In brief
There are exhilarating dribblers all across football, despite the general worry that spectacular risk-takers are becoming less common.
Some of the world’s most prolific dribblers are in the arsenals of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Despite being 37 years old, Lionel Messi is still among the world’s greatest weavers.
There’s a growing sense that football is becoming less enjoyable. Its alleged “decline” this summer was bemoaned by the great Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, who said that the spectacle “is becoming less and less attractive.”
Some have attributed this apparent decline to Pep Guardiola, the all-conquering manager of Manchester City and a renowned pupil of Bielsa. Coaches all over the world are inspired by Guardiola’s positional, possession-heavy style. It’s a frequent misperception that this approach makes erratic people into mindless parts of a winning machine. The defending Premier League winners have some of the best dribblers in the game right now, even though Jack Grealish may have lost some of his spark.
There is a fleet of amazing weavers dispersed throughout the elite level despite all the sadness and despair. All you need to do is know where to look. The players who are ranting against the misguided notion of football’s collapse in 2025 are listed below.
Ranking Elements
Quantity: One important criterion for evaluating the finest in the world is the quantity of dribbles attempted and finished.
Level: Higher ranking players are able to dribble past top defenders in the most difficult competitions.
Style: The best fascinating dribblers evade their opponents with a blend of talent and quickness, going beyond the hard, cold statistics.
World Football’s Top Dribblers (2025)
Rank
The player
The country
Club
1.
Kvaratskhelia Khvicha
Georgia
Napoli
2.
Cherki Rayan
France
The Lyonnais Olympic Games
3.
Musiala Jamal
Germany
The Bayern Munich
4.
Junior Vinicius
Brazil
Real Madrid
5.
Dembele Ousmane
France
Saint-Germain, Paris
6.
Lionel Messi
Argentina
Miami Inter
7.
Yamal Lamine
Spain
Barcelona
8.
Desire Doue
France
Saint-Germain, Paris
9.
Williams, Nico
Spain
Sports Club
10.
Mbappe Kylian
France
Real Madrid
11.
Rodrygo
Brazil
Real Madrid
12.
Florian Wirtz
Germany
Bayer Leverkusen
13.
Jeremy Doku
Belgium
Manchester City
14.
Savinho
Brazil
Manchester City
15.
Jamie Gittens
England
Borussia Dortmund
15Jamie Gittens
Borussia Dortmund
At Borussia Dortmund, a young English talent is making waves. Where have we previously heard that one? But in this instance, the past is irrelevant. Since joining from Manchester City’s youth system, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has made an impression in Germany.
Though he is much more direct with the ball at his feet than the current Chelsea star, the 20-year-old is following in Jadon Sancho’s footsteps. His performances in the Bundesliga demonstrate that, and if he keeps improving, he might become a very interesting star to watch.
Dribbling Statistics for the Past 12 Months
Metric
Value in relation to 90
Attempts at Take-Ons
8.62
Effective Take-Ons
3.93
Success Rate of Take-On
45.6%
enters the penalty area.
3.21
14Savinho
Manchester City
The apparent mastermind behind the alleged collapse of contemporary football, Pep Guardiola, is more interested in dishonest widemen than other managers. He complained, “Today football is losing the dribble,” on Spanish television in 2022. “Without players who dribble, nothing can be done.” Savinho is the most recent trickster to display his quick feet since joining City in the summer, and the head coach has since brought in some of the best weavers in the league.
During the 2023–24 season, Girona benefited from Savinho’s erratic skill, spending the majority of the season at the top of the table until ultimately placing in an unprecedented third. Last season, Michel, Girona’s manager, stated, “I know this is a big statement, but I hadn’t seen anyone so effective in one-on-one situations since Vinicius Junior emerged.”
Dribbling Statistics for the Past 12 Months
Metric
Value in relation to 90
Attempts at Take-Ons
5.75
Effective Take-Ons
2.64
Success Rate of Take-On
45.9%
enters the penalty area.
3.78
13Jeremy Doku
Manchester City
Defenders are left feeling dizzy by Jeremy Doku’s confusing mix of chops, jinks, and feints as he darts forward like a drop of water on a hot skillet. The Belgian winger has more chances than anybody else to take on his opponent since he plays for a team that dominates possession as thoroughly as Manchester City.
The numbers that underlie Doku’s dribbling are astounding. In the 2023–24 Premier League season, City’s number 11 carried the ball into the 18-yard box 147 times, more than any other player in the top five leagues in Europe, even though he played fewer than half of the available minutes. This season, he has carried on in this manner, and his qualities set him apart from players like Phil Foden and Jack Grealish in the Manchester City locker room.
Dribbling Statistics for the Past 12 Months
Metric
Value in relation to 90
Attempts at Take-Ons
11.9
Effective Take-Ons
6.58
Success Rate of Take-On
55.1%
enters the penalty area.
5.81
12Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz is a little different from the other three, who are more conventional wingers who threaten with their speed and directness. The German doesn’t require a change of pace to outpace opponents because they often operate in more centre regions. Instead, he depends on his deft footwork and tight control.
Wirtz, who has recently been linked to a move to the Etihad, would probably be battling with Foden and would remind people of David Silva and his days at the club. The playmaker is undoubtedly evidence that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for defeating an opponent.
Dribbling Statistics for the Past 12 Months
Metric
Value in relation to 90
Attempts at Take-Ons
6.47
Effective Take-Ons
3.20
Success Rate of Take-On
56%
enters the penalty area.
2.03
11Rodrygo
Real Madrid
Ninety-four seconds into his Real Madrid tenure, Rodrygo demonstrated his incredible dribbling ability. The courageous Brazilian dove infield, twisted Jose Arnaiz around, and picked out the bottom corner after taming Casemiro’s raking crossfield pass with the outside of his right boot.
Rodrygo shrugged after a fantastic debut, saying, “I’m at a loss for words. I’m fortunate. Good fortune was not a major factor, as evidenced by the number of times he has put opposing defenders in a spin cycle before scoring. The quick-footed forward’s career in the Spanish city has been long in the making, especially considering that the theme of his tenth birthday party was “Rodrygo Real Madrid.” It has gone fairly well so far, as seen by the more than 50 goals, three league titles, and two Champions Leagues.
Dribbling Statistics for the Past 12 Months
Metric
Value in relation to 90
Attempts at Take-Ons
5.19
Effective Take-Ons
2.35
Success Rate of Take-On
45.3%
enters the penalty area.
2.34
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