The pitches make it much harder to judge across eras. You look at players like Garrincha and Best and you write them off because the touches look so heavy compared to the close control of modern players, but anyone who has ever played on a crap surface with a rubbish ball knows thats because that's how you have to do it. You have to get the ball out of your feet. Messi could not dribble with the same style on those pitches, he would have to change his game dramatically.
Greatest Dribbler of All Time
- Thread starter Moby
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And you see the tackles coming in on Best. He rides them but would have looked even better under modern laws/interpretations.
On the flipside, you can't take on defenses in the modern game like they did in the past. The tactics played were completely different, defenses nowadays are better organized and offer attackers less space to dribble into. All those guys you see in Best, Pele, Garrincha videos are also very quick to go into tackles which is what dribblers love. You don't want these defenders who stay on their feed and track you in order to slow you down and get a second or third guy to corner you. You rarely saw this in the early stages of football where every defender flew into tackles trying to steal the ball immediately.
It all evens out, somehow. Messi would've been a completely different player adjusted to the conditions in the 50's to 70's just like Best, Garrincha or Pele would profit from modern conditions and cope better with the higher physical, tactical and technical demands.
Really struggled here
And still managed to show mastery of the ball on a waterlogged pitch
In dribbling debate. You have the usual suspects. I would also give Pierre Littbarski an honourable mention (especially if you're talking PURE dribbling).
Chris Waddle.
From the videos I've seen George Best looks like he was one hell of a dribbler, and he done it on awful pitches and with defenders trying to hack him down.
But in terms of players I've seen during my lifetime, Messi's dribbling and close control is unmatched. The ball looks like it's glued to his feet at times.
But in terms of players I've seen during my lifetime, Messi's dribbling and close control is unmatched. The ball looks like it's glued to his feet at times.
Messi
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It's Messi. Complete mastery of the ball. Doesn't need tricks because his dribbling and close control is so good to go with his sharp body movements.
Some of the posts in this thread. 
Some people just love to be different and controversial.
From about 09-13, Messi was on a completely different level than anyone who's ever kicked a ball.
Some people just love to be different and controversial.From about 09-13, Messi was on a completely different level than anyone who's ever kicked a ball.
Also the ball is totally glued to his feet when dribbling, every touch is inch perfect it's incredible how good his touch is
Paddy McCourt - The Derry Pele 
Stanley Matthews “the wizard of dribble”
Georgie Best
Paddy McCourt
Ronaldo Lima
Couple of players there before stats became such a thing. It’s a big boast to say Messi is the bestest at it of all time - I don’t really agree, it’s just hard to argue otherwise due to lack of proof available
Georgie Best
Paddy McCourt
Ronaldo Lima
Couple of players there before stats became such a thing. It’s a big boast to say Messi is the bestest at it of all time - I don’t really agree, it’s just hard to argue otherwise due to lack of proof available
Paddy McCourt
Best
Maradona
Ronaldinho
Fat Ronaldo
Messi
Maradona
Ronaldinho
Fat Ronaldo
Messi
Georgie's dribbling looks like a work of art.
There's plenty of games where he's performed outstandingly on muddy, uneven and also waterlogged pitches. Even in the example you cite, perhaps his performance wasn't great but it's hard to see any issues with his dribbling:
Hleb.
On the ground R9. In the air R10.
Not to go into a lot of poetry but R9 is the master at this. The guy would just turn with a defender at his back like the defender he isn't even there. One poster mentioned how he inspired dribbling in a lot of young kids and that's true.
With Messi he is brilliant at it but too similar almost like Robben. Not to say that's a bad thing or he never does other things but if you are looking at variety of dribbling to perfection then he isn't your guy.
Not to go into a lot of poetry but R9 is the master at this. The guy would just turn with a defender at his back like the defender he isn't even there. One poster mentioned how he inspired dribbling in a lot of young kids and that's true.
With Messi he is brilliant at it but too similar almost like Robben. Not to say that's a bad thing or he never does other things but if you are looking at variety of dribbling to perfection then he isn't your guy.
This isn't exactly breathtaking stuff, is it ?!? And bear in mind these are his best moments from the entire game, yet he still has some trouble and even slips a few times.
And even though the pitch was bad by modern day standards, it's still miles above most of the pitches the likes of Pele, Best, Cruyff, Maradona, Ronaldo played on.
Messi is a great talent and player, there is no denying that, but I will always be more impressed by what the legends I mentioned did, given the conditions they performed on and the rough tackles they faced.
the god like genius that was george best non better before non better since
I have never quite understood the point of a step over.
Just been watching the Best compilation. The best one being beating almost the whole opposition team, each one of which tried to hack him down and he skipped out of every challenge. A lot of players tried to beat him by hacking him down.
To wrong foot a defender/goalkeeper. Brazilian Ronaldo was a genius at them.
Maradona was my favourite dribbler, I prefer his style to Messi's.
It puts the defender off balance as when you see the first initial movement, you think the attacker is about to run passed you on that side.
As the defender starts to lean towards that side, you then change direction and attack the other side which gains you the momentum/advantage.
Obviously the modern way of doing 3/4/5 in a row just defeats the point, the most effective way is just 1/2 quick fakes.
I guess that's what I had in mind with my post.
Great call, his speed and execution of the "croqueta" or whatever its become known as now makes Iniesta and to a lesser extent Laudrup look slow and telegraphed.
Olaf Thon was a really good dribbler too. Germany were so stacked in quality and stylistically varied in midfield back around the late 80s/early 90s, though they didn't stick to a system to really dominate with it to the extent the Spanish later managed. Hardly anybody even mentions somebody as good as Uwe Bein from that era anymore and he could playmake as well as almost anyone at the time.
Ronaldinho is the best I've seen. Of the older players Garrincha could be in with a shout.
Ronaldinho was definitely the most flashy and/or skilled, but he wasn't the most effective.
Ronaldo Fenomeno was the best combination of speed, strength and skill, he was very effective and flashy at the same time.
D10S
Adama Traore is increadible dribbler, shite footballer though
Jimmy Johnstone
John Robertson
Best
Willie Morgan
My one year old grandson dribbles a lot too
John Robertson
Best
Willie Morgan
My one year old grandson dribbles a lot too
To not name the obvious ones I'll name a few former or current Bundesliga players
Marek Heinz (few years back I thought he would conquer Europe! :-D)
Ousmane Dembele
Marco Reus
Naby Keita
Serge Gnabry
Julian Brandt (future ballon d'or winner)
honorary mention:
Professor Farnsworth
Marek Heinz (few years back I thought he would conquer Europe! :-D)
Ousmane Dembele
Marco Reus
Naby Keita
Serge Gnabry
Julian Brandt (future ballon d'or winner)
honorary mention:
Professor Farnsworth
I've never once seen a player dribble with his head. Everybody's answer in this thread needs to be the phenomenon from 11 years ago - Kerlon The Seal.
If you haven't heard of him, check this out;
If you haven't heard of him, check this out;
Freddy Adu
The seal dribble hahahahaha Id forgoten about that.
Jay-Jay Okocha the most fun
Ronaldinho in those 2-3 peak seasons was the best I have ever seen. Built like Ronaldo, feet like Messi, smile like Rob Beckett and a lid like Melchiot...what's not to love
Ronaldinho in those 2-3 peak seasons was the best I have ever seen. Built like Ronaldo, feet like Messi, smile like Rob Beckett and a lid like Melchiot...what's not to love