Dribbling success rate

Understanding dribbling success rate

Definition and calculation

In football, a dribble is when a player with the ball tries to get past an opponent using skill, while still keeping control. If the player manages to get by the defender and keep the ball, it’s considered a successful dribble. If they lose the ball, whether by getting tackled, intercepted, or sending the ball out of play, it’s considered unsuccessful.

To measure how good a player is at this, analysts use the Dribbling Success Rate (DSR). It’s worked out using this formula:

DSR (%) = (Number of Successful Dribbles / Total Number of Dribble Attempts) × 100

This percentage helps coaches and analysts understand how effective a player is in one-on-one situations and how well they can keep possession under pressure. It’s a useful stat when assessing a player’s performance, planning training, or adjusting tactics.

Factors influencing dribbling success

Several factors can impact a player’s dribbling success rate:

– Technical skills: Proficiency in ball control, agility, balance, and coordination are essential. Players with better technical ability can handle the ball more effectively and are more likely to complete successful dribbles.
– Physical attributes: Speed, acceleration, and strength help players outrun or outmuscle defenders, increasing the likelihood of beating opponents one-on-one.
– Tactical awareness: Good understanding of positioning, timing, and the game’s flow enables players to choose the best moments to attempt dribbles, improving their success rate.
– Opponent’s defensive skills: Strong defenders or well-organised defences make dribbling more difficult. The defender’s positioning, reaction time, and tackling ability directly influence the outcome.
– Match context: External factors like poor pitch conditions, bad weather, or player fatigue can hinder dribbling performance and reduce success rates.
– Technological analysis: Advanced tracking methods, such as 3D pose tracking, have revealed that factors like an attacker’s body balance and their spatial alignment with the defender significantly affect dribbling success. These insights help coaches and players refine training strategies and improve performance.

Analytical perspectives on dribbling

Advancements in dribbling analytics

Football analytics is moving beyond basic stats like goals and assists to explore more advanced ways of measuring performance. Dribbling, one of the most important skills in the game, is now being studied through detailed tools and models that look at the quality and context of each dribble, not just whether it worked or not.

Advanced metrics and models

Modern analysis uses new types of data to understand how effective dribbling is. For example, the Expected Threat (xT) model measures how likely a player’s actions, including dribbles, are to lead to a goal. Progressive carries track how far a player moves the ball towards the opponent’s goal, showing how well they advance play. Meanwhile, Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action (PPDA) gives an idea of how intense the opposition’s pressing is, which affects how much space and time players have to dribble.

These kinds of metrics help analysts see a fuller picture of a player’s impact on the game, especially in terms of creating space and breaking down defences through dribbling.

3D pose tracking and dribble analysis

New studies are using 3D pose tracking to look more closely at how players move when they dribble. This technology records posture and body movements in fine detail, helping researchers understand things like a player’s balance or the angle between attacker and defender. One study that analysed over 1,700 dribbles during the 2022/23 Champions League season found that features such as the attacker’s balance and body position made a big difference to whether the dribble worked.

Adding this kind of movement data into prediction models has improved how well analysts can measure and understand dribbling success. These insights are proving useful for developing player skills and improving tactical planning.

Dribbling success rate in professional football

Trends in top leagues

In recent years, dribbling success rates have gone down in Europe’s top five football leagues. One main reason for this is the growing focus on structured tactics and data-led strategies that prefer safer, more efficient play. Players are now often advised to avoid risky dribbles and instead go for simpler passes that maintain team possession. Because of this, we’re seeing fewer dribble attempts overall, and a stronger focus on team shape and control.

However, even with this trend, some players still stand out as excellent dribblers. These individuals continue to make a big difference by using their skill to unlock defences and drive attacks forward.

Case studies of notable dribblers

One standout performer is Jérémy Doku of Manchester City. In the 2024–25 Premier League season, he completed 90 successful dribbles, making him one of the top dribblers in the league. His confidence in taking on defenders helped Manchester City break through tight defensive lines and create more attacking chances.

Another impressive example is Thelo Aasgaard. While playing for Luton Town in the Championship, he finished the season with the third-highest number of successful dribbles among midfielders. He was also very good at drawing fouls, winning 87 free-kicks or penalties, only one behind the league leader, Ebou Adams of Derby County. Aasgaard’s sharp movement and close control made him a real problem for defenders, eventually earning him a move to Rangers for around £3.5 million.

Notable dribblers and their statistics

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has long been celebrated for his exceptional dribbling skills. In the 2024 MLS season with Inter Miami, he completed 20 successful dribbles, averaging one every 33 minutes, despite limited playing time. Throughout his career in La Liga, Messi amassed 977 successful dribbles, underscoring his consistent ability to navigate past defenders.

Lamine Yamal

At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal has emerged as one of Europe’s most prolific dribblers. In the 2024–25 La Liga season, he completed 145 successful dribbles, leading Europe’s top five leagues in this category. His performances have drawn comparisons to legends like Messi and Neymar, highlighting his potential to become a future star.

