Do Dual Footed Football Players Score More Goals?

Something that perhaps not many people think about in football, often because they simply prefer to enjoy the game rather than pay much attention to individual statistics, however, over the years some players have become iconic for being incredible with one foot.

Professionals such as Ryan Giggs for example, who was heavily reliant on his left foot, and as a result, scored the vast majority of his goals with this and while, many an opponent tried to force him onto his right, he was simply too skilful most of the time. Could this mean that one-footed players actually score more goals? As the stats below show, it does appear that this is the case.

However, it got us thinking, whether dual footed players score more goals, because of the increased number of opportunities that they may possibly have, where they do not need to try and create space to move onto their favoured foot, which could give opponents a chance to prevent them from scoring.

How Important Is It To Be Able To Use Both Feet?

There is an argument that any footballer should be able to use both feet just as effectively, because essentially, in the simplest of terms, they are the tools that they need in order to do their job. A number of critics over the years have claimed that if a player is being paid what is considered to be a significant amount of money to play football, then they should be just as good with both feet, however, surprisingly, this is not the case.

Even today, it is quite rare to find a lot of players, especially in one team that can do everything with both of their feet, whether this is shooting, passing, dribbling or even tackling. For players who are especially heavily one-footed, over the years, managers have adopted the tactic of having one of their own team members force an opponent onto their weaker foot in order to restrict what they are able to do in a game. However, for the very best players, they are able to get around this with speed and trickery, such as Lionel Messi in his prime.

It could be argued though that to play at the highest level of the game (especially considering the astronomical wages that some players are paid), that they should be able to use both feet just as effectively without even thinking about it.

Because of this, it does throw up an argument as to whether players who can use both feet score more goals or whether they are presented with more goal-scoring opportunities due to the positions that they get themselves into. We have seen many times players who look like they are in a great position to score but the angle at which they are means they are on their weaker foot. As they try to manoeuvre onto their favoured foot, they lose valuable time, giving their opponents a chance to prevent the chance – more often than not, the attacking player loses the opportunity. This is one particular occasion that causes spectators to criticise some players; they are after all paid to play football, using the tools available to them just as effectively.

It can also be the difference between a team missing out on winning an important game or losing a league title, simply because their players are incapable of using both feet.

How Does Position Affect Things?

While perhaps there are certain positions that are self-explanatory for being heavily one-footed, the most common being full-back (right or left), there are others where being able to use both feet can be crucial to a team’s ability to play the way that a manager wants them to.

Central midfield – especially a deep-lying playmaker whose role it is to dictate play from deep, start attacks and play penetrating passes; this is where being able to use both feet can be fundamental, particularly against an opponent that closes down aggressively. Being able to move both ways, makes it less predictable and gives a team a huge advantage.

In terms of goal-scoring, this can also be attributed to central midfield players, who are often renowned for shooting from range, or arriving late in an attacking move to shoot from outside of the box – this is where being able to use both feet, again, is a considerable benefit.

Over the last few years, there have been managers who like their teams to play out from the back, which warrants the use of centre backs, who are comfortable on the ball and can pass. Regardless of what side of the defence a centre back can play, it is again, a big advantage if they can use both feet, especially against teams that press high up the pitch. However, even if a centre back can use both feet, it is very rare to see them in goal-scoring positions, unless from an attacking set-piece, which is often more reliant on their aerial ability.

Traditionally, managers would use ‘out and out’ wingers and have a right-footed winger playing on the right and the same on the left. However, now a lot of managers do the opposite so that they can cut inside and shoot on their favoured foot. There are some in this position though who are just as capable of using both feet, which makes them unpredictable for an opponent.

Traditionally, it was often the case for teams to have two strikers – one right-footed and the other left-footed. As a result, it would give them a better chance of scoring from the positions that they would get into on the pitch, especially in the penalty area.

Examples Of Dual-Footed Players Who Score Goals

Over the years, there have been many examples of players who have shown great aptitude using both feet. Most of these have been players of more of an attacking nature, either strikers, wingers or central attacking midfield players. Let’s take a look at some examples of players past and present who are just as prolific scoring with both feet.

What About One-Footed Players?

There are many notable examples of prolific one-footed players over the last couple of decades who famously favoured their stronger foot. Below is a table that shows a number of these and the amount of goals they scored at the club where they made the biggest impact.

The players in the table above refers to those who were very heavily one-footed and their record at the club where they were most effective. Based on this sample, comparing the two tables, it shows that one-footed players score more goals than dual footed players because they have honed their game to make sure that they can adapt to just only using one foot – playing to their strengths as it were.

Giggs is a prime example of a player who used his pace and dribbling ability to make sure that he could get into effective positions where he could score on his left foot, while Messi used his trickery. Viduka was a different breed of player, who used his strength to outmuscle defenders in order to work an opportunity on his favoured right foot which was just as effective. Meanwhile, Owen mastered his movement and the timing of his runs and this became pivotal with regards to his goal-scoring chances on his right foot.

One-Footed Players Appear To Score More Goals

There could be a number of reasons for this, though, for dual-footed players, it could well come to indecision, knowing which foot to use in order to score and the time that it takes them to make that choice, the opportunity is then gone.

It, therefore, presents an argument, that one-footed players are more instinctive and as a result, are able to play to their strengths. Of course, in both cases, it could be argued that there are exceptions to this and a player’s position (as explored above), may also be a factor.