Game intelligence is one of the most enigmatic concepts in soccer. Coaches tend to use the term to describe a variety of intangible attributes that are typically perceived as something a player is born with or without.
It’s embodied by greats like Messi, Megan Rapinoe, Ronaldo, Alex Morgan and Pele.
The latter’s ability to be one step ahead of his competition was so excellent that Brazilian legend Zico once said of him: “He always had someone marking him, he always had someone hanging on to him, and yet he could still always conjure up wonderful pieces of magic.”
Inexplicable magic aside, the best way to define and understand soccer sense is to break it down into its constituent parts. Here are four key components that complement one another to make it all come together on the field.