A Mediteranean attacking midfielder. Something like an advanced playmaker - but without as much responsibility for setting up teammates. A weapon/free role who plays behind the striker. Its a very prestigious role in Italy, and they groom young players for it. Often used in Spain as well. The first thing that comes to mind is Roberto Baggio. Messi often plays like a trequartista.
Trequartistas are typically used as part of a three man attack - either with two forwards or alongside a more supporting attacking midfielder with a centre forward up front. Most Italian teams use the "Tridente" - three pronged attack.
Trequartista means "Three quarters," as in he plays 3/4 of the way up the field.
I need to disagree with the explanation above, and I will just say it is very easy to be misled cause the current example is current but incorrect, basically becourse some of the roles are very simular and easy to interpret like that.
This is what you should research to understand what a trequartista is.
In Italian football, there are usually two main types of playmakers: the
trequartista (
playmaker in the central attacking midfield position) and the
regista (
deep-lying playmaker).
The trequartista, usually wearing the jersey number 10, will sit in a free role between midfield and the forwards, either in the centre of the pitch or on the wings. They will often make incisive passes to the wingers or forwards, seeing them through on goal or to deliver killer crosses, as well as scoring goals themselves. They are also usually highly technical players with good vision, shooting, passing, crossing and dribbling ability, known for scoring goals as well as providing assists and initiating attacking plays.
Diego Maradona was an
elite trequartista.
The
Deep lying forward, more commonly known as a "
false-9" also shares some similarities with the trequartista role, although the false-9 player appears to be playing as a centre-forward (shirt number 9) rather than as an attacking midfielder (shirt number 10). The false-9 will then drop deep into the midfield drawing defenders with them, creating space for other team-mates to make attacking runs, allowing the false-9 to dribble with the ball or provide these players with assists. Examples of deep lying forwards are
Lionel Messi under
Josep Guardiola and
Francesco Totti under
Luciano Spalletti. The false-10 also shares similar attributes to a false-9. A false-10 however, is usually a player who is apparently playing in deeper role than a false-9, more like a trequartista or a winger, but who will then make dribbling runs forward, leading to goals and assists once other forwards draw defenders away from them, creating space in the middle of the pitch. This position is more common in a 4-6-0 formation.
So conclusion two simular traits, the Trequartista coming from the midfield creating havoc with his unique visions and technical ability a magician that any opponent will fear for his dribbling, tricks, Flair, and incredible penetrating passes and ofcourse his whole presence on the field. The players that reminds me of a Trequartista
the master of them all must be
Diego Maradona with his incredible
gambetta dribbles and unique technique like no other artist. In the 90's
Barcelona had a
Michael Laudrup with his unique vision and technique created some spectacular penetrating passes that led to amazing goals sometimes playing on the right wing sometimes in the middle.
Zinedine Zidane for
Real Madrid & France another special Trequartista that will be remembered. Barcelona got another incredible Trequartists in
Ronaldinho playing on the left hand side doing his thing with incredible tricks and special big smile when things were going well for him

. The only Trequartista I can currently think of in 2013 is
Cristiano Ronaldo and is in my opinion maybe a new type of Trequartista with more modern type of dribbling and flair, but his unique ability to score lots of goals probably makes him the most dangerous Trequartista ever, but not the best, cause he still lack in charisma and is arrogant, a Trequartista is a gentleman above anything else. The other Trequartistas mentioned had better skills in other areas where C.Ronaldo are missing out. He does score lots I have to give that to him though.
Messi is a deep lying forward with all the traits to play as the Trequartista, but as said Guardiola used him as a deep lying forward not a trequartista. Drawing defenders out of position to create space for his team mates. Where Messi reminds me of a Trequartista though is when he drift to the r wing position and receive the ball and use his speed and technique to challenge towards the centre of the pitch either making an assist or a goal.
On the deeper end of the midfield we have the
regista (
deep lying playmaker) which is simular again to a Trequartista but just from a
defensive position.
Andrea Pirlo and
Xavi comes to mind.
I created this post to make people try and understand the roles better so you can create some killer tactics we all can have the pleasure of trying.