14 Mar The Talent for High-Quality Passing Is Innate, Not Acquired: A Data-Driven Analysis from LALIGA
Introduction
In professional football, it is often assumed that experience and training improve a player’s passing ability, especially those passes that break defensive lines and create goal-scoring opportunities. However, recent research conducted by the Football Intelligence & Performance Area of LALIGA, in collaboration with Footovision and Sportian, challenges this idea. The study reveals that the ability to execute difficult and decisive passes is more innate than acquired. In other words, certain players have a natural talent for identifying and executing key passes from the beginning of their careers, and this ability does not appear to develop significantly over time.
How Was Passing Quality Measured?
For this study, an advanced passing analysis model was developed, evaluating each player’s pass based on three fundamental aspects:
- Spatial Context of the Receiver: The model considers not only the distance between the passer and the receiver but also the receiver’s Voronoi area. This means that passes into space are valued higher than simple passes to feet.
- Pass Difficulty: Not all passes into space are equally valuable. The model assesses execution difficulty by considering defensive pressure, pass angle, speed, and distance, among other factors.
- Impact of the Pass on the Play: The model evaluates the pass’s consequences on the overall attacking sequence. The highest values are assigned to difficult passes that contribute significantly to a shot or, ideally, a goal.
Additionally, the model excludes unviable passes, such as those leading to offside, ensuring that only effective actions within the game are considered.
What Do the Data Reveal?
After applying this model to players in LALIGA EA SPORTS during the 2024/25 season, the findings were surprising:
- Younger players outperform veterans in executing difficult and dangerous passes. The study measured this through an «Index» that values passes based solely on difficulty and offensive impact.
- The differences between age groups are statistically significant, meaning they are not random. Instead of improving over time, the quality of executing high-difficulty, high-impact passes declines with age.
- There are significant differences by position. Attacking midfielders and forwards have significantly higher Index values compared to defenders or central midfielders.
- The players with the highest passing quality in the current LALIGA EA SPORTS season are listed below in the Top 10 players according to the model, with normalized values on a 0-100 scale:
| Player | Team | Position | Normalized Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEX B | Villarreal CF | Attacking Midfielder | 100.00 |
| LAMINE YAMAL | FC Barcelona | Attacking Midfielder | 96.14 |
| RAPHINHA | FC Barcelona | Attacking Midfielder | 94.95 |
| MODRIC | Real Madrid | Centre Midfielder | 91.09 |
| BELLINGHAM | Real Madrid | Attacking Midfielder | 81.96 |
| PEDRI | FC Barcelona | Centre Midfielder | 78.77 |
| GRIEZMANN | Atlético de Madrid | Forward | 72.51 |
| O MINGUEZA | RC Celta | Attacking Midfielder | 71.93 |
| S CARDONA | Villarreal CF | Defender | 69.82 |
| RODRYGO | Real Madrid | Attacking Midfielder | 69.39 |
These findings challenge the traditional belief that experience improves a player’s ability to deliver decisive passes. Instead, they suggest that passing talent is not acquired over time but is an innate quality present in certain players from an early stage.
Application for Coaches: How Can These Insights Improve Training and Game Strategies?
For elite coaches, these results have direct implications for both training planning and competitive strategy:
- Identify and Develop Players with Passing Talent from a Young Age
- The data show that players with a high capacity for difficult passes already stand out from a young age. This means coaches can identify and nurture this talent in youth academies, rather than expecting it to develop over time.
- Design Specific Drills to Leverage Players with Passing Ability
- If a player has an innate ability to see and execute difficult passes, training should focus on maximizing this strength by creating small-sided game scenarios that encourage decision-making in passes that break defensive lines and create goal-scoring chances.
- Assign Roles Based on Age and Position
- Instead of expecting veteran players to improve in this area, coaches can redistribute playmaking responsibilities, allowing younger players to focus on key pass creation while experienced players take on control and organization roles.
- Tactical Adjustments Based on Team Passing Capabilities
- Understanding which players have the best passing ability according to this model allows coaches to adjust team structure and playing patterns to maximize offensive impact.
Conclusion
LALIGA’s data-driven analysis confirms that the ability to execute high-risk, game-changing passes does not improve with age but is an innate trait found in certain players. This insight compels coaches to rethink how they develop passing talent, structure their teams, and assign playmaking responsibilities on the field.
This research offers a new perspective for optimizing training planning and competitive strategy, helping coaches identify and maximize the potential of players with this differential ability from the early stages of their careers.