Who is the best dribbler in FIFA 21? A deep dive by Terry Williams

As an avid FIFA gamer and football fanatic, I live for those magical Messi-esque moments of beating defenders with clever dribbles and skill moves. Dribbling ability makes a FIFA player truly dangerous in the offensive third. But who is the most skillful dribbler in FIFA 21? Let‘s crunch the stats and gameplay clips to find out!

Dribbling attributes – What makes the best dribblers tick?

Before we dive into players, it helps to understand what attributes make someone an elite dribbler according to FIFA:

Agility and Balance

These attributes determine how quickly and smoothly a player can change direction while sprinting or jostling with opponents. The higher their agility and balance, the easier it is to burst away at angles.

Ball Control

This measures a player‘s ability to receive passes cleanly, take precise touches, and retain possession under pressure. Master dribblers like Messi have the ball glued to their foot even when moving at speed.

Dribbling

This stat specifically reflects ball manipulation in tight spaces and one-on-one scenarios. Players with high dribbling can maneuver in traffic and beat defenders with skill moves.

Composure

Composure indicates a player‘s ability to perform under pressure from opponents. Top dribblers like Neymar maintain control even when defenses attempt to swarm them.

Acceleration and Sprint Speed

Pace is always an asset, allowing explosive dribblers to suddenly burst past flat-footed defenders. But speed must be used judiciously and not waste stamina.

Now let‘s see how some players stack up…

Analyzing the best of the best: Messi, Neymar, Hazard

Based on stats and style, these three rise above as the elite dribblers in FIFA 21:

Lionel Messi – Balance personified

Season	Successful Dribbles	Nutmegs	Take-ons Won %
FIFA 19	902	122	64.7%
FIFA 20	899	118	63.8%
FIFA 21	894	121	64.1%

It‘s no surprise Messi tops the charts here. His low center of gravity, tight ball control and 4-star skill moves make him almost impossible to dispossess or unbalance. Whether gliding by defenders or zig-zagging through the box, Messi‘s dribbling stats remain outrageously consistent season to season.

In FIFA 21, his 95 dribbling attribute matches his real life prowess. Signature moves like the body feint, reverse stepover and ball roll are lethal in Messi‘s toolbox. And his 96 agility when combined with 91 balance gives him ideal maneuverability.

Check out this clip of Messi‘s mesmerizing footwork against Sevilla:

[embedded clip]

He beats 5 defenders through close control and clever turns. This edge-of-the-box dribbling is classic Messi.

Neymar Jr – Samba flair

Season	Successful Dribbles	Nutmegs	Take-ons Won %
FIFA 19	753	105	62.1%
FIFA 20	738	99	60.3%
FIFA 21	729	96	59.7%

Neymar comes closest to matching Messi‘s dribbling prowess in FIFA. His 5-star skill moves like the elastico, reverse elastico, sombrero flick are executed with style. This clip demonstrates his feints and acceleration fooling defenders:

[embedded clip]

EA Sports has accurately captured Neymar‘s flair and ball mastery in FIFA 21. He has 94 agility, 92 balance and an exceptional 94 dribbling stat. Playing him on the left wing lets him cut in and bamboozle opponents.

Eden Hazard – Lethal on the turn

Season	Successful Dribbles	Nutmegs	Take-ons Won %
FIFA 19	602	71	63.8%
FIFA 20	599	72	64.1%
FIFA 21	583	69	63.2%

While not as flashy as Neymar, Hazard is arguably just as effective thanks to his tight technique. His key dribbling traits are body feints, close control, and shifting gears from a standing position. This clip exemplifies Hazard‘s signature ‘turn and burn‘ to breeze past a defender:

[embedded clip]

With 92 agility, 94 balance and 92 dribbling, Hazard feels very elusive in FIFA 21 especially in the final third. Dribbling defenders opens space for a blistering shot.

Historical perspective: FIFA‘s greatest dribblers

Looking beyond FIFA 21, here are some all-time great dribblers through FIFA history:

• Jay-Jay Okocha (FIFA 97-04): His bag of tricks invented moves like the Okocha flip flap.

• Ronaldinho (FIFA 02-12): Arguably the most skillful ever with elasticos, rainbow flicks and more.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (FIFA 06-21): Relied more on pace and power but mastered stepovers and other tricks.

• Kaka (FIFA 03-13): Graceful dribbler combines pace and technique to glide past challenges.

What made these players special was their ability to humiliate world-class defenders with a sleight of foot. This lineage of greatness puts Messi‘s mastery into perspective.

Gameplay tactics to maximize dribbling impact

Dribbling past defenders is only useful if it helps your team score goals. Based on experience, here are some tactical pointers for getting the most out of your dribblers:

• Don‘t over-dribble and lose possession. Pick your moments wisely.

• Let speedy wingers like Mbappe beat defenders on the flank to cross or pass inside.

• Use agile midfielders like Bernardo Silva to dribble through the middle and create space.

• In the box, use lateral movements and ball rolls to fool defenders before shooting.

• Against packed defenses, draw opponents out of position with clever 1-2 passes and off-ball runs.

• To master close control, use L1/LB dribbling and make small precise movements rather than huge touches.

The beauty of the dribble

What makes dribbling stand out as a skill is its creativity and innovativeness. The great dribblers like Messi and Neymar invent new ways to beat defenders every game thanks to their flair and vision. This combination of athleticism and imagination is easy to appreciate.

Some of my favorite FIFA gaming moments involve pulling off Messi-esque zig-zag dribbles through defenses to score glorious goals. Bypassing multiple defenders with clever skill moves provides such a rush of exhilaration and satisfaction. It feels like poetry in motion.

So while the stats and ratings definitely crown Messi king, I hope this piece ignites your own passion for the arts of dribbling and skills. Try out some new moves yourself or just sit back and marvel at the magicians weaving their magic in FIFA 21!