The art of dribbling

There are many aspects to the beautiful game, however, dribblers are the heartbeat of football, they are the ones who get fans off their seats with every twist, turn, and touch. With their flair, balance, and creativity, they make football truly live up to its name. Here's our list celebrating 25 players who transformed dribbling into an art form.

25. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

'Kvaradona' has already earned a spot among football’s elite dribblers for his fearless, unpredictable style. He combines explosive pace with close control, constantly destabilising defenders with sudden shifts and feints. His past performances for Napoli, Georgia and now PSG showcase not just flair, but consistency in breaking lines and creating chances. In a football world increasingly shaped by systems, Kvara brings the chaos defenders dread.

23. Roberto Baggio

Roberto Baggio, the 1993 Ballon d'Or winner, was one of the most silky-smooth players of the 20th century. He won Serie A titles with Juventus and AC Milan. Baggio made a name for his ability to skip past players and strike the ball cleanly from set pieces.

22. Eddie Gray

Considered one of the best Scottish players ever, Gray earned himself a name over at Leeds United. Nicknamed 'Last Waltz', the Scottish forward was a slippery dribbler. “When he plays on snow, he doesn't leave any footprints,” shared Don Revie (former Leeds coach).

21. Franck Ribéry

The sight of Franck Ribéry darting down the wing was terrifying for defenders, who often struggled to find a way to stop the French international. Unlike many flashy dribblers, Ribéry’s slaloms frequently ended with real impact — assists, goals or game-breaking plays. He wasn't just entertaining; he was effective.

20. Zico

Brazilian icon Zico is one of the greatest international footballers in history, making a name for himself in a national team shirt for his dazzling dribbling ability and free-kick prowess. He was the South American Footballer of the Year three times.

19. Giuseppe Meazza

Meazza is considered a pillar in Italian football for how much he influenced the game. Inter named their stadium after him after spending 13 seasons with them (1927 debut).

18. Marc Overmars

Overmars was one of the most lethal dribblers during the 90s. Strong, fast and agile, he was a constant threat for defenders. The former Barcelona player scored 19 goals in 141 matches for the Blaugrana, according to Transfermarkt.

17. Romario

Another magician-like forward from Brazil who had a major impact on European football was Romario. According to the man himself, the Brazilian scored around 1,047 goals, but official records hold him at 690. A life filled with controversy and success, like him or not, he was one of the best.

16. Eden Hazard

Chelsea's Eden Hazard was arguably one of the best dribblers in modern football. With a jaw-dropping 63.1% success rate, per Opta Analytics, the Belgian winger was unstoppable down the wing.

15. Luis Figo

Figo was part of the Portuguese golden generation (one that failed to win a title) and was regarded as an extremely smart player on the pitch. His vision with the ball and great dribbling skills made him an efficient forward.

13. Omar Sivori

The Italo-Argentinian forward was considered one of the best dribblers during his career (1954-1969), earning him a formidable reputation across Europe. During his eight seasons at Juventus, he scored 134 goals in 215 games and earned three 'Scudettos', according to Transfermarkt.

12. Neymar Jr

The Brazilian forward was a global star during his time at Barcelona, when he formed part of the lethal 'MSN' attack, alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. During his time in La Liga, he registered 5.75 dribbles completed per game, according to StatMuse.

11. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is another big name on the list. The Portuguese forward shaped a generation of footballers during his epic rivalry against Messi. Although Messi was a more successful dribbler, Ronaldo still put up a fight against the Argentinian.

10. Pelé

For many, Pelé was beyond a footballer, he was an icon. Nicknamed 'O Rei' (The King), the Brazilian forward was known for his great finishing abilities and evasive dribbling skills. According to FIFA, he is “the best player in the history of football”.

9. Jairzinho

Jairzinho was another successful Brazilian forward during the 1970s, who managed to score in every game during the 1970 World Cup. He had illusive feet that kept defenders wondering where the ball was at all times.

8. Zinédine Zidane

'Zizou' was another great generational player, who won it all throughout his career. He was an incredibly gifted midfielder, trotting past opponents with world-class dribbles. Many will remember his signature 'Zidane roulette'.

7. Garrincha

Another Brazilian legend who some argue was even better than Pelé himself. Garrincha was known for his great dribbling skills, constantly pulling off nutmegs, feints and sharp turns. He was simply unpredictable, perhaps helped by a series of deformities, like a bent right leg and a shorter left leg.

6. Johan Cruyff

The Barcelona legend was a genius on the pitch and would drive defenders crazy with his illusive dribbling. He is one of the few players on this list with a dribble named after him — the 'Cruyff turn'.

5. George Best

Best was a true rock star within the football realm. An extremely gifted winger who drove the opposition crazy with his dribbles. Born in Northern Ireland, he spent most of his career at Manchester United, and even today, he is considered one of the most talented attackers ever.

4. Ronaldo

Ronaldo was another world-class Brazilian player, who, many argue, was truly the best at his art. Before his life-changing knee injury, the Brazilian forward was unstoppable. “Ronaldo was my hero,” shared Messi during his early years at Barcelona, highlighting his impact on the game.

'O fenômeno'

'O fenômeno' had a remarkable ability to dribble past opponents and position himself for a promising strike. During his time at Inter, he scored 59 goals in 99 games, according to Transfermarkt.

3. Lionel Messi

What is there to say about the great Lionel Messi? He is considered by many to be the 'GOAT' due to his impressive career record and unique ability with the ball. While we have all seen that in action, we do have the stats to back it up, too.

Successful dribbler

According to Opta Analytics, Messi (2021-2023) registered a 58.4% successful dribbling rate, attempting an average of 7 dribbles per game.

2. Diego Maradona

Another genius of his time was Diego Armando Maradona. He was an extremely talented player who, sadly, was always in the eye of the hurricane. Nevertheless, his remarkable ability with the ball made him a constant nightmare for defenders.

World Cup in 1986

He took Argentina and Napoli to the top, winning a World Cup in 1986 and the Italian club's first-ever 'Scudetto' in 1987.

1. Ronaldinho

If you ask any fan worldwide for their thoughts on 'Dinho', most will recognise him as the greatest dribbler ever to play the game. His unique style and remarkable ability on the pitch have exalted him as a fantastic player amongst legends.