Six of the Best: Top dribblers in Europe by success rate

The ability to beat an opponent, be it through skill or a combination of pace and power, will always make a player a fan favourite, though it’s fair to say some frustrate more than they delight by heading aimlessly down blind allies.

Anyone can run at a player after all, but many find themselves thwarted more often than not or simply end up going backwards having failed to successfully round their man. There are, however, a number of masters of the art, and here we look at the top six dribblers by success rate to have attempted at least two per game this season.

6. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

As far as the best dribblers on the continent are concerned, Hazard’s is a name you would expect to find at the top of a leaderboard. He’s sixth here, though the five ahead of him don’t come close to the Belgian in terms of the sheer volume of dribbles that he completes. Indeed, the fact that he attempts almost six per game makes a success rate of 77.5% all the more impressive, ranking as the best of all wingers in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season.

5. Joao Mario (Inter)

He may have set Inter back a pretty penny but Joao Mario hasn’t disappointed since a move to Milan, with his energy on and off the ball a positive for the Nerazzurri even whilst they were struggling under Frank De Boer. The 24-year old has actually been used a little more sparingly by Stefano Pioli but has still had an impact, with two of three goals and three of four assists coming under the new manager. It’s the Portuguese’s dribbling that has been most impressive though, not only leading the way with 35 in total for Inter, but boasting the best success rate in Serie A (77.8%) of those to attempt at least two per game.

4. Fouad Chafik (Dijon)

A key player for Dijon as they attempt to beat the drop at the first time of asking, Chafik’s ability to carry the ball forwards from right-back has helped alleviate pressure on the side. His is comfortably the best dribble success rate of any defender in Europe’s top 5 leagues (83.3%) - Roma’s Emerson is second on 75.6% - helping the Moroccan international to the second highest WhoScored.com rating for his side (7.18).

3. Mousa Dembele (Tottenham)

A regular feature at the top of any dribbling statistics leaderboard, Dembele has the much sought after blend of elegance and power in the middle of the park that makes him near impossible to dispossess. Whenever Tottenham players are asked which of their teammates is the most gifted, the Belgian’s name always comes up and for good reason. An average of 3.2 successful dribbles per game ranks fifth in the Premier League and first of central midfielders, while a completion rate of 84.4% places him ahead of compatriot Hazard as the most effective dribbler in England’s top-flight.

2. Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

He may not boast the size of a Dembele, but Marco Verratti has the same ability to hold off opponents and emerge from seemingly precarious positions with the ball. His intelligence and awareness of those around him mean the Italian is able to pick and choose when to pass and when to carry the ball forwards himself, doing both to great effect. He may not have racked up the same tally of dribbles as the likes of the Belgian duo in this list, but a success rate of 85.4% from 2.3 attempts per game indicates that he is an expert nonetheless.

1. Wylan Cyprien (Nice)

Out in front in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues, and by a decent margin to boot, there’s little wonder why Wylan Cyprien has drawn admiring glances for high-flying Nice this season. Making the step to the top-flight in France with consummate ease following a move from Lens, the 22-year old has been a real star turn in Ligue 1. With 7 goals and 3 assists from central midfield, the youngster clearly has an end product to back up his impressive build up play, and like Verratti is capable of keeping things ticking over or injecting that vertical threat by beating an opponent himself. Of 58 dribble attempts in the league this season, he’s been dispossessed just seven times (87.9% success).