Messi leads 2026 World Cup dribbling chart with 28 successful dribbles
Messi topped the 2026 FIFA World Cup dribbling chart with 28 successful dribbles, according to data from Squawka published on July 21, 2026. He edged out Spain's Lamine Yamal (27) and England's Jude Bellingham (18) to claim the top spot, while Vinicius Jr., Olise and Mbappe tied at 16 each.
For Nigerian football fans, this shows that elite dribbling remains a key weapon at the highest level and highlights how veterans like Messi continue to shape the game. It also spotlights the lack of an African player in the top ten, which may spark conversations about developing technical skills in local academies.
The full top ten includes Vinicius Jr. (Brazil), Olise (France), Mbappe (France), Musiala (Germany), Maza (Algeria), Doku (Belgium) and Barcola (France). If you're interested in tracking player stats, the Squawka platform provides the full list. What does Messi's dominance mean for the future of African football—should we focus more on nurturing dribbling talent, or is tactical discipline equally important?