Jérémy Doku

Jérémy Doku’s agility and speed make him a constant threat on the wings. In the 2023–24 Premier League season with Manchester City, he completed 81 successful dribbles. His ability to take on defenders has been a valuable asset for his team.

Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior’s flair and quick footwork have made him a standout dribbler. In the 2023–24 La Liga season, he completed 61 successful dribbles. His dribbling skills contribute significantly to Real Madrid’s attacking dynamics.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, known for his explosive runs and close control, has been instrumental for PSG. In the 2024–25 Ligue 1 season, he took 19 shots in 14 matches, with a shooting accuracy of 52.63%, often creating these opportunities through his dribbling.

Tactical implications of dribbling success

Creating offensive opportunities

Dribbling isn’t just about showing off skill, it’s a smart way to open up chances and break down defences. Successful dribbling can help in the following ways:

– Break defensive lines: Getting past defenders forces the opposing team to shift their shape, which can create gaps and disrupt their organisation.
– Draw multiple defenders: A good dribbler can pull more than one defender toward them, leaving space open for teammates to move into.
– Create numerical superiority: Beating one opponent can give the team a momentary numbers advantage in that part of the pitch, helping to build better attacking moves.

These benefits show why dribbling is still such an important part of tactics in today’s game.

Influence on team strategy

Some teams build their playing style around the dribbling strengths of certain players. For example:

– Isolating defenders: Tactics might aim to get the dribbler in a one-on-one situation, where they’re more likely to succeed and create a chance.
– Overloading flanks: Teams can focus play on the wings to use dribblers to stretch the defence and open up the middle of the pitch.
– Transition play: On the counter-attack, skilled dribblers can carry the ball forward quickly, helping the team switch from defence to attack before the opponents can react.

These strategies show how dribbling can shape the way a team plays and give them a real edge during matches.

Dribbling success rate as a scouting metric

In today’s football, data has become a key part of scouting and recruiting players. One important statistic used by clubs is the Dribbling Success Rate (DSR), which shows how often a player can successfully get past opponents while keeping control of the ball. Scouts and analysts use DSR to understand how good a player is in one-on-one situations, how well they handle pressure, and how effective they are at moving the ball forward.

Clubs now often include DSR in their wider recruitment strategies. Instead of looking at dribbling alone, they combine it with other key stats like passing accuracy, shooting, and ball control to create a full picture of a player’s strengths. This approach helps them spot talented players who might be overlooked by others.

On top of that, modern analytics tools can now predict how a player would perform in different formations or styles of play. This helps clubs see if a player’s dribbling strengths would fit well with their current tactics, making scouting more targeted and effective.

Leveraging Sportmonks data for dribbling analytics

Comprehensive dribbling metrics

Sportmonks’ football API provides detailed statistics specifically focused on dribbling, allowing analysts and developers to assess player performance with accuracy. Among the key dribbling metrics are dribble attempts, which record how often a player tries to get past an opponent while maintaining control of the ball.

Another important measure is successful dribbles, indicating how many of those attempts result in the player keeping possession after bypassing the defender. Additionally, our API tracks instances where a player has been dribbled past by an opponent, offering insights into defensive vulnerabilities. These metrics are available through the player statistics endpoints and form a solid foundation for evaluating individual or team performance when it comes to dribbling.

Building player profiles with dribbling data

By tapping into Sportmonks’ API, developers and analysts can create well-rounded player profiles that shine a light on dribbling skills. A practical example of this is showcased on the Sportmonks blog, where a guide explains how to build detailed football player profiles using our API. These profiles can highlight how effective a player is in one-on-one situations and form part of a larger performance analysis, integrating dribbling data with other statistics such as passing, shooting, and defensive actions. 

Applications in scouting and tactical analysis

Sportmonks’ detailed dribbling statistics offer real value for both scouting and tactical planning. Scouts can use this data to identify players who consistently succeed in dribbling past opponents, which signals technical quality and confidence under pressure. For coaches, these insights are equally useful, helping to shape strategies that take advantage of an opponent’s defensive gaps or to refine offensive plays that rely on beating defenders in tight spaces.

Integration into digital platforms

One of the strengths of Sportmonks’ API is its flexibility and ease of integration into different digital environments. Whether it’s a fantasy football app, a performance analytics dashboard, or a football club’s official website, the API enables the inclusion of real-time dribbling data in an engaging and user-friendly format. This real-time capability enhances fan experience by offering updated insights during matches and gives professionals reliable information they can use immediately.

Analyse dribbling performance with Sportmonks

Dribbling success isn’t just about flair, it’s a tactical advantage. With Sportmonks’ football API, you get access to advanced dribbling data like attempts, successful take-ons, and players dribbled past. Whether you’re building scouting tools, enhancing match analysis, or improving fan experiences, our data helps you break down one-on-one performance with clarity.

Start using Sportmonks today and turn dribbling stats into smart football decisions.