“If I had to choose between dribbling past five players and scoring from 40 yards at Anfield or shagging miss world, it'd be a hard choice. Thankfully, I've done both” said George Best, and sadly for footballers nowadays, most have done neither.
The art of dribbling is a dying one, but there are still those in Europe who are capable of going past their man much easier than others. With managers less willing to allow midfielders and to a certain extent, even forwards dribble with the ball due to the risk of getting caught on the counter-attack, players who go past their opponent with a high success rate are rare and extraordinary.
Also Read: 5 early predictions for the Premier League next season
Here is a list of footballers (only in Europe), who have the highest success rate in going past their opponents (Minimum number of appearances 15) .
#6 Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard might not have hit the heights of the 2014-15 season, but he has been probably Chelsea’s best player beside Pedro and N'Golo Kanté. The Belgian captain has been awarded a more central position in Antonio Conte’s fluid formation and has paid back his manager’s faith.
He goes past his opponent an astronomical 4.7 dribbles per game and has a success rate of 77.5%. Given the fact that he has 10 goals and 4 assists to his name, it is obvious that Chelsea sit at the top of the Premier League table 11 points ahead of their closest challengers.
#5 Joao Mario
Inter Milan have finally have got their season back on track under new manager Stefano Pioli. Although they are sixth on the League table, they are just six points behind third-place Napoli. One of the main reasons for the change in fortunes for the Milan side has been their attacking midfield duet of Joao Mario and Ivan Periši.
Joao Mario, one of the integral members of the Portuguese squad who won the Euros, has been a revelation playing behind Mauro Icardi. The Portuguese has 3 goals and 4 assists to his name, and dribbles past his opponent 1.7 times a game, with the success rate of 77.8%, just a tad higher than Eden.
Now, get back Inter to where they belong.
#4 Fouad Chafik
The Morocco international plies his trade for French side Dijon and has been a revelation at right-back. Dijon is currently 18th in the Ligue 1, and are dangerously close to the drop zone.
The 30-year-old though has impressed, he has the best stats for a defender in any of the top 5 leagues in Europe. In his 20 appearances for the club, the right back completes 1.8 dribbles per game with a success rate of 83.3%.
Given that his closest second is Roma’s Emerson Palmieri with a success rate of 75.6%, he is head and shoulders above the rest.
#3 Mousa Dembele
The second Belgian in the list, Mousa Dembele is perhaps the second most important player for Mauricio Pochettino after talisman Harry Kane. The Belgian always had the knack of drifting past his opponents in the middle of the park, something that sets his apart from others.
In the 18 appearances he had this season, he dribbles past his opponent an astounding 3.1 times a game, with the success rate of 84.4%, add to that 2.8 tackles per game, and you have got yourself one the most complete center midfielders in the world.
Very underrated indeed.
#2 Marco Veratti
This is an interesting one, especially with Marco more known for his passing ability. But, as Barcelona found out, it is incredibly difficult to dispossess the pint-size Italian powerhouse.
Marco gets past his opponents 1.9 times in each game (from an attempted 2.3 times), that is a success rate of 85.4% which is quite incredible for a defensive midfielder. Add to that the fact that he makes 3.2 tackles per game has two goals and six assists to his name and has a pass success rate of 88.6%.
He just might be the best midfielder in Europe this season.
#1 Wylan Cyprien
Nice have undoubtedly been the surprise package in Ligue 1 this season with their attacking football. Mario Balotelli, who moved to the French side in the summer has caught the eye, but the man who has stole the show has been 22-year-old central midfielder Wylan Cyprien.
The youngster has caught the eye with 7 goals and 3 assists this season, but his best attribute is undoubtedly his ability to breeze past his opponent. He completes 2 dribbles per game and has a success rate of 87.9%.
Rounding up the numbers, out of the 58 times he has tried going past his opponent he has been dispossessed only in 7 occasions. Talk about cruise control. A national team call up perhaps?
List and stats courtesy Whoscored.
