Pele

 

Most usual candidates are either Garrincha or Maradona

My Best Dribblers:
1- Garrrincha (One or among very first one to break many defense's heart for fun)
2- Maradona (as obvious case)
3- Messi (as opposed to Garrincha, Messi is the latest dribbler who convinced everyone)
4- Pele (not as well known, since his goals stats are too big to overshadow his dribbling skills)
5- Ronaldo (the 1st youngsters 18-20 showed up to destroyed many leagues, teams)

6- George Best (a rare great dribbler from UK with his trademark)
7- J.Cruyff (an intelligent dribbler with techniques and speed)
8- Stanley Mathews (A pre-war greatest dribbler)
9- Ronaldinho (a great dribbler with style and joy)
10- Zidane (?)

This last spot #10 is a big debate as many great dribblers deserved a mention besides Zidane: (and not necessary Zidane is better but he did show more often in big leagues, big games, that's all)
Zico, Baggio, J.Johnstone, Savicevic, Sivori, Rivelino, Jaizinho, Romario Dzajic, Puskas, Di Stefano, Rivaldo Jay Jay ...

======================================

NOTES:
There is not much difference between say #2 to #5 or #7 to #9 per se ... it's intangible and unmeasureable

 

Nice list but you're naming superstars only and not real dribbling specialists. Denilson no doubt had honed pure dribbling skill to greater perfection than any of them. From those I've seen, he's the best when it comes to beating players not by great acceleration but by pure dribbling technique (although ultimately players like Messi and Ronaldinho were more effective due to their superior speed and football IQ).

 

Here are few links (surveys from some websites) to consult your best dribblers:

- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1037524-50-greatest-dribblers-in-world-football-history
- http://www.rankopedia.com/Best-Dribbler-in-football-(soccer)-history/Step1/12633/.htm
- http://www.mapsofworld.com/sports/football/players/dribblers.html
- http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-soccer-dribblers-ever/adibenami

 

Maradona, Messi, Savicevic and Dragan Stojkovic are the best from my lifetime that i was able to follow consistently.

HM in no order to: Littbarski, Prosinecki, Zidane, Laudrup brothers, Kipiani, Susic, Giresse, Balakov, Fat Ronaldo, Mostovoi, Baggio, Conti, zavarov,Heskey, Magico Gonzalez, Kinkladze, Hagi, Ronaldinho, Vanenburg, Moller, Gazza, Waddle, Beardsley, Barnes, Detari, Recoba, Le Tiss, Oganesyan, Dobrovolski.

for pre-80s players, just all the usual suspects that have mostly already been mentioned really. i'd add in some that don't get mentioned as much like Kubala, Kaizer, Rensenbrink, Bene, Torocsik, Sekularac, Meskhi, Metreveli, Eddie Gray, Blokhin.

 

Maradona, Messi, Savicevic and Dragan Stojkovic are the best from my lifetime that i was able to follow consistently.

HM in no order to: Littbarski, Prosinecki, Zidane, Laudrup brothers, Kipiani, Susic, Giresse, Balakov, Fat Ronaldo, Mostovoi, Baggio, Conti, zavarov,Heskey, Magico Gonzalez, Kinkladze, Hagi, Ronaldinho, Vanenburg, Moller, Gazza, Waddle, Beardsley, Barnes, Detari, Recoba, Le Tiss, Oganesyan, Dobrovolski.

for pre-80s players, just all the usual suspects that have mostly already been mentioned really. i'd add in some that don't get mentioned as much like Kubala, Kaizer, Rensenbrink, Bene, Torocsik, Sekularac, Meskhi, Metreveli, Eddie Gray, Blokhin.

You brought up some good names i.e. Stoikovic is one (Magico was another great but often in smaller leagues)

Heskey? I can name 100 names with similar skills in dribble

 

The first ones who come to my mind: Messi, Garrincha, Pelé, Maradona, Best.
Other options: Ronaldinho, Kopa, Matthews, Conti...

 

From the top of my head:

Top speed - Messi - best top speed dribbler I have see. No one has his control on full sprint

Fast speed - Best, Garrincha, Ronaldo Fenomeno, Ronaldinho, Magico, Kopa, Denilson, Robben, Ginola, Okocha ...

Mid speed - Maradona, Iniesta, Baggio, Pele, B. Laudrup, M. Laudrup, Savicevic, Stojkovic
Robinho, Cruijff, Redondo, McManaman, Litbarski, Djalminha, Zola ...

On slow speed - Mathews, Sivori, Zidane, Hagi, Matt Le Tiss, Kubala, Van Basten, ...

Close quarters - Riquelme, Prosinecki, Valderama, Romatio, ...

 

Kinkladze was also one of the greatest pure dribblers no doubt...yet another player who lacked the intelligence to do much with this skill though.

 

Most of the greatest Georgian players seemed to have a flair for it.

Gogoberidze in the 50s....not that there is much footage there to confirm that one.

