may I ask most respectfully; what do you mean "allowed" to dribble?? barca> messi do it all the time and so does villa, pique... inter> when balloteli was with inter he did it often and ibra too. and brazil?? come on brazil is like a dribbling machine.....
Here's something Simon Kuper said on the topic. I've watched several games this weekend where dribbling almost didn't feature. (In Parma-Genoa this morning, only Giovinco tried to beat a man directly with dribbling.) Increasingly, it's just not seen as a reliable technique unless in the hands of a very few attacking players, IMO. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9957135e-7b19-11df-8935-00144feabdc0.html
In respect to keeping the ball for possession Xavi wins it this today. It is amazingly hard to take the ball away even when 2-3 players surround him. He also knows exactly when to pass so he doesn't lose the ball. As far as all-time my favorite is Ronaldo, his speed, agility, strength, skills, effectiveness, consistancy and spectacle was amazing. Messi comes close.
[I'm treading lightly because of the recent "fracas" that we just had, James: But which "Ronaldo" are BOTH of you talking about: the Braz. or the Port. one?]
Brazil stopped being a dribbling machine a long time ago .. , and that might be the reason they won 2 World Cups in the last 20 years after going empty for 24.
I don;t think we had a "fracas" ... just a misunderstanding Of course Ronaldo Brazil. C.Ronaldo is very good in dribbling too, but not good enough to be listed as among best dribblers
I "Misundertanding" you, and YOU "can't understand" me ... ok thanks for the clarification ... the of course meant I suppose you are a "knowledgeable" in football (no?)
I don'r remember seeing Ryan Giggs mentioned. The man is 37 and still when he is on, few if any come close.
Gheorghe Hagi..... 'Hagi has got a left foot like Brian Lara's bat' - DON HOWE 'Hagi could open a tin of beans with his left foot' - RAY CLEMENCE
I think for dribbling ranking we could take in consideration: 1. Precision/Ball control ( good examples - Pele, Maradona, Zidane) 2. Creativity and originality (Zidane,Maradona,Pele, Ronaldinho) 3. Skills, false moves (Ronaldo,Ronaldinho,Rivelino,c.Ronaldo,Okocha) 4. Speed dribbling (Pele,Ronaldo,Cruyff) 5. Dribbling with close control(Ronaldo,Zidane) 6. Dribbling in the air (Pele) 7. Trapping and first touch (Zidane) 8. 1 on 1 dribbling (Garrincha) 9. Dribbling throughout whole defence ( a lot of players) – (Pele,Maradona,Messi) 4. Agility (Ronaldinho,Pele,Maradona, Messi)) 11. Dribbling in the area( near the goal). – (Pele,Ronaldo) 12. Dribbling in big space (Maradona,Ronaldo) 13.Dribblng in close space. (Pele)
I saw this guy on fifa's football mundial show and I must say I was really dumbfounded. He is known as the greek maradona, his name is actually hard to pronounce or to read Vassilis Hatzinpanagis . [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RasHFGOAsUs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RasHFGOAsUs[/ame] when asked about his fancy footwork he simply answered "When I see defenders in front of me, I want to dribble around every one of them," legend has it that greek defenders once threatened to sue him because "he makes fools of us on the pitch and we want compensation". Not only was he an exceptional dribbler but also with blessed with ultra-vision and excellent dead ball specialist as he is the european record holder of a player scoring directly from a corner (9 in all!). No wonder of the comparisons to maradona specially with the long curly hair But unfortunately he was unlucky as he was the victim of some injustices, for instance he only played once for the greece national team because afterwards he was ineligible as he played for the USSR in junior levels, and he was one of those homesick people who despite being told by his soviet coaches that his ability is "way above Greece's level" left the soviet league back to his homeland to a small club called Thessaloniki club Iraklis. He said that he signed for what he thought 2 years at first but it turned it to be a 10 year deal, but vasilis added that he didnt complain as he was the club was next to his parents house and he loved the crowds and fans. But after some years he regrets all that and said "I regret not having been able to wear the Greek national jersey more than once. And I regret not having made a career abroad. I would have liked to play in a better league, to have enjoyed football at that level. If I could turn back the clock, I would do some things differently.", but in compensation he was voted as the Greece's golden player of the last 50 years and said in relief "It is very touching to see that you are not forgotten, that your contribution is appreciated even after so many years." Vassilis Hatzipanagis perhaps the most underrated player of all time?! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=368sKz8bd18&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=368sKz8bd18&feature=related[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HwrRWsLpnA&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HwrRWsLpnA&feature=related[/ame]
I know this is in an inferior league with probably inferior defending, but his timing and weight of his passes are incredible. Nice find.
The top dribblers in the game right now are: 1. Neymar 2. Messi 3. C. Ronaldo Why Neymar and not Messi? Neymar has been making a lot of noise lately and he is a player who, in my humble opinion, will challenge Messi in two to three years. Messi, the best player, is amazing and he is a great dribbler but, Neymar has way too many tricks and appears to be quicker. It may appear premature for me to put Neymar in the #1 dribbler spot but, I have reviewed at least 50 videos and have thought carefully about it before making that decision. I am not saying Neymar is a better player but, a better and also more spectacular dribbler. C. Ronaldo is third. There are some other young players on the horizon who may shake up that list in the future and they include players such as Lucas Moura whose dribbling style is similar to Messi, Iturbe, Pastore and even Coutinho.
Very reasonable post ... even though I think it's a bit early to put Neymar ahead of Messi in dribblings as he needs to prove more in bigger stages (so far one very good last international game he dribble d and scored) Totally agree that Neymar will be the TOP contender with Messi in next Ballon Dors of 2012-14) ... IF nothing wrong with him - so far he still acted like a premature kid ... too bad