Best dribblers

Discussion in 'Players & Legends' started by Alessandro10, Apr 8, 2020.

  1. leadleader

    leadleader Member+

    Aug 19, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    #101 leadleader, Dec 29, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2021
    @Edhardy

    @carlito86

    Vimeo

    Onesimo Sanchez in 1991-92, in his physical prime; the video is very short, just 3 minutes long, but it should give you a decent idea of just how technically gifted he was; at any rate, it is a real shame that he wasn't more professional, because with his innate ability, he could've been an important player for Spain.
     
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  2. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    I just noticed this (which was uploaded in 2018, but I hadn't been aware of it before - maybe it was temporarily unavailable for a while or something even):
    Laurie Cunningham Match Highlights - YouTube
     
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  3. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
  4. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Most dribbles completed in a single champions league season

    Lionel Messi 2014/15
    92 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2010/11
    79 dribbles completed

    Luis figo 2000/01
    70-80~ dribbles completed
    If he completed roughly 50% of his 147 attempted dribbles
    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2223031/beckham-to-lift-golden-ball-award

    Lionel Messi 2009/10
    57 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2019/20
    57 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2017/18
    51 dribbles completed

    Eden hazard 2014/15
    51 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2016/17
    50 dribbles completed

    Cristiano Ronaldo 2006/07
    47 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2015/16
    46 dribbles completed

    Cristiano Ronaldo 2007/08
    40-45~ completed dribbles

    Alexis Sanchez 2015/16
    44 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2011/12
    44 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2019/20
    43 dribbles completed

    Douglas costa 2015/16
    43 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2007/08
    43 dribbles completed

    Yacine Brahimi 2014/15
    42 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2013/14
    42 dribbles completed

    Eden hazard 2013/14
    42 dribbles completed

    Douglas costa 2017/18
    40 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2008/09
    35-40~ dribbles completed

    Isco 2014/15
    38 dribbles completed

    Sadio mane 2017/18
    38 dribbles completed

    Kylian Mbappe 2020/21
    37 dribbles completed

    Kingsley coman 2021/22
    37 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2017/18
    37 dribbles completed

    Diego Perotti 2017/18
    37 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2014/15
    37 dribbles completed

    Arjen robben 2013/14
    37 dribbles completed

    Yacine Brahimi 2017/18
    36 dribbles completed

    Houssem Aouar 2019/20
    35 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2018/19
    35 dribbles completed

    Yacine Brahimi 2015/16
    35 dribbles completed

    Franck Ribery 2013/14
    35 dribbles completed

    Hulk 2009/10
    35 dribbles completed

    Eden hazard 2017/18
    34 dribbles completed

    Gareth bale 2010/11
    34 dribbles completed

    Lionel Messi 2015/16
    34 dribbles completed

    Hulk 2014/15
    34 dribbles completed

    Hulk 2015/16
    34 dribbles completed

    Hulk 2013/14
    33 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2020/21
    33 dribbles completed

    Andres iniesta 2013/14
    33 dribbles completed

    Neymar 2018/19
    32 dribbles completed

    Cristiano Ronaldo 2010/11
    32 dribbles completed

    Raheem Sterling 2018/19
    31 dribbles completed

    Hakim Ziyech 2018/19
    31 dribble completed

    Lucas Moura 2018/19
    31 dribbles completed

    Franck Ribery 2011/12
    31 dribbles completed

    Fernandinho 2012/13
    31 dribbles completed

    Lucas moura 2014/15
    31 dribbles completed

    Angel di maria 2015/16
    30 dribbles completed

    Ousmane Dembélé 2016/17
    30 dribbles completed

    Thomas Lemar 2016/17
    30 dribbles completed

    Éver Banega 2017/18
    30 dribbles completed

    Leroy Sané 2017/18
    30 dribbles completed

    Vinicius junior 2021/22
    30 dribbles completed

    Data from whoscored/Opta

    Will add more seasons when/if more data becomes available
     
  5. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    #105 PDG1978, Aug 23, 2022
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2022
    I think I'm probably ending up settling on another few French players being added in if I try to extend the list a bit. I already had Alain Giresse next possibly, and now as well as Iniesta, I'm thinking Roger Piantoni could be joining along with Didi (who could certainly dribble pretty nicely) from the 1950s too, and the other French player (albeit as with Zidane, Kopa, Tigana and Platini, plus Piantoni too actually, a son of immigrants - Tigana had a fully French mum I believe though and I'm not sure whether Piantoni was only 'part Italian' so it might be the same with him even) I had in mind - Robert PIres.

    It's always tricky to try to include some of the older players, going by the narrative and some rare clips but as far as game footage goes this is a good choice for Piantoni perhaps (for the passing aspect - some other clips from that World Cup would be better for the dribbling part but I was thinking if anything dribbling would be the clearer call for him among people aware of him at all)


    If extending the list for passing only I think I'd be adding in Juan Sebastian Veron, plus Kenny Dalglish, Johnny Haynes, Giresse and indeed Modric as discussed.

