Ranking the 10 Best Dribblers in the World Right Now

The beautiful game of football is often punctuated by moments of sheer individual brilliance, and few skills are as captivating as the art of dribbling. A player who can glide past opponents with the ball seemingly glued to their feet has the power to unlock defenses, create scoring opportunities out of nothing, and electrify the crowd. These masters of close control and quick footwork are a joy to watch, turning tight spaces into their personal playgrounds. Identifying and ranking the best dribblers in the world is no easy task, as it involves both objective analysis of their on-field actions and a degree of appreciation for the flair and effectiveness they bring to their teams.

While statistics can offer a glimpse into their proficiency, the true essence of exceptional dribbling lies in the player’s ability to consistently beat defenders, create advantages, and ultimately impact the outcome of matches. With the current football landscape brimming with talent, pinpointing the top exponents of this skill requires a close look at their recent performances and overall contribution.

How We Ranked Today’s Top Dribblers

To arrive at our list of the best dribbler in the world of football, we considered a range of factors that contribute to a player’s effectiveness and reputation in this crucial skill. Our evaluation process incorporated both statistical metrics that quantify dribbling prowess and subjective assessments of the player’s style and overall impact on the game.

Statistics: From a statistical standpoint, we examined several key indicators. The number of successful take-ons per 90 minutes played provides a clear measure of how often a player manages to beat an opponent while in possession of the ball. This statistic highlights those players who consistently challenge and overcome defenders. Closely related is the take-on success rate, which indicates the percentage of attempted dribbles that are successful.

While a high number of successful take-ons is important, a high success rate suggests efficiency and careful selection of when to attempt a dribble. Furthermore, we looked at the number of carries into the penalty area per 90 minutes. This metric directly links a player’s dribbling ability to their capacity to penetrate the opposition’s defense in critical areas, often leading to goal-scoring opportunities.

Playing Style: Beyond the numbers, our ranking also took into account subjective elements that define a truly exceptional dribbler. Style and flair play a significant role, as some players possess an aesthetic quality to their dribbling that goes beyond mere effectiveness. The unpredictability and skill with which they navigate past opponents contribute to their reputation and impact. Moreover, the overall impact and effectiveness of their dribbling were considered.

Does their ability to beat players consistently lead to positive outcomes for their team, such as creating chances, assists, or goals? Finally, consistency in maintaining a high level of dribbling performance over a sustained period was also a factor in our evaluation. Players who consistently demonstrate their dribbling skills are valued more highly than those who show flashes of brilliance only sporadically.

Eye test: And finally, one of the most important factors is the eye test. The eye test in football significantly contributes to identifying top dribblers by subjectively assessing their close ball control, agility, acceleration, spatial awareness, creativity, and effectiveness in various game situations. Observers evaluate how skillfully a player navigates past opponents, maintains possession under pressure, and uses dribbling to create opportunities.

Players who consistently demonstrate exceptional flair, technique, and success in beating defenders through their dribbling, as seen in the performances of current stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vinicius Junior, often stand out in these subjective evaluations, which then contribute to their overall recognition as world-class dribblers alongside objective data analysis.

List of 10 Best Dribblers in the World | 2025

After careful consideration of the stats, the style, and the sheer magic they bring to the pitch, we present our ranking of the top 10 dribblers in the world right now.

Rank	Player	Nation	Club
10	Nico Williams	Spain	Athletic Club
9	Florian Wirtz	Germany	Bayer Leverkusen
8	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Inter Miami
7	Rayan Cherki	France	Olympique Lyonnais
6	Jamal Musiala	Germany	Bayern Munich
5	Vinicius Junior	Brazil	Real Madrid
4	Kylian Mbappe	France	Real Madrid
3	Ousmane Dembele	France	PSG
2	Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	Georgia	PSG
1	Lamine Yamal	Spain	FC Barcelona

Top 10 Best Dribblers in the World

While many say that the game has become extremely technical and individuality, creativity, flair and ankle breaking dribbles are nowhere to be seen, these 10 dribblers are proving everybody wrong with their skills.

