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Breakdown Of Lionel Messi's Supreme Dribbling Ability Proves He's Superhuman

Breakdown Of Lionel Messi's Supreme Dribbling Ability Proves He's Superhuman

Lionel Messi slaloms past defenders like they aren't even there.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Lionel Messi's dribbling ability is unparalleled and a short video analysing it has gone viral on social media.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has left many world-class players contemplating their life choices after slaloming past them like they aren't even there.

But Messi has never been one to go to great lengths in showing his skill. He'll very rarely bust out step-overs, elasticos or chops just to get on Soccer AM's 'Showboat' highlight reel like some players.

Instead, his trademark trick for years has been a classic "drop of the shoulder" and it's just poetry in motion. Through the benefit of slow-motion footage, arrows and circles, we see how Messi advances towards an opponent in a one-vs-one situation.


The way he feints and sends the defender one way and doing the splits before jinking into the other is nothing short of sublime. He then beats a further two men before scoring with his weaker foot.

You could genuinely watch it over and over again without getting bored. The ability to change direction so sharply, coupled with the close control, is outrageously good.

"I try to trick the defender and find where the space is to escape from him," Messi explained in a dribbling tutorial many years ago.

"To unbalance a defender is more about bringing him with you, then feint and move sideways.

"When he is unbalanced, that is the time to escape. Generally when I play forward and out wide, the defenders approach side on and I am looking for the moment when the defender stretches his leg and I am able to beat him."

The Barcelona legend is a genius, so much so that he has been able to rinse defenders aplenty without even touching the ball.

Utilising dummies and fake shots, he lures them into a challenge before breezing past them in next to no time.

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Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi