20 Quickest Pairs of Feet in World Football

Who knew dribbling could be such a hot topic?

When I did a list of the world's best dribblers last week, I didn't expect the vociferous response that came afterwards. Like any writer, I figured everyone would agree with my choices and recognize my general awesomeness.

Well, that wasn't exactly how it went.

B/R's knowledgeable readers—I think they've got to be among the smartest out there—pointed out a bunch of omissions. Some of them I'd carefully considered. Others I hadn't thought of at all.

So what we have here is a list of the 20 quickest pairs of feet in world football.

My original list of dribblers is still there, with a few minor textual changes here and there. That list forms the final 10 slides of this one.

The rest come directly from you, the readers.

Please go easy on me this time.

Luis Suarez

I really wanted to include Luis Suarez. Honestly.

Looking back, the Uruguayan forward should have made the list ahead of Ryan Giggs (but sentimentality got me there) and Gareth Bale (but recent performances had me in awe there).

Suarez is a magician—no doubt about it. He combines speed, quickness, dribbling and lethal finishing to be one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.

His work in last year's World Cup (as well as Copa America this year) opened a lot of eyes, and his performances lately for Liverpool have been nothing short of amazing.

Diego Forlan is rightly considered Uruguay's best player. Suarez deserves recognition as its quickest and most crafty.

Neymar

Neymar is the next big thing.

The young Brazilian star is already starring for Santos and is widely expected to make a big money move to Europe sooner than later.

His game includes all the skill and style you'd expect from a Brazilian prodigy. Pretty soon, his quick feet will be among the best known in the world.

Our own Will Tidey had a chance to see Neymar, the19-year-old Santos and Brazil starlet, in action during a recent trip to England. He was impressed, as he wrote in a column for ESPN.

"

"What struck me most was how comfortable he looked at Brazil's hub—launching attacks and dictating the far more experienced players around him. Neymar was making just his 11th international appearance at Craven Cottage, yet at times he commanded the field as if he'd been playing in yellow and blue for a decade. If his home World Cup had come this summer, he would have been ready."

"

It's not just Will. Everybody is impressed.

Alexis Sanchez

It was hard not to be impressed by Alexis Sanchez (and Chile) during the most recent World Cup.

Sanchez excited fans and European scouts with his quick feet, explosive dribbling and outstanding ball skills.

His brilliance led to a move to Barcelona, where he's currently struggling with injuries. When he gets back, look for him to shine once again.

Franck Ribery

OK, so this was a glaring omission from my previous post.

Franck Ribery is one ugly mamba jamba, but boy can he move. The French international has made a career out of dribbling past defenders and midfielders down the wing for Bayern Munich.

It's earned him high praise from fellow countryman and French legend Zinedine Zidane, who called Ribery the "jewel" of French football.

Sounds good to me.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard is an up-and-coming young star in European football.

The 20-year-old Belgian midfielder plays for Lille but has attracted interest from several big clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool.

Hazard impressed American audiences with his performance in a recent friendly between the US and Belgium. In it, Hazard dazzled with his usual combination of close control, quick movement on and off the ball, dangerous runs and generally strong play.

Nani

Manchester United has had good luck with Portuguese dribblers in recent years.

Of course, we all remember Cristiano Ronaldo (more on him later). Perhaps a bit lesser known is Nani, who can be equally impressive with the ball at his feet (or on his head).

Fernando Torres

When he's on, Fernando Torres is the complete package as a striker.

That package includes a pair of lightning-quick feet.

Much has been made of his glaring miss recently against Manchester United, but what was more important to Chelsea fans was Torres's superb run to get behind the United defense.

That's what I'm talking about when I say, "when he's on." El Niño's combination of pace, skill and quickness make him one of the world's most dangerous forwards.

Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil is the kind of player that can be extremely creative without moving that much.

The German international has a knack for spraying dangerous passes all over the field. That ability has a lot to do with his quick mind and even quicker feet.

But it's not just about passing with Özil. He's a plus-dribbler who can beat defenders with skill and pace.

Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri broke Arsenal fans' hearts when he moved to Manchester City at the end of the last transfer window.

What they probably miss most is Nasri's quick, nimble, skillful feet.

Nasri has shown off his varied skill set already with City, pulling the strings in the midfield with excellent passing, quick movement and dangerous dribbling.

Robin van Persie

I never thought of Robin van Persie as a player with quick feet until some readers pointed it out in the comment section of that article about top dribblers.

Man, were they right.

Sure, Van Persie is a dead-ball specialist, but he also has quick feet and tons of skill as a dribbler.

Here's a clip with some good examples.

Cristiano Ronaldo

I rated Cristiano Ronaldo the world's top dribbler recently. Here's what I said.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has a bag full of tricks ready to use every time he dribbles.

The step-overs, the back heels and the turns.

As much as everyone hates to admit it, Cristiano Ronaldo is a great dribbler. Perhaps even the best in the world today.

"

All those qualities also qualify him for the title of quickest feet.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, of Barcelona and Argentina fame, is widely considered the world's best player.

I have no problem with that.

A major part of Messi's game is his dribbling. As he showed in Barca's draw against AC Milan recently in the Champions League, he can create a goal out of nowhere with only his dribbling skills.

He has all the tricks, and he can also beat defenders with pace.

Combined with his superb football intellect, Messi's quick feet make him unstoppable.

Kaka

Kaka isn't the player he used to be, but the Brazilian is still one of the best dribblers in the world.

His first touch and quickness are top-rate, and his awareness and field presence are huge assets for Real Madrid.

Put together, those qualities often lead to world-class goals.

Check some out  here.

Robinho

Robinho is shooting in that picture, but dribbling might be what he's best known for.

Well, that and silly quotations.

Like Crissy Ronaldo, Robinho is a fan of the step-over. He puts the move to great use on the field, often freeing himself or others for goal scoring opportunities.

Here's a pretty good  example.

Sergio Aguero

Back when he played for Atletico Madrid, Sergio Agüero was a bit under the radar.

Now that he's playing in England for Manchester City, everybody knows who he is.

His club has something to do with that, but Agüero has also earned his own fame thanks to dazzling skills.

He's already scored eight goals in seven Premiership matches this season. His quick feet have been two of the keys to unlocking English defenses, though it hasn't hurt that he's also a great finisher.

Anyway, here are some highlights from his days with Atletico Madrid.

Arjen Robben

Remember when the Netherlands made it to the World Cup final last year?

Arjen Robben was one of the biggest reasons they did it.

Speed and dribbling are the hallmarks of Robben's game. When he's at his best, so are Bayern Munich and the Netherlands.

And Robben can be pretty hard to stop.

Ronaldinho

An oldie but still a goodie.

Once upon a time (not that long ago), Ronaldinho was perhaps the most feared player in the world. His combination of tricks, speed, skillful touches, passing and finishing made him one of the world's top players.

He's still around, and while he's not as great as he used to be, he's still among the world's best dribblers.

Here are some outstanding highlights. Enjoy.

Ryan Giggs

Here's another old-timer that can still get it done.

Ryan Giggs, who turns 38 in November, scored what is widely considered one of the best goals of all time. It came after a long, winding run against Arsenal at an important point in an FA Cup semifinal match.

You can view it, and admire it, here.

These days, Giggs has lost a step or two, but he's still one of the world's top dribblers. He still knows how to run at players, and he can control the ball in close quarters.

Andres Iniesta

Lionel Messi gets all the accolades at FC Barcelona.

Fernando Torres, David Villa and Xavi tend to get all the plaudits for Spain's brilliance.

But Andres Iniesta is quietly one of the world's best dribblers—and one of the world's best players.

He might not be as well known as some of his more illustrious teammates, but he's a brilliant player in his own right.

If you're not sure, click  here.

Gareth Bale

Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale is one of the most exciting players in the Barclays Premier League.

When he gets the ball on the wing, watch out. With Bale, it's not so much about fancy moves and finesse, it's about speed and power.

When he's at his best, it's a breathtaking sight.