    And on topic for this thread, adding to the previous batch of players I named for dribbling itself alone, Kopa would be another I'd put in, plus Eden Hazard, Bernard Vukas (clip below helps again to at least give an idea I think, but in general the footage is limited for him for sure), Rob Rensenbrink and George Weah

    Actually, maybe this one (including clips from the above game in it) is better

    Here is his PES stats page also, plus the one for Piantoni:
    Pes Miti del Calcio - View topic - Bernard VUKAS 1950-1955
    Pes Miti del Calcio - View topic - Roger PIANTONI 1957-1961
    I mean, according to those numbers Vukas would also be ahead of Piantoni for passing+dribbling, but I'm feeling Piantoni with his range of pass and perhaps the greater capability for different types of pass like using the outside of the boot might be worth higher numbers than those....
    Roger Piantoni obituary | Football | The Guardian
    FOOTBALL - Disappearance. Disappearance: Roger Piantoni's last dribble (www-estrepublicain-fr.translate.goog)
    (Of course the Pele comment mentioned there is interesting, although to be fair he did say similar things quite often and he didn't put him in the FIFA 100...albeit maybe he wasn't on the provided shortlist - he did include both Kopa and Fontaine though in that; anyway that French page does say 'king of dribbling' so he was renowned for that for sure, though with Kopa and Jean Vincent in the same French team there were a very good selection of dribblers I'd say!).
     
  6. harms

    harms Member

    Oct 2, 2021
    He's a bit limited to that right wing but Matthews was ridiculously effective at beating left backs, regardless of their quality (that includes Nilton Santos, Hanappi, Stankovic, Wright etc.).

     
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  7. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    What was the age range of Stanley Matthews in these clips?

    Before 30 or after?
     
  8. harms

    harms Member

    Oct 2, 2021
    There are 2 clips from the 1930's from the game against Germany (you can see that he even looks noticeably different there) but most of it is from the 1950's, so yeah, late 30's -> mid 40's.
     
  9. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Going back to this concept of best passers+dribblers (combined), even though this is a dribbling thread really, I had a go at ordering the top 32 of them (according to the list I've settled on - there can be plenty of doubt about whether others can make it in instead of some I named obviously) by passing only and by dribbling only too, which acts like a kind of verification/clarification of the combined list attempt too (I'd already changed some things previously after thinking more like correcting myself when I temporarily had Rui Costa more in the mix for dribbling itself on the spur of the moment, or introducing Meazza into the dribblers list as hard as it is to try and judge him properly on it; since then I think of some other possible adjustments like maybe being inclined to raise Maradona and lower Suarez (Miramontes) for passing if anything a little bit, or switching Sivori ahead of Baggio for dribbling probably).

    Anyway this was the list of combined passing+dribbling:
    1 - Cruyff, 2 - M.Laudrup, 3 - Maradona, 4 - Pele, 5 - Messi, 6 - Zico, 7 - Rivera, 8 - Figo, 9 - Zidane, 10 - Kopa, 11 - Ronaldinho, 12 - Beckenbauer, 13 - Liedholm, 14 - Bochini, 15 - Deyna, 16 - Savicevic, 17 - R.Baggio, 18 - Gascoigne, 19 - Rui Costa, 20 - Tigana, 21 - Susic, 22 - Stojkovic, 23 - Hagi, 24 - Suarez Miramontes, 25 - Platini, 26 - Rivelino, 27 - B.Charlton, 28 - Giresse, 29 - Iniesta, 30 - Piantoni, 31 - Didi, 32 - Pires

    Ordering just those players for passing I came up with this (but with probably just the first 11 being included if I did a top 32 for passing only among all players):
    1 - Platini, 2 - Laudrup, 3 - Cruyff, 4 - Didi, 5 - Zico, 6 - Liedholm, 7 - Rivera, 8 - Maradona, 9 - Suarez, 10 - Stojkovic, 11 - Giresse, 12 - Deyna, 13 - Tigana, 14 - Zidane, 15 - Pele, 16 - Beckenbauer, 17 - Hagi, 18 - Kopa, 19 - Rui Costa, 20 - Gascoigne, 21 - Messi, 22 - Figo, 23 - Susic, 24 - Bochini, 25 - Ronaldinho, 26 - Iniesta, 27 - Baggio, 28 - Savicevic, 29 - Charlton, 30 - Pires, 31 - Rivelino, 32 - Piantoni

    And for dribbling (but with probably just the first 14 being in a top 32 for dribbling only among all players):
    1 - Maradona, 2 - Cruyff, 3 - Messi, 4 - Pele, 5 - Laudrup, 6 - Ronaldinho, 7 - Bochini, 8 - Figo, 9 - Savicevic, 10 - Baggio, 11 - Zico, 12 - Susic, 13 - Rivelino, 14 - Kopa, 15 - Zidane, 16 - Beckenbauer, 17 - Piantoni, 18 - Gascoigne, 19 - Rivera, 20 - Rui Costa, 21 - Hagi, 22 - Charlton, 23 - Pires, 24 - Deyna, 25 - Tigana, 26 - Iniesta, 27 - Stojkovic, 28 - Liedholm, 29 - Suarez, 30 - Giresse, 31 - Platini, 32 - Didi
     
