Eden Hazard and the 20 Most Elusive Dribblers in World Football

Watching a player on a mazy solo run is one of the most captivating sights on the football field; even more so when that piece of individual brilliance ends with the ball in the back of the net.

In recognition of such schemers, like diminutive Chelsea wide man Eden Hazard, and in no particular order, these—along with the Belgium international—are the 20 most elusive dribblers in world football.

* All stats are taken from both Transfermarkt and WhoScored

Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium)

Age: 23

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 5.5

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 4

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 3.8

Pint-sized Chelsea flyer Eden Hazard has been terrorising opponents with his vast array of skills for the past seven years now, and judging by the 23-year-old’s electric form for the west London club at the start of this campaign, the youngster is only getting better.

In fact, Blues head coach Jose Mourinho even described the Belgium international to ESPN as being “probably the best young player in the world with legs to go there” after one especially impressive display on the left wing at Manchester City last February.

On that particular night at the Etihad Stadium, the winger drove the soon-to-be Premier League champions’ back line to distraction with his many weaving runs from the flanks and penetrative bursts through their rapidly retreating defence.

And it was the same again earlier this month at Stamford Bridge when Hazard sliced right through the heart of Arsenal’s back four with a mesmerising solo run that resulted in the award of a penalty from which the starlet gave the home team the lead.

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool and England)

Age: 19

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 2.9

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 3.3

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 2.8

Liverpool and England wide man Raheem Sterling has recently been in the headlines after the 19-year-old told Three Lions head coach Roy Hodgson that he was feeling tired ahead of a 2016 UEFA European Championship qualifier in Estonia.

And with good reason too after the winger’s many exertions up and down the flanks for both club and country during the course of the past 12 months, with Sterling having played a key role in particular during his club’s shock bid to challenge for last season’s Premier League title.

But it was the carefree way in which the player was so keen to run at and, in most cases, beat defenders in the previous campaign—in a manner that brought back memories of another Reds and England flyer in his pomp, John Barnes—that was hugely refreshing.

So much so, in fact, that Sterling must now be considered one of Planet Football’s most elusive dribblers when going forward with the ball at his feet.

Angel Di Maria (Manchester United and Argentina)

Age: 26

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 2.4

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 5

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 1.4

There is a reason why Premier League giants Manchester United were prepared to make highly rated Real Madrid wide man Angel Di Maria the most expensive player in the history of British football last August, after splashing out a whopping £59.7 million on the star.

And that is because the 26-year-old is widely regarded as being one of the most technically accomplished wingers in the world game at present, a reputation built up at both Benfica and Real Madrid following Di Maria’s arrival on the continent from Rosario Central in 2007.

But it was the attacker’s breathtaking display in May’s UEFA Champions League final against Atletico Madrid—when Di Maria produced a man-of-the-match performance on the left wing to help Real to La Decima—that really marked him out as a dribbler par excellence.

Meanwhile, only compatriot Lionel Messi and Chile’s Alexis Sanchez attempted more solo runs per game than the five that the elusive Argentina international managed in his country’s run all the way to the final of last summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)

Age: 29

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 La Liga: 1.5

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 1.3

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 2.2

In his early days as a Manchester United player, Cristiano Ronaldo was told to cut out the unnecessary showboating on the wing at Old Trafford by then-Red-Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson, as the Scot attempted to mould the youngster into a high-class performer.

Fergie wanted the Portugal international—who he had signed for just £12.24 million from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2003—to develop an end product, and it was not long before CR7’s many jinking runs were starting to hurt the opposition.

As a result, from the 2006-07 season onwards while representing both United and then Real Madrid, the 29-year-old thoroughbred has been one of, if not the, most devastating runners with the ball at his feet the world game has seen.

And with the well-built and pacy forward also virtually impossible to dispossess when in full flow, it is not hard to understand just why Ron was voted the Ballon d’Or winner in both 2008 and 2013 having now learnt to take his game on to another level.

Luis Suarez (Barcelona and Uruguay)

Age: 27

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 2.8

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 0.5

Mercurial Uruguay forward Luis Suarez really announced himself to his new fans on Merseyside just shortly after arriving at Liverpool from Ajax for £22.8 million with a stunning performance against the club’s archrivals Manchester United at Anfield in March 2011.