Meskhi and Metreveli after him were the best dribblers in the Soviet league and still look really impressive, though in that older-fashioned Garrincha and Johstone "play at your own pace and often beat your man three times when once would have done" trolling style that mostly faded out after Best and Cruyff more direct focused style became the thing to emulate.

Then Kipiani in the seventies\early 80s for the slower, elegant kubal\di stefano\prosinecki\zidane stuff.

Then Kinkladze in the 90s who was a mix of the 60s guys and more direct modern running.

Then shit.

 

Okocha; probably the greatest of all time.

 

Nah. Some slick moves and a pretty good dribbler but nowhere near the elite.

Denilson had fantastic ball control which made his dribbling impressive but he just wasn't effective. So his talents were basically in football commercials while someone like Ronaldinho could show off in commercials and also use it to dominate on the pitch.

 

I don't know about Djalminha, don't remember seeing him much in his prime. Not that you have.

 

ofcourse I have not seen him regularly, but whatever I have seen is enough.
Denilson is seriously overrated by you.

 

also Denilson became the most expensive footballer in the world purely thanks to his dribbling skills...it's not like he did anything else on a world class level.

 

Yes Denilson broke the world record (of R9 in 97) in transfer 1998-99 for his dribbling skills

But that was just a "potential" and he "proved' impotent with his dribbling skills to help any teams after that ... from Liga to Brazil (on bench)

Remember, dribbling skills in football is to PASS DF and score or creat goals (like Maradona Pele Messi R9 ...) not a circus entertainer :embarass: of Denilson (in WC2002 )

 

Also Djalminha was a far better player.

 

Victor Moses

 

Santi Cazorla & Serge Gnabry

 

Seriously Heskey's place among greatest dribbles artist is being questioned?? Heskey's is not only the greatest dribbles, he is the fecking greatest player ever.

PELE about Heskey's : "Whenever I see Heskey's playing I feel inferior. Wish I was half as talented."

LINK: CLICK HERE.

 

Lol Homes , you know nothing! That quote was about Lord B. , not fecking Heskey :yuck:

 

No mention for Falcao? I mean he's a top contender for the best sheer dribling technique ever.

 

can be found on Face Book
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emile-Heskey-is-a-donkey/121372937903521

Emile Heskey is a donkey
Emile Heskey is a waste of space and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a football pitch

and by yahoo

Emile Heskey - Top England striker or donkey?
Am i the only one who thinks Heskey is useless? He starts up front for England with Rooney, But i can think of at least 10 strikers i'd start for England before him.Or is he a good player?

 

can be found on Face Book
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emile-Heskey-is-a-donkey/121372937903521

Emile Heskey is a donkey
Emile Heskey is a waste of space and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a football pitch

and by yahoo

Emile Heskey - Top England striker or donkey?
Am i the only one who thinks Heskey is useless? He starts up front for England with Rooney, But i can think of at least 10 strikers i'd start for England before him.Or is he a good player?

 

I find this list in great blog of Dearman
1. Diego Maradona
2. Garrincha
3. George Best
4. Matthias Sindelar
5. Omar Sivori
6. Ronaldo
7. Johan Cruyff
8. Dragoslav Sekularac
9. Pele
10. Lionel Messi

it sem good but messi 10 !! he so far ?
when last update for this ?

 

Here's the difference some of the great dribblers, and the best dribbler of all-time. I would still put Maradona ahead of Ronaldo though overall.

Messi dribbled 243 players to score 458 goals, or 0,53 players per goal.
Ronaldo dribbled 140 players to score 414 goals, or 0,31 players per goal.
Maradona dribbled 50 players to score 195 goals, or 0,26 players per goal.

 

Here's the difference some of the great dribblers, and the best dribbler of all-time. I would still put Maradona ahead of Ronaldo though overall.

Messi dribbled 243 players to score 458 goals, or 0,53 players per goal.
Ronaldo dribbled 140 players to score 414 goals, or 0,31 players per goal.
Maradona dribbled 50 players to score 195 goals, or 0,26 players per goal.

World Cups

Messi: 0
Maradona: 1

Yeah i'm sure whoever created those stats went meticulously through the entire European career of Maradona.A large number of the more in-depth and\or Muricanised stats are doctored bullshit nowadays.It's become a promotional industry in itself and not to be trusted at face value.

I don't think either Ronaldo should be in a top ten dribblers.especially not the Portuguese one.

Between Maradona and Messi, it's clear who's better: Messi. Messi is just faster.

A roided up Ronaldo used to run through 90s Serie A defenses and midfields.

Maradona, Messi, Savicevic and Dragan Stojkovic are the best from my lifetime that i was able to follow consistently.