10. Nico Williams (Athletic Club)

Occupying the tenth position on our top 10 best dribbler in the world is the exciting Spanish winger from Athletic Club, Nico Williams. Known for his electrifying pace and exceptional ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, Williams has quickly established himself as one of La Liga’s most dangerous dribblers. His game is built on taking on opponents directly, utilizing his athleticism to make powerful runs down the flanks.

Statistical analysis reveals his impressive dribbling success rate, placing him among the top wingers in Europe. During the 2024-2025 La Liga season, Williams achieved an impressive 2.96 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, placing him in the 96th percentile among attacking midfielders and wingers in the league. His versatility allows him to attack both inside and outside defenders, making him a constant source of unpredictability for opposing teams.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	28
Goals	5
Assists	5
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	85

9. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

While standard wingers use their acceleration and direct nature to threaten, Florian Wirtz is of a slightly different mould. Usually operating in more central areas, the German doesn’t need a turn of pace to beat opponents. Rather, he relies on his close control and silky footwork. Having been linked with a move to the Etihad in recent times, Wirtz would likely be competing with Foden and may bring flashbacks to David Silva and his time at the club.

In the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season, Wirtz successfully completed 3.22 take-ons per 90 minutes, a statistic that places him in the 96th percentile among attacking midfielders and wingers in the league. He recorded an impressive 9 goals and 10 assists in the Bundesliga, coupled with 6 goals and 1 assist in the Champions League. These numbers clearly indicate that his dribbling is instrumental in both creating scoring opportunities for his team and finding the back of the net himself.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	44
Goals	10
Assists	11
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	95

8. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Taking the eighth position is none other than Lionel Messi, now plying his trade for Inter Miami in MLS. Even in the twilight of his illustrious career, Messi’s dribbling ability remains a sight to behold. Despite playing in a league with a different competitive intensity, his close ball control, agility, and uncanny ability to weave through tight spaces are still evident. EA SPORTS FC 25 still recognizes him as one of the top dribblers in the world, a testament to his enduring quality.

Even in the 2024/2025 season playing for Inter Miami, Messi recorded a remarkable 65 successful dribbles in all competitions, with 43 of those coming in league matches. He registered 19 goals and 4 assists in all competitions, including 13 goals and 3 assists in league matches. Furthermore, he contributed 5 goals and 2 assists in the 2025 MLS season and participated in the Copa América 2024.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	15
Goals	15
Assists	12
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	55

Also Read: Best Right Wingers In The World Right Now: From Brennan Johnson To Lamine Yamal

7. Rayan Cherki (Olympique Lyonnais)

Widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted dribblers in European football at the moment, supremely talented French playmaker from Olympique Lyonnais, Rayan Cherki, possesses outstanding technical ability and an uncanny knack for evading pressure in tight spaces. His both-footedness and exceptional ball control allow him to manipulate the ball in ways that leave defenders completely wrong-footed.

Cherki has ranked in the 99th percentile for assists and expected assists (xAG), while also achieving an 87th percentile in successful take-ons. In Ligue 1, he recorded 2.14 successful dribbles per 90 minutes.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	39
Goals	9
Assists	11
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	85

6. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

Earning the sixth position on our list is Bayern Munich’s incredibly gifted midfielder, Jamal Musiala. This young German international possesses an exceptional blend of technique, agility, and balance that makes him a joy to watch with the ball at his feet. In the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season, Musiala successfully completed 3.60 take-ons per 90 minutes, placing him in the 98th percentile among attacking midfielders and wingers.

