My Ranking of The Hardest Soccer Positions (+ Reasons Why)

If you ask any soccer player where the most demanding position is, most will say the substitute bench (tongue in cheek, of course). Beyond that, each position on the field requires different physical, technical, tactical, and mental skills.

Although the difficulty of various soccer positions is debatable, this article outlines my ranking, starting with the most challenging down to the easiest:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Central Midfielders
3. Attacking Midfielder
4. Forwards
5. Centre Backs
6. Fullbacks

Table of Contents

• 1. Goalkeeper
• 2. Central Midfielders
• 3. Attacking Midfielders
• 4. Forwards
• 5. Center Backs
• 6. Fullbacks
• Final Thoughts

1. Goalkeeper

Being a goalkeeper is the most challenging position to play in soccer. The modern-day goalie must be able to:

• Adapt their play to be a sweeper (i.e., a defensive player who sits behind the defensive line), sometimes even having to exit their 18-yard area to clear the ball.
• Apply high levels of concentration to read the game from the back, which is especially difficult if they are out of play for long periods.
• Make split-second decisions over where to cover when an opponent hits a ball on target.
• Be incredibly agile to keep the ball out of the back of the net.

The physicality required from a goalkeeper is second to none. Imagine being surrounded by six or more opposition players, soaring into the air to save corners and free kicks, and then immediately going from defensive mode to attacking mode by releasing the ball to one of your players.

From a mental perspective, if a goalkeeper loses concentration for a moment or makes the slightest error in judgment, it almost always ends in a goal for the opposing team.

The position’s responsibility and the weight on their shoulders are immense, especially since you will often hear the resulting criticism from the supporters blaming the goalkeeper if a team loses. Just as quickly, though, one can acknowledge the role of the goalkeeper when the score is to your team’s advantage.

Players with the required technical skill, physicality, and quick decision-making include David DeGea, Manuel Neuner, and Ederson.

2. Central Midfielders

The central midfielders or defensive midfielders are the most resilient players. Their primary job is to cause a transition in the game, i.e., turning defense into offense.

The central midfielders must try and steal the ball away from the attacking opposition and then transform it into an attacking play against them, which is more challenging than it sounds.

For central midfielders to change or disrupt the momentum of play, they need to possess various qualities and skills to play defensively and in an attacking role. They must

• Keep possession and control of the ball while dribbling and using skills like La Croqueta or a V-cut effectively to get out of tight spaces.
• Have high fitness levels to cover more ground than any other player on the field.
• Have the vision to read a game well, like anticipating where the attacking players will be to transition the game.

For central midfielders to be successful, they require tactical, technical, physical, and mental skills. This makes central midfielders the hardest position to play in soccer besides playing as a goalkeeper.

Some of the many exceptional players in this position were Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and Zinedine Zidane, who could win the ball, keep it, and pass it to an attacking teammate.

3. Attacking Midfielders

The attacking midfielders are the soccer brains of any team. To succeed in this position, these players need to

• Have a holistic understanding of the game.
• Know where every team member is on the field and at any given moment.
• Understand how the players around them play and position themselves accordingly.
• Be super fit since they must constantly be on the run.
• Have excellent dribbling skills and ball control.

An attacking midfielder is tricky as these players only have a short time to make a game-changing decision or pass. Sometimes, one clinical pass can lead to a goal. For this reason, players like Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Kevin de Bruyne, and Bruno Fernandes are valuable to their respective teams.

4. Forwards

Forwards or strikers rank number four, which is contentious as many believe it is the most accessible position on the field. However, this position requires a combination of skills a team relies on to result in points on the scoreboard.

The striker must have numerous skills to be classed as the best, including

• Receiving the ball while facing away from the goals.
• Having the speed to outrun their defenders.
• Having the physical strength to keep the ball while fending off several opposing defenders.
• Making split-second decisions over whether to attempt a shot or pass to a teammate.
• Shooting with accuracy towards the target.

Forward players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Christiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland are world-renowned for a reason. They are class strikers who have mastered technical skills, like bicycle kicks, volley shots, diving headers, etc., to earn global respect.

5. Center Backs

The center backs on a team have one primary job: to stop the attacking side from getting a goal. This role is essential because they are the last line of defense besides the goalkeeper. Besides, typically, being tall to nullify the aerial threat posed by the opposition, center backs must also:

• Have strong communication with their goalkeeper.
• Have physical and mental speed to make decisions quickly.
• Make timely and accurate tackles to try and keep a clean sheet.

Center backs need to try and slow opposing defenders down and win the ball, which often results in shirt-pulling, pushing, and shoving opponents off the ball like bullies. The importance here is defending well without receiving a foul (i.e., a yellow or red card).

Even though this position is slightly easier than being a forward, the difficulty lies in that one error could be to a team’s detriment. Notable center backs include Sergio Ramos, John Terry, and Rio Ferdinand.

6. Fullbacks

Fullbacks or wingbacks are enjoyable to watch as the players both defend and have opportunities to score. The position was, arguably, made famous by the great Brazilian Roberto Carlos.

The fullback position generally stayed the same over the decades, with the skills needed in the mid-1900s remaining the same today. Fullbacks must possess:

• Incredible fitness and speed to keep attacking opposing players for the game’s duration.
• The knowledge and skill to know when to attack and retreat to a more defensive role.
• The vision and talent to cross a ball to the opposite side of the field with precision.
• Dribbling skills and ball control.

Although challenging, fullbacks rank as the less complicated position because they require many of the same skills as other positions. Yet, they have the ‘luxury’ of only defending and attacking the flanks, unlike center backs, who need to concentrate on and practice an awareness of the whole pitch.

Final Thoughts

This ranking might vary depending on the formation that a coach decides to play. It is worth exploring other articles that outline each position in more depth and describe the most suitable players in each role based on qualities like speed, vision, and agility, as well as their physical conditions such as being tall, short, slow, fast, etc.

Check out a list of articles you might be interested in reading:

• The Hardest Position in Soccer
• The Hardest Position in Soccer Besides The Goalkeeper
• The Easiest Position in Soccer
• The Best Position For Your Weakest Soccer Player
• Best Soccer Positions For Slow Players
• Best Soccer Positions For Fast Players
• Best Soccer Positions For Tall Players
• Best Soccer Positions For Short Players