What happened to creativity in football?

We call football the beautiful game, but sadly, for many, that beauty seems to be fading away. As someone who recreates iconic sports moments for a living, I find that most of my work is focused on moments and players that are either no longer around or coming to the end of their career.

When I think about players who embody pure joy – the players who make us fall in love with the game, the ones who smile on the pitch, who express themselves through every touch, and who leave a mark not just through their talent but through their passion, there are a few current players that come to mind.

One of my favourite players of late is Roberto Firmino, obviously due to his influence at Liverpool, but sadly, players like Firmino stands out as potentially one of the very last of a dying breed of footballers.

Footballers that gave us memories that will last a life time.

Firmino’s Brazilian Roots: The Joyful Spirit of Futebol

To understand why players like Firmino and Ronaldinho are so important to myself and the footballing world, we have to look back at his roots in Brazil. Brazil has produced some of the most gifted players to ever play the game – from Pelé to R9 to Ronaldinho, and even to the current wave of superstars like Neymar. What makes these players so special is their ability to mix technical brilliance with a unique sense of joy. They don’t just play the game with their feet – they play with their hearts, their soul, and their creativity.

Brazilian footballers first experiences with the game came from the streets. Football in Brazil isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life. Young players grow up playing in the streets, improvising with makeshift balls, and trying out new skills that they’ve seen from their idols. It’s a culture of expressing yourself through football. To anyone who played Fifa street back in the day you know exactly what Im talking about.

The Joy of Football: Firmino vs. the Modern Game

Now, we’re living in an age where football has evolved significantly. The game has become faster, more tactical, and more about pressing than it ever was before. It’s become more functional, with players and managers focusing more on efficiency than creativity, Rodri winning the ballon d’or for example was a huge sign of how being systematic is now at the forefront of the game.

And I’m by no means saying either approach to football is positive or negative, I’m simply observing what I believe to be a shift in how the game is played and the ripple effect this may have in the future popularity of the game.

This is where Firmino is different. He’s not your traditional striker. Firmino’s role in the Liverpool team wasn’t just to score goals – although, of course, he did that too – his real strength was in his link-up play (he was called The System), his movement, and his ability to create. He wasn’t just about finishing chances; he was the catalyst for creating opportunities, often dropping deep into midfield, pressing high up the pitch, and pulling defenders out of position. And through all of this, Bobby always had a smile on his face. He was a player who desperately wanted possession of the ball, just like Ronaldinho, Kaka et al.

In the midst of all the intense, high-pressure football we see in the modern game, Firmino brought a touch of flair, a sense of freedom, and an expression of joy that made him so endearing to Liverpool fans and football fans around the world. Watching him play, you could tell that he was loving every minute of it. And that’s why, for me, Firmino represents the last of a dying breed of footballers who play for the love of the game, not just the paycheck or the accolades.

Firmino, Ronaldinho, and Neymar: A Brazilian Legacy

When we think about Brazilian footballers who bring joy to the game, we naturally think about Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho was the master of expression – the man who made the beautiful game look easy. He had the tricks, the flicks, the no-look passes, and the ability to make the impossible seem effortless. These players wasn’t afraid to take risks, to try something different, or to pull off a move that made you gasp in disbelief. That’s what makes these Brazilian players so special – they play without fear, they play with creativity, and they play with an understanding that football is meant to be enjoyed.

And I fear, deeply, that players are now more scared to lose points in a game more than they want to gain points and win matches.

Players like Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Firmino are becoming increasingly rare. Lamine Yamal at Barcelona and Vini Jr at Madrid seem to have a similar flare but I struggle to name many more. Maybe that’s just my lack of knowledge in the game. But go back ten or 15 years ago and see pitches littered with extremely creative risk taking individuals. Messi, Kaka, Iniesta, Xavi, Pirlo, Dennis Bergkamp, Totti, Luca Modric, Thierry Henry, the list goes on. Whereas now, you need to scrape the barrel to dig out these types of players.

Modern football has become a lot more structured, with a stronger emphasis on efficiency, and a lot of the individual brilliance that defined Brazilian football is being diluted. The joyful player, the one who expresses themselves through skill and creativity, is becoming much harder to find in the modern game. 

Of course there are players that are still of excellent quality and who score goals for fun like Erling Haaland and Mo Salah, but the point I’m trying to make is one of personality, and passion, I think, rather than winning ability.

My Inspiration: Painting Firmino

As someone who paints, I’m always inspired by creativity in all its forms – not just in football but in life. This is where Roberto Firmino, or rather the concept of the joyful, creative footballer, became my inspiration. I painted him as a tribute to the kind of player who expresses himself freely, someone whose style of play is as much about artistry as it is about athleticism.

Painting him was my way of honoring that artistry.

Why It’s Important to Celebrate Joyful Footballers

And that’s why we need players like Firmino – players who remind us of why we fell in love with football in the first place. We need more players who play with a smile on their face, who express themselves through their skills, and who inspire the next generation to do the same. Because at the end of the day, football is about more than just winning or losing – it’s about joy, it’s about creativity, and it’s about the beautiful game.

And once more, the last thing I’m saying here is that current players and teams aren’t capable of extraordinary achievements and accolades, this is simply an observation and a hope that lifelong football fans like myself, don’t continue to fall out of love with a part of the game that I believe is extremely important, the part of the game that is fun for us to watch.

When kids watch players like Ronaldinho, they don’t just see a footballer; they see someone who’s willing to try new things, to express themselves, and to enjoy the process. It’s no wonder that these players mentioned are still such a huge role model for young players, especially in Brazil, where the love for football runs so deep. Their style of play encourages kids to take risks, to be bold, and to express their creativity on the pitch. And that’s something we need more of in the game.

Conclusion: The Last of a Dying Breed

And who knows the reason for this ‘slump’ in creativity. Maybe technology like VAR has transformed the game into something more technical to remove error. But I’m afraid that in a bid to improve fairness, we may just be losing the essence of what made football so special in the first place.

I painted Bobby Firmino as a tribute to the legacy and style of play he will leave behind.  He’s a footballer who plays for the love of the game, who expresses himself through his creativity, and who brings joy to everyone who watches him. His creativity and passion inspired me. And I hope, through this video, you’ve been able to see just how much his joy for football meant to all of us. We may not see many players like him again in the future..