10 players with the most dribbles at the World Cup: Di Maria, Mbappe…

There are few sights in football as thrilling as a world-class player driving at the opposition on the world stage.

But who are the outstanding dribblers of the 2022 World Cup so far? You might be surprised to see that Lionel Messi, the best dribbler in Europe's big leagues this season, is absent from the top 10 in Qatar.

However, Messi's Argentina team-mate Angel Di Maria has picked up the mantle of dribble king. The Juventus forward is the only player at the World Cup in Qatar to have registered seven dribbles from the first two group-stage games.

You also won't be shocked to hear that Messi's PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe is one of the 11 players to have registered five or more dribbles.

The early Golden Boot frontrunner has been electric so far this tournament and forever seems to be driving at the defence – only three players in the competition have attempted more dribbles, although his success rate (five of 15 attempted) could do with some improvement.

Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele has been another of France's bright sparks, and has successfully completed half (six) of the 12 dribbles he's attempted in the tournament so far.

Fellow Barcelona man Robert Lewandowski has more of a reputation as a classic No.9 than a player that will do great damage deeper, with the ball at his feet, but he's evidently good at that too.

He's registered 2.5 successful dribbles per 90 for Poland (five in total with a 62% success rate), which is more than twice his dribble rate in La Liga (1.1 per 90) this season.

Tajon Buchanan isn't a name that many would have been familiar with prior to the World Cup kicking off. But the 23-year-old Club Brugge winger has caught the eye in Canada's outings so far – no player has attempted more dribbles (18), of which he's completed a third (six).

One more name to note is wildcard Vincent Aboubakar, who stole the show in Cameroon's 3-3 thriller with Serbia, coming off the bench to score and assist in the comeback draw.

The attacker once famously claimed “I can do what he does” about Mohamed Salah and we might just believe him. He's only made two substitute appearances, totalling just 51 minutes, but registered five successful dribbles – with a ridiculous success rate of 100%.

Here's how the top 10 dribblers of the 2022 World Cup so far stack up. We've ordered them by their total dribbles, and if tied, then by their success rate.

1. Angel Di Maria – 7 (50%)

2. Ousmane Dembele – 6 (50%)

3. Jamal Musiala – 6 (37%)

4. Alphonso Davies – 6 (35%)

5. Tajon Buchanan – 6 (33%)

6. Vincent Aboubakar – 5 (100%)

=7. Mohammed Kudus – 5 (62%)

=7. Robert Lewandowski – 5 (62%)

=7. Naim Sliti – 5 (62%)

10. Ismaila Sarr – 5 (55%)

11. Kylian Mbappe – 5 (33%)