Editing Marco van Basten (section)

===Style of play===
Regarded as one of the greatest and most complete strikers and players in the history of the sport, due to his prolific goalscoring and great skill set, Van Basten was dubbed the "Swan Of Utrecht" for his elegance and intelligent attacking play, and was known for his penchant for scoring acrobatic goals.<ref name="FIFA"/><ref name="acmilan.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Marco-Van-Basten|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Marco van Basten|publisher=acmilan.com|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103051658/http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Marco-Van-Basten|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Classic Attacker">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/11/sports/a-classic-attacker-leads-the-dutch.html |title=A 'Classic Attacker' Leads the Dutch |newspaper=The New York Times |author1=Ken Shulman |page=29 |date=11 May 1990 |access-date=18 June 2018 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618175231/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/11/sports/a-classic-attacker-leads-the-dutch.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="No.13, Marco van Basten"/> His height and strength allowed him to excel in the air, and his technical ability and agility saw him execute spectacular strikes throughout his career, such as [[Volley (football)|volley]]s and [[bicycle kick]]s.<ref name="acmilan.com"/><ref name="Classic Attacker"/><ref name="sport.sky.it">{{cite web|url=http://sport.sky.it/sport/calcio_estero/2014/10/28/gol_piu_belli_di_marco_van_basten_compleanno_50_anni.html|title=Rovesciate e tiri al volo: inconfondibile Marco di fabbrica|publisher=Sport.Sky.it|language=it|date=28 October 2014|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214030028/http://sport.sky.it/sport/calcio_estero/2014/10/28/gol_piu_belli_di_marco_van_basten_compleanno_50_anni.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MAI PIU' GOL, MARCO">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/08/18/mai-piu-gol-marco.html|title=MAI PIU' GOL, MARCO|website=repubblica.it|language=it|date=18 August 1995|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214170305/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/08/18/mai-piu-gol-marco.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A fast and opportunistic striker with quick reactions and excellent movement, he often took advantage of loose balls in the penalty area due to his ability to anticipate defenders, and was capable of both controlling fast and difficult balls well with one touch, or even shooting first time.<ref name="Classic Attacker"/><ref name="MAI PIU' GOL, MARCO"/><ref name="ilpost.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2014/10/31/marco-van-basten/|title=Le due carriere di Marco van Basten|publisher=[[Il Post]]|language=it|date=31 October 2014|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129123729/http://www.ilpost.it/2014/10/31/marco-van-basten/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="il volo del cigno">{{cite web |url=https://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/marco-vanbasten.html |title=VAN BASTEN Marco: il volo del cigno |date=9 February 2016 |publisher=storiedicalcio.altervista.org |language=it |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103204001/https://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/marco-vanbasten.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Possessing a powerful and accurate shot, and clinical, varied finishing from anywhere along the pitch, he was capable of scoring goals with either foot from inside or outside the penalty area, as well as with his head; he was also an accurate [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] and [[Direct free kick|free-kick]] taker.<ref name="No.13, Marco van Basten"/><ref name="sport.sky.it"/><ref name="pagelle">{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,26/articleid,0721_01_1994_0005_0026_10401328/ |title=Lo zar: di Van Basten ce n'è uno |newspaper=La Stampa |page=26 |language=it |author1=Franco Badolato |date=6 January 1994 |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124145535/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,26/articleid,0721_01_1994_0005_0026_10401328/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout his career, Van Basten converted 53 penalties out of the 57 he took, with a 93.0% success rate, the sixth highest in history, behind [[Ledio Pano]] (100%), [[Matthew Le Tissier]] (97.9%), [[Zico (footballer)|Zico]] (97.8%), [[Cuauhtémoc Blanco]] (97.3%), and [[Ferenc Puskás]] (96.7%). Before taking penalties, Van Basten often used to perform a characteristic hop.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fuorigioco.calciomercato.it/2019/10/13/jorginho-e-non-solo-da-van-basten-a-le-tissier-i-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia/ |title=Jorginho e non solo: da Van Basten a Le Tissier, i migliori rigoristi della storia |publisher=fuorigioco.calciomercato.it |language=it |date=13 October 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104235337/https://fuorigioco.calciomercato.it/2019/10/13/jorginho-e-non-solo-da-van-basten-a-le-tissier-i-migliori-rigoristi-della-storia/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Although he was mainly known as a traditional attacker who operated in the penalty area as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] throughout his career,<ref name="Classic Attacker"/><ref name="No.13, Marco van Basten"/> Van Basten also possessed excellent vision and distribution, in addition to his goalscoring ability, which enabled him to play in deeper, more creative positions, as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|second striker]], for example, and which allowed him to participate in the build-up of attacking plays and provide assists to his teammates in addition to scoring goals himself;<ref name="pagelle"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milannight.com/la-squadra-piu-forte-di-tutti-i-tempi/61928/la-squadra-piu-forte-di-tutti-i-tempi-la-prima-punta.html|title=La squadra più forte di tutti i tempi – la prima punta|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914023404/http://www.milannight.com/la-squadra-piu-forte-di-tutti-i-tempi/61928/la-squadra-piu-forte-di-tutti-i-tempi-la-prima-punta.html|archive-date=14 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1990/01/23/che-tesoro-quel-van-basten.html|title=CHE TESORO, QUEL VAN BASTEN|website=repubblica.it|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=23 January 1990|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214170028/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1990/01/23/che-tesoro-quel-van-basten.