November 3 – FC Barcelona youngster Yamine Lamal has been ranked as the best dribbler in the Big 5 European leagues in the under-23 category, according to new data from the CIES Football Observatory.
The 16-year-old Spanish prodigy, who made his Barcelona debut at the start of the current season, beat the likes of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to the number one spot.
The study calculated the top 100 young dribblers in world football, where Lamal placed 7th overall despite playing at the highest level for one of the greatest teams in the world.
Calculated from Wyscout data, the index used was obtained by multiplying the frequency of successful dribbles in domestic league matches, the success rate of dribbles attempted, as well as the sporting level of the matches played (as a percentage deviation from the overall average). The rankings only include footballers who played at least 450 domestic league minutes in current season.
Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli tops the Premier League ranking whilst placing second in the top five leagues, with Burnley’s Luca Koleosho hot on his heels. Martinelli’s strike partner Bukayo Saka rounds out the Premier League top three.
Talented Georgian prospect Khvicha Kvaratskhelia just misses out on the top three, but is the resounding leader of Serie A in the dribbling category. Kvaratskhelia was announced on the world stage last season after an immense debut year in Naples, quickly establishing himself as one the elite wingers in Europe.
Club Brugge’s superb Norwegian talent Antonio Nusa heads the list across the 65 leagues analysed with a staggering index score of 5.17, two points clear of Lamal. On average, the young Norwegian completes an impressive 11 dribbles per game. Outside the big-5, behind Nusa, there are two Brazilian prodigies: Luis Guilherme of Palmeiras and Wesley Gassova of Corinthians.
Two other U20 players are in the top 10: the Ghanaians Issahaku Fatawu of Leicester City (on loan from Sporting CP with an option to buy) and Ibrahim Osman of Nordsjælland.
To see the full data click here.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1713953331labto1713953331ofdlr1713953331owedi1713953331sni@g1713953331niwe.1713953331yrrah1713953331