But it was Suarez’s piece of individual brilliance in the buildup to the Reds’ opener which really stands out, with the tricky attacker somehow weaving his way past three visiting players in a tight space near the byline, before laying a goal on a plate for Dirk Kuyt.

The 27-year-old has been performing conjuring tricks like that for club and country for some time now though, while the South American was virtually unplayable in the previous campaign for Liverpool on his way to being crowned the double Footballer of the Year.

And with an uncanny ability to always manage to somehow wriggle out of even the most unpromising of situations, El Pistolero is currently one of the game’s most evasive dribblers.

Neymar (Barcelona and Brazil)

Age: 22

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 La Liga: 1.3

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 3.4

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 3

Brazil forward Neymar arrived at Camp Nou in June 2013 for a reported fee of £48.6 million already with a reputation for being one of Planet Football’s great solo artists following four years spent shining back home with Santos.

The quick-footed playmaker even won FIFA’s Puskas Award for the best goal of 2011 thanks to an eye-catching effort that saw him glide his way past three Flamengo defenders, before dinking the ball over the advancing keeper after a neat one-two with a team-mate.

The 22-year-old attempted an average of 3.4 dribbles per game at the World Cup—the 10th most of any player in Brazil—as the Selecao star confirmed his status as one of hardest opponents to stop at present in the game when running with pace at defenders.

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales)

Age: 25

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 La Liga: 0.9

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 2.1

Quick, strong, athletic and powerful are just some of the attributes associated with high-class Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, a player whose game has risen to new levels during the course of the past four years while playing for both Los Blancos and Tottenham Hotspur.

But while there may have been a few raised eyebrows when the Welshman left White Hart Lane for the Spanish capital for a world-record fee of £85.3 million in September 2013, Bale has since gone on to more than silence those doubters with some electric displays for Real.

None more so in fact than in last season’s Copa del Rey final against bitter rivals Barcelona, when the 25-year-old produced an individual run of sheer brilliance that saw Bale dribble his way from the halfway line into the Catalans’ penalty area, before then scoring the winner.

And it is unforgettable moments like that at the Mestalla which now make the wide man one of the most elusive dribblers the world game has to offer.

Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich and France)

Age: 31

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Bundesliga: 1

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Bundesliga: 5.5

For almost the past decade, diminutive left-winger Franck Ribery has been running at opponents seemingly as if the ball were glued to the France international’s feet, such are the little magician’s near-perfect dribbling skills.

And with the 31-year-old being such an unselfish player too—unlike many of his rivals in this list—those many forays down the flanks have more often than not tended to result in a plethora of goals for his team-mates with both club and country.

In fact, when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga in 2012-13 on their way to an historic Treble, it was Ribery who was on hand to provide a league-high 15 assists that season, as a result of any number of pieces of individual brilliance on the wing from the player.

All of which explains just why the fleet-footed wide man went on to be named the best player in Europe after his role in helping the Bavarians win the 2013 UEFA Champions League, as well as finishing third in the voting for that year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain)

Age: 30

Position: Midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 La Liga: 2.4

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 1.3

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 2.4

Pocket-sized Barcelona star Andres Iniesta is actually a rarity in this list, in that the Spain international is one of only two out-and-out central midfielders to make an appearance, which says all you really need to know about the player’s supreme ball-playing abilities.

As for the past 13 campaigns with Barca, the 30-year-old has been an integral part of the most successful period in the Liga giants’ history, a time that has been characterised in Catalonia by a style of play known throughout the globe simply as tiki-taka.

But as well as that distinctive short-passing game, Iniesta himself is also remembered for his outstanding dribbling skills in the centre of the park during his Camp Nou career, driving runs that invariably ended with the attacking midfielder creating a goal for a team-mate.

Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)

Age: 31

Position: Midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 0.8

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 4

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 1.2

Anyone who witnessed Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure’s barnstorming dribble from inside his own half through a hapless Aston Villa rearguard at the end of last season can attest to the attacking midfielder’s underrated skills with the ball at his feet.

Now the Ivory Coast international may be better known for his lung-busting surges from box to box without the ball, as well as his abilities to break up opposition play when sitting in front of his own back four while acting as a water carrier.