He frequently appears in discussions about the best dribblers in the world, and his statistics back up this reputation. Whether playing in central midfield or on the wing, Musiala’s dribbling ability is a key component of Bayern Munich’s attacking prowess, and his continued development promises even greater things to come.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	38
Goals	16
Assists	7
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	100

5. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

With his explosive pace, exceptional dribbling skills, and fearless approach, Real Madrid’s dynamic Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior has become a constant menace to opposing defenses in La Liga and the Champions League. Statistical data often places him among the top dribblers in Europe, with a high number of successful take-ons. Player analyses highlight his versatility in dribbling, capable of going both down the flank and cutting inside to create scoring opportunities.

During the 2024/25 La Liga season, Vinicius Junior ranked in the 98th percentile for successful dribbles, confirming his status as an elite dribbler in the Spanish top-flight. He also completed a remarkable total of 79 dribbles in La Liga.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	39
Goals	24
Assists	13
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	115

4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappe, the lightning-fast forward for Real Madrid and the French national team, secures the fourth spot on our list. While his blistering pace and clinical finishing often steal the headlines, Mbappe possesses a deceptive dribbling ability that makes him a constant threat to opposing defenses. His approach to taking on defenders is often characterized by cold efficiency, using sharp bursts of speed and subtle changes in direction to glide past opponents.

Despite not being known for elaborate tricks or flicks, Mbappe’s agility and precision with the ball at his feet allow him to navigate tight spaces and create openings for himself and his teammates. His high dribbling rating in EA SPORTS FC 25 further underscores his proficiency in this area. Mbappe demonstrated his proficiency in taking on opponents, achieving 3.30 successful take-ons per 90 minutes in both La Liga and the Champions League, a figure that places him in the 91st percentile among his positional peers.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	47
Goals	38
Assists	10
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	110

Also Read: Top 10 Best Midfielders in the World

3. Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

The electrifying French winger from Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele, is third on our list. Known for his incredible speed, agility, and remarkable two-footedness, Dembele is a nightmare for defenders. His ability to comfortably use both his left and right feet makes him incredibly unpredictable, allowing him to go past opponents on either side. Some statistics even suggest he is one of the top chance creators in the game, highlighting the effectiveness of his dribbling in setting up scoring opportunities.

Over the last 365 days, encompassing the 2024/25 season, Dembele has ranked in the 97th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 minutes across the major European leagues. Whether playing in Ligue 1 or the Champions League, Dembele’s dribbling prowess is a key asset for PSG, making him one of the most exciting and dangerous wingers in world football.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	46
Goals	6
Assists	12
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	105

2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)

Since bursting onto the scene, ex-Napoli and current PSG’s sensational Georgian winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has captivated audiences with his elegant, speedy, and incredibly skillful dribbling. Often drawing comparisons to legendary dribblers of the past, Kvaratskhelia has an uncanny ability to glide past defenders with a combination of pace, trickery, and exceptional close control.

This season, he has ranked in the 92nd percentile for progressive carries and the 71st percentile for successful take-ons. In Ligue 1, after his January move to PSG, he attempted 3.31 dribbles per 90 minutes. These statistics highlight his tendency to frequently and effectively carry the ball forward, consistently taking on and beating defenders.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	42
Goals	12
Assists	8
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	85

1. Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)

Securing the top spot is Barcelona’s sensational young winger, Lamine Yamal. At just 17 years old, Yamal has already captured the attention of football fans worldwide with his exceptional dribbling skills and maturity on the pitch. Comparisons to legends like Neymar and Messi have been drawn, highlighting his incredible ball control, agility, and football intelligence. Player analyses emphasize his ability to effortlessly glide past defenders, utilizing subtle touches and quick changes of pace.

Despite his young age, Yamal has become a key attacking threat for Barcelona, demonstrating a level of skill and composure that is rare for someone so early in their career. He also ranks the highest in LaLiga in the most successful dribbles per 90 minutes. His inclusion in this list underscores his immense potential and suggests that he could become one of the world’s best dribblers for years to come.

Key Stats	Figures
Apperances	51
Goals	15
Assists	16
Successful dribbles per 90 minutes	149

Also Read: Best Striker in the World: Top 10 Rankings Based on Current Form

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