Dribbling is the ability to go past opposition players with a quick change of direction, burst of pace or a neat trick.
Many players have graced the game with their phenomenal dribbling skills. However, when you talk about the best of all-time, it’s a challenge in every aspect.
Some players dribble past a defender and falter immediately at the next hurdle. Some dribble past many defenders and earn a strong name, only to never repeat it.
So here I will list the top five dribblers of all-time, who have shocked the world with their skills and have been quite consistent.
5. Ronaldinho
The Brazilian is known for his quick speed and lightning body movements. Playing for Brazil and Barcelona, he would go past several defenders quite consistently.
His signature move, the elastico, was to push the ball sideways and within a second turn it the other way around. It was a treat for all the football spectators who saw this legendary man dribble past some great defenders and leave them puzzled.
4. George Best
The best player ever to play for Manchester United from Northern Ireland, Best was a genius in all regards. Who can forget his six goals in a match against Northampton? This man used his right foot and had great ball control.
Some hailed him as the best player ever and some called him the best of his generation. This United legend surely is a deserving candidate for the number four spot.
3. Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruyff is the best Dutch player of all-time with massive amount of goals and individual awards attached to his credentials. He won the Ballon d’Or three times (1971, ’73, ’74) and was voted as the European Player of the Century in 1999.
He had his own move eventually named after him, the “Cruyff turn”. In this move he would act like he is about to pass the ball to his teammate but would eventually drag the ball with his foot, turning 90 degrees and going past defenders.
2. Lionel Messi
This man needs no introduction. The only player in the history of the game to have collected four Ballon d’Or awards. He creates new records and break his own records. He has established himself as the best player of the modern era and perhaps one of the best of all-time.
When you talk about his dribbling skills, this is his strength. He repeated Maradona’s World Cup ’86 display when he dribbled past six Getafe defenders and scored a monumental goal. This happened when he was only 18 years of age.
Today, he has 22 hat-tricks and lots of other records. Some legends including Raul have said that the way he runs and dribbles is impossible to do. It’s his dribbling ability which has made him so successful in football.
1. Diego Maradona
Arguably the best footballer of all-time, this magician from Argentina was often marked by three or four defenders during a game.
He scored the goal of the century in the 1986 World Cup against England where he dribbled past six quality English defenders and later said in an interview that nobody could have stopped him.
Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in ’86 and also assisted his club sides – Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona – to many titles.
People may argue on about the best player of all-time, but when it comes to dribbling ability, is there anyone better than this Argentine?
Football Historian
Guest
The list has two glaring flaws: Messi and Ronaldinho. You need to do more research about the best dribblers of all time. And be thorough. And such an all-time list that cannot portray more past legends who are generally better, is irrelevant. If you haven't seen them, or know little to nothing about them, and as such make a list comprising mostly modern players, it shows your lack of footballing knowledge, and the will to do unbiased research. Besides, there are too many dribblers par excellence better than Messi that it is not even funny. At least these stalwarts must be in the top 10: Garrincha, Maradona, Best, Pele, Baggio, Sindelar, Moreno, Ronaldo (original), Matthews, Cruyff. Plus, legends like Sivori, Johnstone, Finney, Rahn, Gento, Hamrin, Julinho, Schiaffino, Romario, Zico, Eusebio, and Laudrup can stake legitimate claims in this list. Then there were crazy dribblers like Magico Gonzalez, Denilson whose dribblings were a joy to watch even if not effective in the end. And classy dribblers they were indeed, and definitely, deserve honorable mention. Even Romario was a better dribbler and controller of the ball than Ronaldinho. Casting Messi as the 2nd best dribbler of all time is a failure at humor when fellow Argentines like Maradona, Moreno, Sivori, Orsi, Corbatta were better dribblers. The list could be more like: 1. Garrincha, 2. Maradona, 3. Pele, 4. Best, 5. Sindelar. This list is a very shoddy and misleading attempt at informative journalism.
Atish
Guest
It is a fame to Maradona that he was marked by 3 or 4 players.What a magician he was in football field.