But when the mood dictates—which can be surprisingly often, actually—Toure has a neat turn of foot and the strength needed to get away from markers, while the 31-year-old also has the stamina required to go on the sort of run which we saw at Eastlands in May.

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich and the Netherlands)

Age: 30

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Bundesliga: 4

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 4.9

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Bundesliga: 3

One of the most common sights in European and world football during the past decade has been that of Arjen Robben embarking on any number of slalom runs at opposition back lines petrified in the knowledge that they simply cannot stop the flying Dutchman by fair means.

In fact, it would not be wholly inaccurate to describe the shaven-headed wide man in that period as being consistently the most elusive dribbler the game has seen, such are Robben’s unrivalled skills when foraging forward at pace with the ball seemingly glued to his feet.

And the 30-year-old continued to terrorise opponents with pieces of individual brilliance at last summer’s FIFA World Cup, when the Netherlands international attempted an average of 4.9 solo surges per game in his country’s run to the semi-finals, the fourth most in Brazil.

Lucas Moura (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)

Age: 22

Position: Attacking midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Ligue 1: 3

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Ligue 1: 2.3

Exciting Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Lucas Moura has been catching the eye on the continent with his high-class dribbling skills ever since arriving at the Parc des Princes from Sao Paulo in a deal worth a staggering €45 million in the summer of 2012.

In fact, you would be hard pressed to see a better solo run this year than that which the twinkle-toed Brazil international produced against the Parisians’ great rivals Marseille in the French capital back in March.

Picking up possession inside his own half, the 22-year-old then danced his way at pace through a throng of opponents all intent of ending his run by whatever means possible, only for Lucas to elude every tackle before seeing his delicate dinked finish cleared off the line.

And if that there were not impressive enough, the starlet was at it again against Chelsea in a UEFA Champions League last-eight clash in April when enacting yet another mesmeric piece of individual brilliance that also began near the centre circle.

Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg and Brazil)

Age: 28

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Russian Premier League: 2.9

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 2.2

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Russian Premier League: 3.2

While the phrases most often used to describe Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk over the years have tended to be ones such as “flat-track bully” and “flatters to deceive,” that also belies the muscular forward’s outstanding abilities when running with the ball at his feet.

Indeed, you certainly do not win almost half-century of caps as an attacking player for five-time world champions Brazil unless you are able to extract yourself from the close attentions of opposition markers in tricky situations on the field of play.

And whatever his many critics may say, that is most definitely a trait the Selecao star has excelled at for club and country since the 28-year-old arrived in Europe to play for Porto in 2008, with Hulk having lit up the continent with a number of mazy dribbles in that time.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

Age: 27

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 La Liga: 3.6

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 6.6

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 4.6

Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi supposedly had a disappointing domestic campaign last time out—at least by his own relatively high standards that is—as the Catalan club failed to defend their Liga crown, while also suffering an all-too-rare trophyless season at Camp Nou.

But the little forward still attempted an incredible average of 4.6 dribbles per game when he was fit to feature for Barca in the Spanish top flight, although that actually pales into insignificance when compared to the number he produced at last summer’s World Cup.

In that tournament, Messi went on 6.6 solo runs in every match as Argentina made it through to the final for the first time in 24 years, with one bewitching effort standing out in particular against Bosnia and Herzegovina in his country’s opening contest in Rio.

All of which explains why the 27-year-old went on to win the FIFA Golden Ball awarded to the best player in the competition.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool and Brazil)

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 1.4

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 1.8

Fans of Liverpool won’t have been that surprised when new Brazil head coach Dunga decided to recall silky-smooth midfielder Philippe Coutinho to the Selecao squad for friendly internationals against Colombia and Ecuador in August.

And that is because the 22-year-old produced numerous moments of individual brilliance for the Merseyside giants in their shock challenge for the Premier League title last season, none more so than in the club’s 5-1 destruction of Arsenal at Anfield in February.

As on that afternoon, the north Londoners were unable to even lay a hand on the curly-haired starlet, who was virtually unplayable throughout as he danced his way through opposition challenges as if they were not there.

