Nani

Nani's career always felt like a negotiation between outrageous talent and the occasional refusal to choose the simple solution, because apparently simplicity was too boring for his boots. At Manchester United, he showed the full package in flashes and sometimes in whole seasons: acceleration, dribbling, two footed shooting, spectacular crosses and the ability to beat defenders in ways that looked slightly unfair. He was not Cristiano Ronaldo, and that comparison followed him around like an annoying unpaid intern, but Nani had elite creative tools in his own right. His best United years brought goals, assists and real Premier League impact, while with Portugal he remained an important attacking figure across several tournaments, including the Euro 2016 triumph. Inconsistent, yes, occasionally theatrical, absolutely. But at his peak he was a devastating winger, explosive, unpredictable and technically capable of turning a match sideways in one touch.