Mascherano Player Review
Pros
Elite Tackling
Mascherano’s defensive ability stands out immediately. His tackles are sharp, precise, and extremely well timed. Whether he challenges from the front or slides in from behind, he wins the ball cleanly without giving attackers space to react. His aggressive tackling style consistently disrupts opposition attacks.
High Defensive Awareness
With high defensive and medium attacking work rate, he positions himself perfectly as a CDM. He constantly tracks danger, closes down gaps, and provides excellent cover for the backline. His anticipation helps him break up play early and dominate midfield battles.
Strong Aggression
He closes down opponents quickly and applies constant pressure. His aggressive defensive style forces mistakes and makes it difficult for attackers to stay comfortable around him.
Ball Control and Dribbling
Even though he’s not very agile, his ball control is impressive for a defensive midfielder. Under pressure he keeps the ball close and dribbles safely, allowing smooth transitions from defence to attack.
Excellent Passing Range
Mascherano’s passing is a major strength. Short passes, long diagonals, and through balls all feel crisp and accurate. He contributes heavily in counter-attacks and buildup play with his accurate distribution.
Deep Lying Playmaker Skill Point
This is one of the biggest advantages of using him. It boosts his playmaking, passing intelligence, and ability to initiate attacks while still staying defensively responsible. For players wanting a CDM who can both defend and orchestrate play, this is extremely valuable.
Useful Traits
Dives Into Tackles enhances his sliding tackles, making them even more effective.
Long Passer helps him spray passes across the field cleanly and consistently.
Good Pace for a CDM
Mascherano feels quick while defending transitions. His acceleration helps him close gaps fast, and he recovers ground well when the team is under pressure.
CB Capability
He can also play as a CB and performs fairly well due to excellent tackling and man marking. But he’s significantly more impactful as a CDM where his skill point and passing ability shine.
Cons
Short Height
At 5.9 his height is a notable drawback. He can get stunned in shoulder duels and loses aerial battles frequently against tall attackers.
Weak Foot
A 3* weak foot limits him in shooting and sometimes in pressured passing situations. Finishing with the weak foot is extremely poor, and even short passes can occasionally miss under tight marking.
Average Finishing
He can score with his strong foot when needed, but finishing isn't reliable. As a CDM this is not a major issue, but it still limits him in advanced positions.
Conclusion
Mascherano is a brilliant defensive midfielder with elite tackling, strong defensive intelligence, excellent passing, and the outstanding Deep Lying Playmaker skill point. His aggression, tempo control, and defensive coverage make him a dominant CDM option. Despite height limitations and weak-foot issues, he remains one of the best choices for players who want a CDM that can defend at a high level and build play beautifully.
Rating 9.5/10