The Endangered Species I Love Beyond Reason: The Fantasista

Football is a sport built on meticulously constructed tactics and the coordination of twenty-two players on the pitch.

And yet, one man, with one single play, can tear that whole system apart.

“The Fantasista” is the true thrill of football.

That is my personal creed, anyway. (laughs)

I love a style that prizes the beauty of defending with ten men and the Number 10, who decides the match with a single flash of inspiration.

“Defensive Fantasy” is my philosophy of football.

The goal against Germany at the 2006 World Cup that Del Piero himself mentioned in yesterday’s stream.

It holds every reason I love Italy and the Azzurri. Still the greatest single strike of my life. That ultra counterattack launched by Cannavaro is, no matter how many times I watch it, impossibly beautiful 😍

I’m hoping to see it implemented 😆 #サカつくRTW pic.twitter.com/tetsuclimb

— 武蔵野スフィーダ@サカつくRTW (@tetsuclimb) September 18, 2023

A style in which ten players give their lives for the sake of one Number 10 shakes my soul. Yes, like De Rossi, who offered every beat of his heart for Totti’s freedom.

Here are the players who shaped that philosophy of mine.

Alessandro Del Piero

The man who dragged me into the swamp of football. He cursed me with a spell I can never escape from this wonderful swamp. Known as “Pinturicchio” (the little painter), Del Piero was a Fantasista who enchanted all who watched with his artistic play. Loyal to Juventus, he collected countless titles, and his composure in front of goal and the beautifully curling shots were art itself. With a glorious career for both club and the Italian national team, he is remembered as a symbol of the Fantasista.

Roberto Baggio

Loved around the world as the “Divine Ponytail,” Baggio ruled the pitch with his genius touch and creativity. As Italy’s Number 10 at the 1994 World Cup, he led the team to the final, only to swallow tears in the fateful penalty shootout. Yet his play remains in the hearts of countless fans, and he is passed down as the embodiment of the very concept of the Fantasista.

The Fantasista is Roberto Baggio.

Álvaro Recoba

A Uruguayan genius who enchanted the world with an explosive left foot and original play. Centered on his career at Inter, he made a tremendous impact even as a super-sub. Long shots, free kicks, dribbling: his technique was astonishing in everything, and with magical plays that turned an ordinary match into a spectacle in an instant, he captivated fans. His greatest trait is that not a single one of his goals was dull. (Only when he was in form. Lol.)

Ricardo Quaresma

The player who became my reason for supporting Portugal, after Del Piero pushed me into the Fantasista swamp. For nearly 15 years until his retirement, the player I came to love most.

Ricardo Quaresma, the Portuguese genius known as the “Wizard of the Trivela.” His style truly deserved the name Fantasista. His distinctive trivela kick, struck with the outside of his right foot, went beyond mere technique and reached the realm of art.

Having wandered through clubs such as Barcelona, Porto, Inter and Beşiktaş, he showed overwhelming individual ability at every one. Unpredictable dribbling, tricky passes and beautifully curving shots kept the audience spellbound.

With the national team, he contributed to the EURO 2016 triumph. His winning goal against Croatia in particular was a decisive strike worthy of Quaresma. He was often compared to his close friend and contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo, yet his play had an originality all its own.

His talent has been called that of an “unfinished genius,” but there is no doubt that he was a Fantasista. Free-spirited and committed to play that refused to fit any mold, Quaresma was undoubtedly a special presence in football.

Ronaldinho

“The genius who enjoys football”: Ronaldinho’s play was filled with pure joy and magic.

Light ball touches as if keeping a samba rhythm, trick plays that seemed to laugh at the opponent before him, and an overwhelming charm that made even the crowd dance.

He built a golden era at Barcelona and won the Ballon d’Or in 2005. His stunning performance in El Clásico earned a standing ovation even from supporters of their archrival Real Madrid.

Many players suit the word Fantasista, but none embodied “fun” like Ronaldinho. Plays born alongside his smile captivated everyone watching and reminded us that the essence of football is entertainment.

His many acts of magic on the pitch remain etched in the memories of football fans around the world.

Rayan Cherki

The next-generation Fantasista, a talent from France drawing attention. Raised in Lyon’s academy, he established himself in the first team while still young. His soft touch and highly improvisational play recall the Fantasisti of old. Still developing, he is a rare talent capable of match-deciding creative plays. I look forward to seeing what kind of Fantasista he becomes.

He emerged suddenly while Fantasisti are an endangered species. For those who fell in love with football because of the Fantasista, this era feels like despair, but he is a savior to such fans.

He is still in his early twenties. I can hardly wait to see the Fantasista path he carves out. At last, the object of my fan devotion has appeared.

In closing

The modern era demands athletic ability, where speed, physicality and tactics fill most of football and the “waste” of beauty is thoroughly eliminated,

but although it is not the Number 10 position, the role of the 1.5 line is beginning to be born again.

I hope that more players with Fantasista skills, starting with the rising star Rayan Cherki, will keep emerging,

and I intend to keep loving this world.