None more so though than in one particularly elusive dribble in the second half (see 3.38 in the video) in which Coutinho somehow managed to evade three Gunners players, before unleashing an inch-perfect through-ball for Jordan Henderson to run on to and almost score.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal and England)

Age: 21

Position: Midfielder/Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 1.9

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 1.5

There are still some doubts as to just what Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best position is—through the middle as a forward-thinking attacking midfielder, or from the flanks as a wide man?

Well, if the highly-rated Englishman can keep producing the sort of thrilling solo runs that saw him slice his way through almost the entire Bayern Munich side during the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League knockout tie in March, then he will be a success in either role.

As on that occasion at the Allianz Arena, The Ox showed just what quick feet he has—even when seemingly under the most extreme of pressures from the opposition­—to go on the sort of mazy dribble that even the great Diego Maradona would have been proud of.

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal and Germany)

Age: 26

Position: Attacking midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 2.8

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 1.6

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 2.9

It is fair to say that Arsenal supporters have yet to see the very best of brilliant midfielder Mesut Ozil since his club-record £42.4 million move from Real Madrid last September.

However, those who were lucky enough to watch the elegant Germany international during his hugely successful three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu will be able to testify to the player’s undoubted skills, especially when it comes to dribbling at opponents.

In fact, looking at some of Ozil’s best moments in the Spanish capital really emphasises just what an elusive runner the 26-year-old is when in full flow, while also explaining how the player managed to produce an amazing 55 assists in La Liga during his time at Los Blancos.

Willian (Chelsea and Brazil)

Age: 26

Position: Winger

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 1.3

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 0.8

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 1.5

There is a reason why Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho was so desperate to hijack rivals Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to sign quick-footed Anzhi Makhachkala wide man Willian last summer.

And that is because the wily Special One was only too aware of the Brazil international’s supreme technical abilities when running with the ball, dribbling skills that the player had been showcasing ever since moving to the continent from Corinthians back in 2007.

None more so, in fact, than while representing Shakhtar Donetsk with distinction in Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, where Willian was more often than not the Ukrainian giants’ star man with his vast array of attacking talents and solo runs.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City and Argentina)

Age: 26

Position: Striker

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 2

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 0

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 1.9

Considering prolific Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is best known for his predatory instincts in and around the penalty box, it says something about his technical skills that he is also viewed as one of the most dangerous player’s when running with the ball at his feet.

And it is that deadly combination of ace goal-poaching and world-class dribbling skills that elevates Kun to the upper echelons of those attacking players currently plying their trade on Planet Football.

In fact, just ask Manchester United’s defenders exactly how elusive the squat Argentina international can be when embarking on a solo run, as Aguero did with spectacular consequences in a Premier League contest at Old Trafford in April 2013.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal and Chile)

Age: 25

Position: Forward

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 2.3

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 5.5

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 La Liga: 1.1

Chile international Alexis Sanchez was one of the undoubted stars of last summer’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, with the pacy wide man turning in a series of eye-catching displays for his country before their round-of-16 exit at the hands of the host nation.

In fact, the 25-year-old produced on average more dribbles per game (5.5) during the entire tournament than any other player bar FIFA Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi, which partly explains why Arsenal were happy to shell out a whopping £35 million to sign Alexis in July.

And so far the winger has not disappointed with his performances for the north London club, although after lighting up Camp Nou with numerous dazzling solo runs during his three campaigns at Barca, that should not come as a shock to anyone.

Juan Mata (Manchester United and Spain)

Age: 26

Position: Attacking midfielder

Dribbles Per Game in 2014/15 Premier League: 0.3

Dribbles Per Game at 2014 FIFA World Cup: 0

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 0.9 (United)

Dribbles Per Game in 2013/14 Premier League: 0.8 (Chelsea)

While Juan Mata’s star may have waned relatively since the return of Jose Mourinho to coach Chelsea in the summer of 2013, and the player’s subsequent exit to Manchester United at the turn of the year, that still should not cloud his own brilliance as a solo artist.

The tiny Spain international has been tearing up defences ever since first breaking into the Valencia starting XI back in the 2007-08 season, before continuing to frighten the life out of opponents during his hugely productive two-and-a-half campaigns at Stamford Bridge.

And with there almost always being an end product­—whether that be in the form of an assist or a goal—to show for the 26-year-old’s eye-catching dribbles, it is not hard to see why the Red Devils were so eager to make Mata their then-club-record buy in January 2014.

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