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pianetamilan.it/campioni-rossoneri-van-basten/ |title=MARCO VAN BASTEN |publisher=www.pianetamilan.it |language=it |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103203031/https://www.pianetamilan.it/campioni-rossoneri-van-basten/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1991/08/07/van-basten-ci-sta-con-serena.html |title=VAN BASTEN CI STA ' CON SERENA E' UN' ALTRA COSA' |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=7 August 1991 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103203028/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1991/08/07/van-basten-ci-sta-con-serena.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/30-10-2014/van-basten-compie-50-anni-ecco-motivi-che-ne-fanno-mito-90897841816.shtml |title=Van Basten compie 50 anni: ecco i motivi che ne fanno un mito |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Bianchin |first1=Luca |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103203030/https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Milan/30-10-2014/van-basten-compie-50-anni-ecco-motivi-che-ne-fanno-mito-90897841816.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> one of his most notable assists was the one he provided to Frank Rijkaard for Milan's winning goal in the 1990 European Cup final against Benfica.<ref name="Milan back-to-back triumphs">{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/103006/day-milan-back-back-triumphs |title=On This Day: Milan back-to-back triumphs |publisher=Football Italia |date=23 May 2017 |access-date=3 November 2019 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103201646/https://www.football-italia.net/103006/day-milan-back-back-triumphs |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite his large stature, Van Basten possessed excellent technical skills and ball control, as well as good balance and a notable elegance on the ball, which inspired his nickname.<ref name="acmilan.com"/> As such, his strong physique, combined with his close control, also enabled him to hold up the ball for teammates when playing with his back to goal.<ref name="Classic Attacker"/>

Despite his ability, Van Basten's career was severely affected by many grave injuries, which eventually forced him to retire from football prematurely at the age of 28.<ref name="acmilan.com"/><ref name="ilpost.it"/> Lack of protection from referees and inadequate football rules against rugged defending and tackles from behind were identified as the source of the injuries which ultimately led to his career's demise; consequently, Van Basten's early retirement due to his injuries led to widespread debate in the football world over whether rash challenges from behind should be rendered illegal in football, in order to protect talented players more effectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2734579.stm |title=A grip on shirt-pulling |work=BBC Sport |date=7 February 2003 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101184548/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2734579.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/110124-fifa-out-to-eradicate-the-slide-tackle |title=FIFA Out To Ban The Slide Tackle. |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101184552/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/110124-fifa-out-to-eradicate-the-slide-tackle |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 1994 World Cup, an automatic red was also shown for tackles from behind or with studs showing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tackle From Behind On Way out At World Cup, Too Late for Van Basten |url=https://apnews.com/4c3e92aa8f880542006118533b6736fb |work=apnews.com |last1=Casert |first1=Raf |date=4 June 1994 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101184549/https://apnews.com/4c3e92aa8f880542006118533b6736fb |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, prior to the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] that year, FIFA completely outlawed the tackle from behind;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-crack-down-tackle-from-behind-70380 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101184552/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-crack-down-tackle-from-behind-70380 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2019 |title=FIFA to crack down on tackle from behind |publisher=FIFA.com |date=6 March 1998 |access-date=1 November 2019 }}</ref> this ruling came to be known colloquially as the "Van Basten law" in the media.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/13/newsstory.sport8 |title=Too much, too young |work=The Guardian |date=13 April 2000 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101184552/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/13/newsstory.sport8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Van Basten was known for often being on the receiving end of hard challenges from his opponents throughout his career, former referee Daniele Tombolini described Van Basten as a player who was known for his physical play himself, and who utilised his strength and committed a lot of fouls during matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pianetamilan.it/news-milan/lopinione-van-basten-era-il-piu-falloso/ |title=L'opinione: "Van Basten era il più falloso" |publisher=Pianeta Milan |language=it |last1=Bulfon |first1=Donato |date=6 July 2018 |access-date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=6 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106032120/https://www.pianetamilan.it/news-milan/lopinione-van-basten-era-il-piu-falloso/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>