Is football getting boring? This is a question that’s increasingly sparking debate. With more games, player fatigue, and the rise of better defensive systems, many fans feel that the game has lost some of its old magic. Nowhere is this shift more evident than with wingers.
The Changing Role of Wingers
Gone are the days of players like Ronaldinho, Maradona, and Neymar – icons that drew millions to the TV, inspired entire generations and ignited a passion for football with every touch. Today’s wingers are not only expected to dribble past defenses and assist their striker, but also to contribute significantly on the defensive end. Modern tactics demand that they cover the entire pitch, often having to sprint back and forth in every game, twice a week. This responsibility can drain the energy and creative freedom that once allowed them to terrorize opposing players.
Nowadays when we think of the best dribblers, players like Vinicius Junior, Dembele and Salah come to mind. They still are amazing players who manage to frighten defenders with their skills. However, while their talent is undeniable, the magic of the past seems harder to come by.
So, who stands out as the best dribbler in today’s game? To quantify this question, I created a scatter plot that compares the number of attempted dribbles per 90 minutes with their success rates.
There are several familiar names in this analysis. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s shooting star, who is known for his eccentric playstyle, tops the chart with most attempted dribbles. Meanwhile, Jamie Gittens, one of the last bright spots in a very rough season for Borussia Dortmund, leads in successful dribbles per 90 minutes. Notable talents like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala also stand out, emerging as key figures for a promising new generation in German football.
Tactical Shifts in Modern Football
But are these numbers lower than in the past? In fact, there hasn’t been a decline in attempted dribbles; the 2022/23 season even saw a peak in these figures. Duncan Hunter’s insightful article on the evolution of football – focusing particularly on dribbling- explores these trends in detail. You can read the full piece here.
So, are these numbers now lower than in the past? Honestly, there is not really a drop off recently, in 2022/23 the numbers for attempted dribbles peaked even. Duncan Hunter wrote an amazing article about how football is changing and especially about dribbling, which can be visited here.
Hunter observed that more dribbles now occur in a team’s own half, largely due to the increased frequency of short goal kicks. There are also noticeably fewer dribbles through the middle of the pitch, as modern coaches favor a more risk-averse approach. This cautious strategy has contributed to a steady rise in passing accuracy by reducing the risks taken during play.
On the flip side, there has been a notable decline in dribbling success rates. Whereas past seasons often saw successful dribble percentages exceeding 55%, recent data indicates that over the last three seasons, success rates have averaged around 45% across the top five leagues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the art of dribbling in football is certainly evolving, it’s clear that the game is far from losing its magic. Players like Yamal, Gittens and Musiala may not dribble in the same way as legendary players of the past, but they’re adapting and thriving in a modern game that’s more tactical than ever. It’s not just about the flashy dribbles anymore, it’s about the impact players make on both ends of the pitch. Whether or not that change is for the better depends on what part of the game you love most. One thing is for certain: the debate on football’s transformation will only continue to grow.
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