Steve
Guest
Ronaldo fenomeno is much better than ronaldinho
sanchelona
Guest
i think 2 me messi is the best dribbler of all time coz he has done alot and no opposite defender would like 2 meet him
Bella Kona
Guest
Pele was one of the best dribblers of all time, give me 10 goals scored by Maradona passing 3 defenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNzr8bG-z5I&list=PLN3DPiwyc1-gdhvjLEm22ZtQKTw39hrnC&feature=share Pele had another skills to score with, so he didn't show his dribbling ability all the time
Nihar Gawand
Guest
Where the hell is Ryan Giggs? He dribbled past 7-8 arsenal players when he was palying against Arsenal I 1999 F.A. Cup Semi-Final
dip
Guest
I know,many wont agree with me,but to me,the list should be modified. If you are to list the best 10 'dribblers' (note : only dribbling skill in the field ,not goal scoring ability) , then according to me,the list should be lyk this : 1,2,3- maradona,ronaldo(f course d brazilian), ronaldinho..hard 2 give them a sequence. 4-messi(may b he should be ranked below. Its not exactly the 'dribbling' skill,what make messi unique are his acceleratn n speed with the ball and accurately finding the small vacant area in a pack of defenders) 5-garrincha 6-cryuff 7,8-iniesta,zidane(they both dont have much acceleration, but their ball control was/is extraordinary. And it appears to me that sumhow, they can read the mind f the defenders. 9-george best 10-pele(its tough to exclude this great player, but i'm personaly nt much impressed with his 'dribbling skill'.
bilaal
Guest
I think george best is better than cruyff
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Frank Ribery is the best dribbler this season with 116 dribbles, leaving Lionel Messi behind. Bayern Munich and its players are just having one sensational season.
Planet Football
Guest
' We all know that both the South Americans were better than George Best.' Well, that is your opinion, I disagree! Apart from dribbling, Best could pass, shoot and play with both feet. He could also head and tackle - he had the lot. Also came from a tiny country with a population of around a million, and with not a great football pedigree. Physically, he was not overly blessed with great attributes. Makes his brilliance and success even more remarkable. Unfortunately, he was never able to play at a World Cup and prove himself at the very highest level. Had he done so, he would probably be even more highly regarded. The greatest of all time, to my mind.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
It's my perception and just like me, there are many other individuals who can have their own. I believe that i have come closest with forming the best 5.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Dennis Bergkamp is surely not the pick of best of the best. He was amazing but not the ideal one for top 5.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Iniesta can go through 2 or 3 but how frequently? one in three games!! Zidane was also very inconsistent whereas George Best and how can you forget Maradona. his best dribble came in 1986 qf vs England in the World cup. Goal of the Decade as its rightly called.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
its just a good phrase. We all know that both the South Americans were better than George Best. Ryan Giggs at his best would still be far away from people like Messi, Diego, Dinho,etc.
Harsh Sinha
Roar Guru
Stanley Matthews was the best English dribbler i can think of. He is surely not in the same league of people that i;ve mentioned.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
i also had Chris Waddle during his best years at marseille. Ginola too.
Jayden
Guest
Hatem Ben Arfa is sheer magnificence as well
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The names listed are fine exponents of the dribbling technique but, whenever I see the description "of all time", I have to smile. Unless someone has assessed all footballers - from all eras - who are we to say that the players we've seen in our lifetime are any better than those from bygone eras.
jbinnie
Guest
TOWSER - Had a look at the 50 list and it proves how inane the question is for the writer has a totally (to me) different idea as to what "dribbling " is against "sublime ball control". More than half his players,all top notch players ,were not wingers as such and I was surprised he did not include the giant Charles in his list for he possessed all the skills to play centre-forward or centre-half but not a "dribbler" in anyone's mind. He had Kubala but not Kocsis,de Stefano but not Puskas,Sindelar but not Hidegkuti,yet all six played similar roles for their clubs and countries.A no brainer jb
Cameron
Roar Guru
I had a look at that list earlier today. Its very good and informative. I had never heard of half of them but that is because I don't generally vest my time and interest outside of the A-league.