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  10. PDG1978

    PDG1978 Member+

    Mar 8, 2009
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Maybe I could've (and even would've if I thought a bit more) written 17 - Kopa, 18 - Rui Costa, 19 - Hagi for passing (Hagi for sure would be better with the longer range passes, but although he had finesse I'd think the other two were better with precision through passes to assist goals, though obviously any impression of Kopa is based on limited footage even if plenty has been written about older legends too), and similarly for dribbling perhaps 21 - Charlton, 22 - Pires, 23 - Hagi (likewise I think Hagi had an advantage in trickery and close ball skills, but for fluent/expansive dribbling the others were more capable, in their primes in terms of speed and/or general play).

    So if anything Hagi could drop a bit lower in both lists and I'd be about equally satisfied or moreso with the attempts, but I reckon those areas of both those lists would be particularly congested anyway, with uncertain calls.
     
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  11. ffff15

    ffff15 Member

    Argentina
    Sep 29, 2021
    1.G.Best
    2-Garrincha
    3.Maradona
    4.Messi
    5.Cruyff
    6.Pele
    7.Nazario
    8.M.Laudroup
    9.Littbarski
    10.Sivori
     
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  12. LaPulga22

    LaPulga22 Member

    Messi FC
    Argentina
    Mar 10, 2023
    Quaresma being a better dribbler than Messi might be the worst take i have ever read in my life
     
  13. Gregoire1

    Gregoire1 Member

    Dec 4, 2020
    Yea, even worse that from arguably top-3 dribblers ever (in any order) Maradona is 2nd, but Messi is 7th and Pele isnt in top-10... clear bias.

    at their peaks:
    1. Messi
    2. Pele
    3. Maradona
    4. R9/Cruyff
    5. Ronaldinho
    6. Best/Garrincha
    7. Neymar
    8. Hazard
    9. Baggio
    10. Zico/Zidane
     
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  14. LaPulga22

    LaPulga22 Member

    Messi FC
    Argentina
    Mar 10, 2023
    Maradona over pele though
     
  15. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Maradona over Messi though



    Some real goals from “outside the box”


     
  16. LaPulga22

    LaPulga22 Member

    Messi FC
    Argentina
    Mar 10, 2023
    Bro we talking about Dribbling and you show me goals outside the box
     
  17. LaPulga22

    LaPulga22 Member

    Messi FC
    Argentina
    Mar 10, 2023
    Look Messi and Maradona are the best dribblers of all time and Deep inside we all know it. For me Messi edges Maradona because i think he is quicker with the Ball and Even better in Tight Spaces while Maradona is a bit more creative in his dribbling.Messi also has been the best Dribbler from 2007/8 until maybe 2020? For almost 12 years and even today he has the most dribbles in ligue 1 this Season.
     
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  18. Gregoire1

    Gregoire1 Member

    Dec 4, 2020
    No, Maradona only 3rd.
     
  19. LaPulga22

    LaPulga22 Member

    Messi FC
    Argentina
    Mar 10, 2023
    Attention before @carlito86 is going Berserk
     
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  20. Gregoire1

    Gregoire1 Member

    Dec 4, 2020
    Yea, if we talk about beauty and creativeness, than its different thing, but effectiveness - Messi is better.
     
  21. Calculator

    Calculator Member

    Aug 6, 2021
    Messi’s effectiveness would be less if defenders could foul him persistently without yellow cards, and violently without red cards. His dribbling is mostly based on the quickness of his leg reflexes and balance, which is great if the defender has to win the ball, not so effective if the defender doesn’t need to win the ball.
     
  22. Tom Souster

    Tom Souster Member

    Jul 20, 2016
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Hatem Ben Arfa was an outrageously talented dribbler
     
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  23. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    #123 carlito86, Mar 31, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2023
    I had Hatem Ben arfa as my third best dribbler of the 2010s decade

    Behind Messi and Neymar
    With more professionalism and dedication to his craft there was potential for him to be even higher than this

    On his best day he was an inferior dribbler to no one




    This is the best video I could find on Ben arfa 2015/16
    30 minutes in length

    Uploaded by the same channel that made the 45 minute comp of Ronaldo nazario at inter Milan or 30 minute comp of Lionel Messi 2010/11 (both taken down from YouTube)
    So it’s best you probably download it for further viewing

    Ben Arfa is the best french dribbler in history though
    By far

    Nothing I’ve seen of Kopa let alone Zidane or tigana compares to this
     
  24. carlito86

    carlito86 Member+

    Jan 11, 2016
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    When gianfranco zola turned Jamie carragher into a circus clown
     
  25. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Not sure he was a better dribbler than Ginola
     

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