Who Are The Most Successful Dribblers In Europe's Top 5 Leagues?

Who Are The Most Successful Dribblers In Europe's Top 5 Leagues?
17:30, 19 Jan 2018

Possession based football was once de rigueur as many clubs at the top level, and even some below, looked to emulate the great sides managed by Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan’s Barcelona side were widely regarded as one of the best ever to play the game as they dominated games by not letting their opposition have time on the ball, and by hogging it themselves.

He then went on to adapt this style at Bayern Munich, and is now doing so again at Manchester City in the Premier League.

But a lot of the sides who aspire to play the mythical tiki-taka football Guardiola’s teams were supposed to have played miss the other important aspects of the game which truly made Barcelona, and in turn Lionel Messi, the best ever.

After all, Guardiola himself once said that: "I loathe all that passing for the sake of it, all that tiki-taka. It's so much rubbish and has no purpose."

One of these other elements is the off the ball pressing which is now more prominent in the Premier League thanks to the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino. 

But the other, most exciting part of the game which is also overlooked is the ability to take players out of the game through intelligent dribbling: taking the opposition on with ball at feet, at the right moment. Clubs are now beginning to realise that possession isn't everything.

While holding on to the ball is, in this system, more of a defensive tool, dribbling, coupled with incisive passing is the ultimate attacking weapon. Guardiola recently commented on Raheem Sterling's improvement in this regard:

“I like the most how clear he is becoming like a football player. He knows when he has to dribble and when he has to pass. Before, he was only dribbling and that was a mistake.”

Knowing when to dribble is they key phrase, and there are plenty of players around Europe who like to run at the opposition, but few who pick the right moments. 

What follows is a look at the best dribblers currently operating on the continent, who know when the time is right to beat their man.

Eden Hazard - Chelsea

The first player on the list may not be an emerging, under the radar talent, but it’s impossible to do such an analysis without mentioning the Belgian, who’s the best dribbler in Europe’s top leagues at the moment in terms of attempts and success.

Hazard completes 81 percent of his dribbles, and attempts more per game than any other player on this list with 7.8 per 90 minutes. He’s up there with the likes of Lionel Messi (8.3 per 90') and Neymar (11.2) in terms of attempts, but is ahead of them when it comes to successful take-ons.

Douglas Costa - Juventus

Juventus’ Brazilian winger, who will make his loan from Bayern Munich permanent at the end of the season, completes 77 percent of his dribbles and is also in the top 10 when it comes to dribble attempts.

Despite not being a regular starter for the Serie A side, he still averages an assist every other game, and is a useful weapon to have on the bench. Expect to see much more of him once the move becomes permanent next season.

Florian Thauvin - Marseille

24-year-old Thauvin has contributed to 17 goals this season, with his nine goals and eight assists putting him level with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe in the Ligue 1 scoring charts.

The right winger also completes an impressive 76 percent of his dribbles, and regularly links up with forward Valere Germain.

Nabil Fekir - Lyon

Thauvin has been one of the standout players in the league this season along with Lyon’s Fekir who also has an outstanding dribble success rate, completing 77 percent of his take-ons.

Their respective clubs could struggle to hang onto these players into next season, especially if they are given the chance to build on their international appearances by being included in the France squad for this summer’s World Cup.

Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City

When Guardiola converted De Bruyne from an attacking midfielder into an all action player in the middle of the park, the value of having dribblers through the centre, as well as out wide, became even more apparent.

Liverpool will sign Naby Keita in the summer to bring them similar qualities, and these players will become even more prevalent, and expensive, thanks to their rare combination of creative, physical, and technical ability.

De Bruyne completes 80 percent of his dribbles, and though he may only attempt a few each game, he epitomises the earlier line form Guardiola about picking the right moment to pass and the right moment to dribble.

Tanguy NDombele - Lyon

Another Lyon man, NDombele is very much in the mould of the modern midfielder, and some of his play can be reminiscent of Liverpool-bound Keita as well as the new-look De Bruyne. He’s recently emerged in the Lyon side having being picked up on loan from Amiens. 

Deciding whether to pay the €10 million (£8.8m) fee to make the deal permanent is a no-brainer. The Frenchman has completed 76 percent of his dribbles in Ligue 1 this season, which includes three games for Amiens.

Mario Lemina - Southampton

Gabon international Lemina completes 92 percent of his take-ons through the centre of the midfield, and is one of the Premier League’s more successful players when it comes to beating a man. 

“I’m as comfortable going forward as I am tracking back,” he said on joining his previous club, Juventus, and he’s certainly brought this mentality with him to Southampton.

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