Greatest Dribbler of All Time

By no means is he the greatest obviously but Savicevic was a fun dribbler to watch.

The usual suspects: Garrincha, Maradona, Messi.
 
What, no Kinky?? Not a GOAT by any means but he certainly had his moments...even though they were in a Shitty shirt!
 
My top 3 in that order:

Messi
Maradona
George Best.

Others who will be in my top 20, but not in any order, and I am not including players who I have not seen much either youtube or tele.

Luis Ronaldo
Garrincha
Cruyff
Stanley Matthews
Ronaldinho
Rivelino
Zico
Pele
Omar Sivori
Jimmy Johnstone
Savicevic
Ariel Ortega
Robert Prosinecki
Jay-Jay Okocha
Littbarski
Andres Iniesta
Resenbrink
 
Lionel. He’s the best of all time at everything offensive except the stuff English footy watchers expect forwards to do in the rain at The Brittania.
 
Rozay said:
Lionel. He’s the best of all time at everything offensive except the stuff English footy watchers expect forwards to do in the rain at The Brittania.
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I have Maradona ahead of him at both passing and dribbling, and a few levels above in terms of skills with the ball.

In terms of pure dribbling it is close between Garrincha, Maradona and Best.
 


/thread.

Seriously though, I dont think Ronaldinho can be beaten. He had all the tricks and just made it look effortless.
 
Messi for me out of the players I've seen week in, week out since 94
 
Moby said:
I have Maradona ahead of him at both passing and dribbling, and a few levels above in terms of skills with the ball.

In terms of pure dribbling it is close between Garrincha, Maradona and Best.
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From the stuff I have seen of Garrincha, he did not impressed me as the greatest dribbler of all time vibe.
Maybe because I enjoy more of gambeta style of dribbling that Maradona, Best and Messi employ over Garrincha's style of dribbling which had gambeta but relied more on acceleration rather than feints.
 
The obvious names are going to come up so I'm going for someone whose name isn't acclaimed nearly as much as he should and who to the younger lads may not be aware of: Dejan Savicevic



His balance, close control and speed of thought with the ball was majestic. He saw things others couldn't dream of. He was a classic play-maker so I'm not sure who to compare him with in the modern game. Maybe Ozil at his best is the closest in terms of artistry with the ball.

I know an elderly gentleman who has been going to Utd since 1963. He clapped off Brazillian Ronaldo for his performance at Old Trafford in 2003 - the only other time he stood up for an opponent's player was Savicevic after this performance:

 
I have to give an honourable shoutout to my compatriot Jay Jay Okocha too. Pure mastery with the ball.
 
All amazing players and unforgettable. As I followed and watched Maradona the most, he will always be my favourite dribbler and player. The step overs of Ronaldo in full flight was a true sight to behold. Ronaldinho’s no look passes were incredible.
 
Lord SInister said:
Anyone remember Aleksandr Mostovoi, he was mint.
Juan Carlos Valerón was another one who had awesome technique. Like Riquelme, a slow, tactical dribbler.
Also Le Tissier on full flow was a beauty.
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Think Mostovoi and Valeron where more passer-type 10s than dribblers personally. I mean, they had good feet, but didn’t really leave anyone behind them.
 
Rozay said:
Think Mostovoi and Valeron where more passer-type 10s than dribblers personally. I mean, they had good feet, but didn’t really leave anyone behind them.
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Mostovoi was, Valeron yup was more a passer than dribbler, although I liked his slow dribbles to hold on to the ball and keeping possession.

Mostovoi was a dribbler though, he used to be walking past defenders as if they didn't existed.
 
Maradona, Best, Messi. In no particular order. Messi is the greatest dribbler I have ever seen. Youtube is difficult to grasp the ability of dribbling, but Best and Maradona looked incredible.

What they all have in common is the ball seemed to be glued to their foot.
 
Messi without a doubt IMO, by far the most natural dribbler I’ve seen - just pure agility and balance.
 
The holy trinity 68 said:
Maradona, Best, Messi. In no particular order. Messi is the greatest dribbler I have ever seen. Youtube is difficult to grasp the ability of dribbling, but Best and Maradona looked incredible.

What they all have in common is the ball seemed to be glued to their foot.
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Messi has it over Best IMO and I've seen both live. Messi just has that acceleration;not much in it but he does. What Best had in shed loads was charisma,sex appeal and that 60s iconic status.We are however talking football.

I'd have Best in my team every time though;)
 
kouroux said:
Great players who don't get enough love because they havent won as much they should have.
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I think problem with Laudrup and Baggio is, they do not get much mainstream love, but in message boards, we have few hipsters who will overrate them so much, that other people get annoyed and start hating these players because of those people:lol::lol::lol:.
 
Messi is by far the most effective dribbler I have seen in the game. There simply hasn't been any competition in that department, ever since he made his debut. You can have all the tricks in the world, this dude don't even need tricks. He'll simply brush past you like you weren't there.

 
Probably Messi, but feck that boring midget.

Most exciting dribbler for me is Robben. Obviously biased answer, but who cares.

That Maradona guy wasnt half bad either and neither was Cruijff.
 
kouroux said:
Great players who don't get enough love because they havent won as much they should have.
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Laudrup won a scudetto, five la ligas on the trot and a European Cup.

Baggio a balon dor
 
Messi and Maradona for me are a notch above everyone else.

Rozay said:
Think Mostovoi and Valeron where more passer-type 10s than dribblers personally. I mean, they had good feet, but didn’t really leave anyone behind them.
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They had a lot of tools in their box as 10s, but Valeron had a lovely shimmy with the ball. Just lacked pace to fully capitalise on it.

Gonna make a left field shout out for Pedro Munitis. Probably the only player I’ve seen make a mug out of Thuram.
 
This guy wasn't half bad at dribbling (zero mentions thus far):



:)

As for the crème de la crème, I'll go with Diego and Messi, too - former for being the most tricky, enthralling, almost salacious dribbler of all time - who bravely rode waves of shinbreakers like no other, and the latter for his disarmingly simplistic elegance and effectiveness - as well as innate understanding of productive space. Both were extremely agile and balanced with the ball in full flow as well - apart from having the gift of incredible acceleration, the ability to effortlessly swerve any which way, and stop-start at full pelt. Probably the best overall combination of individual traits, all things considered - a cut above the likes of Best, Ronaldinho, Cruyff, Garrincha, Fenômeno and co.
 
Not including the likes of Pele and Garrincha from the days of amateur football in the 50’s and 60’s, impossible to judge the level vs. static defenders from what we are used to nowadays.

Two kinds of dribblers of course, the pure stuff and the pacy stuff. Ronaldinho was the man when it came to just fool everyone, then you have players like Messi and Hazard doing it with pace, as well as Cristiano when he was at United (creating his own kind of game). Lots of excellent players who could be on this list, that’s for sure. Ribery and Robben have to be included as well.
 
Garrincha has to be right up there for his audacity and confidence. He did it at the greatest stage and made fools out of reputed defender of his time.
 
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