Top 10 Best Dribbler In The World In 2025

Before modern football was taken over by schemes, statistics, and tactical orthodoxy, the game was an arena of flair and creativity. Dribbling—then the lifeblood of the game—brought joy and exuberance to the game that has since dissipated in so much of the professional game. The great dribblers were not merely footballers; they were showmen, turning games into thrilling spectacles.

In earlier eras, approaches were more relaxed, allowing technically gifted players to excel on raw flair. These close-control masters could beat defenders with ease in a slalom dance, create space where there was none, and have fans mesmerized with flashes of magic. Although football has grown more institutionalized, the remnant of such players remains, and their function deserves recognition.

This top 10 ranking of the greatest dribblers ever considers their dribbling resume, legacy, level of competition, and period of dominance.

10. Eden Hazard

Characterized by his incredible balance and quickness, Hazard bewitched Chelsea supporters with his personal flair and low centre of gravity, often leaving defenders in the dust with ease.

9. Ronaldo Nazario
A powerful forward, Ronaldo's speed, strength, and accuracy in controlling the ball combined to make him nearly invincible in his heyday, despite injuries truncating his potential.

8. Neymar
Exciting, creative, and clever with a ball, Neymar's panache has earned him acclaim and a score of defenders in his wake at Brazil, Barcelona, and PSG.

7. Ronaldinho
Smiling constantly and with a bag full of tricks, Ronaldinho made soccer fans from all over the world smile, his panache embodying the Brazilian art of "Joga Bonito."

6. Pele
Though he was regarded as a skilled goal-scorer, Pele's ball control and flair turned him into one of the most well-rounded strikers of his era.

5. Johan Cruyff
A mastermind on the pitch, Cruyff's elegance and the mythical "Cruyff Turn" symbolized technical brilliance and showed generations how to follow.

4. George Best
A maverick talent, Best's natural dribbling gave him the talent to tear through defences with a flippant brilliance, cementing him as a Manchester United legend.

3. Lionel Messi
With unmatched control, vision, and poise, Messi elevated dribbling into an art form—effortlessly beating defenders while compiling record-breaking statistics.

2. Diego Maradona
A ball talent, Maradona's low centre of gravity and confidence produced mythical dribble moments, none of which were more renowned than his 1986 solo World Cup goal.

1. Garrincha
The all-time best dribbler, Garrincha's unorthodox style and hypnotic footwork rendered him a legend. Despite demons within, he left defenders confused and spectators awed.