picture-perfect performance.

13. Mark Viduka vs Liverpool | 2001

With Australian Mark Viduka leading the charge, Leeds boasted an incredibly dangerous side at the turn of the millennium – just ask Liverpool.

Viduka rattled in four goals in what