Where have all the dribblers gone?

HAD a discussion with a childhood friend the other day – someone I grew up playing and watching football with.

He told me he’s watched less and less football on television over the past five years, even though it’s more accessible than ever across multiple platforms.

Out of curiosity, I asked why. His answer was simple: “It’s no longer about the players, it’s all about the coach or manager, and there are no more dribblers in the game anymore.”

That statement stunned me because I believe he has a valid point. It is no longer about the players – it’s now about the coach or manager and the system they implement.

But does this make the game less exciting? And how exactly did we come to this state of affairs?

Think back to names like Garrincha, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo (O Fenomeno), Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Eden Hazard, George Best, Sir Stanley Matthews, Ryan Giggs, Steve McManaman, Roberto Baggio, Johan Cruyff, Paul Gascoigne, Luis Figo, Neymar – these were players who lit up the footballing world with their dribbling skills.

As fans, we knew that when one of these players got the ball, magic was about to happen. Sometimes their dribbling alone was worth the price of admission.

But notice something? Except Messi and Ronaldo (who are both closer to retirement than their prime), all these players were from the past.

Where are the dribblers of today?

Can we honestly classify Mohamed Salah as a dribbler? Maybe Pedro Neto? Perhaps Rafael Leao of AC Milan?

The truth is, the dribbler is a dying breed and the culprit is system football and the increasing dominance of coaches in the modern game.

Take Jack Grealish, who had dazzling feet and was a fantastic dribbler at Aston Villa. Moving to Manchester City, however, seemed to mute his dribbling instincts, likely under instructions from Pep Guardiola.

Yes, he’s now won every major club title, but his personal flair has suffered.

Many Villa fans barely recognise his style anymore. It’s a delicate balance: express yourself and risk being benched, or play to the system and stay in the line-up.

Perhaps a move away from the Etihad could revive the old Grealish.

And it’s not just Grealish. If you observe youth football today, players are no longer encouraged to express themselves through dribbling. The focus is now on possession and minimising mistakes.

This isn’t the beautiful game we grew up with – but it’s become the accepted norm. Today, winning trumps everything, and making fewer errors often decides the outcome of matches.

This shift is also tied to the structured nature of modern football development.

Growing up, we just needed an open space and a ball to play. No coaches barking instructions – just a bunch of kids dribbling and having fun.

But now, with open fields disappearing due to urban development and youth football becoming more organised, we’re trading creative freedom for tactical discipline.

While structured coaching has benefits in preparing players for the professional level, it’s also eroding one of the game’s purest forms of joy: the freedom to dribble.

Still, there’s hope.

Lately, I find myself gravitating toward players like Lamine Yamal, who lights up opponents with his fearless dribbling.

Under Hansi Flick, Yamal is allowed to play naturally, and it’s a joy to watch. Fans of German football should also keep an eye on Karim Adeyemi.

Known for his blistering pace, Adeyemi has real dribbling flair in his locker.

Maybe the arrival of Florian Wirtz in the Premier League will reignite a love for dribblers. The young German is technically gifted and unafraid to take players on.

I can only hope he inspires a new wave of players to express themselves more freely. We need a new John Barnes to put defenders on ice – or a Jay-Jay Okocha to make opponents lose their footing with a single flick.

It might be wishful thinking, but I still believe we could see that shift.

Until then, all I can do is pray, hope, and borrow a line from Paula Cole: “Where Have All the Dribblers Gone?”