HM in no order to: Littbarski, Prosinecki, Zidane, Laudrup brothers, Kipiani, Susic, Giresse, Balakov, Fat Ronaldo, Mostovoi, Baggio, Conti, zavarov,Heskey, Magico Gonzalez, Kinkladze, Hagi, Ronaldinho, Vanenburg, Moller, Gazza, Waddle, Beardsley, Barnes, Detari, Recoba, Le Tiss, Oganesyan, Dobrovolski.

for pre-80s players, just all the usual suspects that have mostly already been mentioned really. i'd add in some that don't get mentioned as much like Kubala, Kaizer, Rensenbrink, Bene, Torocsik, Sekularac, Meskhi, Metreveli, Eddie Gray, Blokhin.

Which Heskey?

 

Yeah i'm sure whoever created those stats went meticulously through the entire European career of Maradona.A large number of the more in-depth and\or Muricanised stats are doctored bullshit nowadays.It's become a promotional industry in itself and not to be trusted at face value.

I don't think either Ronaldo should be in a top ten dribblers.especially not the Portuguese one.

 

Oh yeah they just invented trivial numbers and posted them. :thumbsup:

Problem in modern football is nostalgia, dismissing statistics as soon as it breaks your delusion. It's like 1500's, finally figuring out that world wasn't actually flat, the most deluded ones still would burn people over it.

 

I think penalties and such actually should be removed from the relation as Maradona scored much more those in relation. To better showcase dribbling overall.

Dribbling in open play goals

Messi dribbled 243 players to score 380 goals, or 0,64 players per goal.
Maradona dribbled 50 players to score 109 goals, or 0,46 players per goal.
Ronaldo dribbled 140 players to score 353 goals, or 0,40 players per goal.

 

The fairest comparisons should be made in similar contexts. For example, if we review dribbling in open game goals, during the World Cup + World Cup Qualifiers, the result is different:

Maradona dribbled 9 players to score 11 goals, or 0.82 players per goal.
Pelé dribbled 12 players to score 18 goals, or 0.67 players per goal.
Messi dribbled 8 players to score 26 goals, or 0.31 players per goal.

The percentage of goals dribbling is also important:
Pele, 20 games, 18 goals, in 7 used dribble = 39% of goals
Maradona, 29 games, 11 goals, in 3 he used dribble = 27% of goals.
Messi, 59 games, 26 goals, in 7 he used dribble = 23% of goals.

If we analyze the dribble average in open game goals:
Pele, 1 goal per dribble every 2.9 games
Maradona, 1 goal per dribble every 9.7 games
Messi, 1 goal per dribble every 9.8 games.

With the presented data:
1. Pelé, 2. Maradona, 3. Messi

 

BEST DRIBBLES:
1. Garrincha
2. Maradona
3. Messi
4. Pele
5. Cruyff
6. Ronaldo
7. Best
8. Matthews
9. Ronaldinho
10. Zidane

Southamerican: Jairzinho, Tostao, Sivori, Zico, Houseman, Sotil, Rivelino, Corbatta, Zizinho, W. Ortiz, Riquelme, etc.
European: Figo, Futre, Baggio, Begkamp, Del Piero, Hagi, Laudrup, Conti, Giresse, Kubala, etc.

 

Mostly a random champions list. A few among these guys were not even that excellent at dribbling either because were slow or just because dribbling was not their best skill. An example: Del Piero is mentioned but Italy had a lot of dribblers who were much better than Del Piero at it: Franco Causio, Claudio Sala, even the first Roberto Donadoni. Similarly, I guess other nations had real specialists of dribbling. Probably more fantasisti/wingers of the past (70s and before) should be investigated and would make that list.

 

The fairest comparisons should be made in similar contexts. For example, if we review dribbling in open game goals, during the World Cup + World Cup Qualifiers, the result is different:

Maradona dribbled 9 players to score 11 goals, or 0.82 players per goal.
Pelé dribbled 12 players to score 18 goals, or 0.67 players per goal.
Messi dribbled 8 players to score 26 goals, or 0.31 players per goal.

The percentage of goals dribbling is also important:
Pele, 20 games, 18 goals, in 7 used dribble = 39% of goals
Maradona, 29 games, 11 goals, in 3 he used dribble = 27% of goals.
Messi, 59 games, 26 goals, in 7 he used dribble = 23% of goals.

If we analyze the dribble average in open game goals:
Pele, 1 goal per dribble every 2.9 games
Maradona, 1 goal per dribble every 9.7 games
Messi, 1 goal per dribble every 9.8 games.

With the presented data:
1. Pelé, 2. Maradona, 3. Messi

 

Number of dribbles/game doesn't tell you who the best dribbler is. It doesn't take into account successive dribbles being harder, dribbling in more congested areas than out wide, how effective the dribbles are. They aren't weighted and are all counted the same.


What are Ronaldinho's stats?



Where did you get Pele's?

 

Messi

Sent from my MI 4W using Tapatalk

 

Neymar is statistically a better dribbler than Messi ever was.

 

I said Messi, but I forgoted Neymar. He is one of the best dribblers (maybe not better than Messi but he is very good).

Sent from my MI 4W using Tapatalk