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The UEFA Champions League is the grandest and the toughest club cup competition in the world. Every competing team tries to introduce an X-Factor, hoping to pull ahead of their contemporaries.
Ruthless goalscorers are excellent to have, of course, but we believe dribblers can turn out to be even more disruptive against well-organized teams. They do not adhere to a blueprint, they simply progress through the thirds banking on their pace and unmatched ball control.
Today, we will take a look at five dribblers who are already keeping the defenders on their toes in Europe. Here are the five dribblers who left us impressed in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season.
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#5 Antony - Ajax
Four-time UEFA Champions League winners Ajax have always produced eye-catching football in the competition. Yes, they have not won the coveted title since 1995, but the intention has always been there.
Ajax’s young brigade look determined to end the drought and have started their European campaign strongly this season.
Bagging six wins in as many UEFA Champions League group-stage matches, Ajax have become the third team of the campaign after Liverpool and Bayern Munich to attain a 100 per cent record.
Sebastien Haller, who has 10 UEFA Champions League goals to his name this season, is getting all the attention, and deservedly so. However, we should not deprive right-winger Antony of the recognition he deserves.
The 21-year-old has been superb down the right-hand channel for Ajax in the UEFA Champions League this season. He brings a deadly combination of pressing, game-reading, pace and ball control to the mix, which is generally too much for the opposition to handle.
Antony completed 20 dribbles in six UEFA Champions League group-stage games this season. He also registered five assists in that six-game spell, with three of them coming against Borussia Dortmund on matchday four.
#4 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah is arguably the best player in the world right now. The right-winger’s turning everything he touches to gold and Liverpool fans are doing all they can to make the player feel appreciated.
With 13 goals, Salah is Premier League’s leading scorer right now, and unsurprisingly, he’s carried over his form to the UEFA Champions League as well.
Salah, who has his eyes set on the Ballon d’Or, has been unplayable in Europe's premier club competition this season. With 23 dribbles to his name in six group stage matches, Salah has emerged as one of the best dribblers in Europe.
Most importantly, his dribbles have led to goals and goal-scoring opportunities, ensuring Liverpool stay on the front foot in the UEFA Champions League.
Having scored seven goals in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season, Salah is poised to add a few more in the knockout rounds.
#3 Kingsely Coman - Bayern Munich
2019-20 UEFA Champions League winner Kingsley Coman is one of the quickest forwards in Europe right now. He can play on either flank, combines well with his teammates, and is an aggressive pressing machine.
The Frenchman has had some health concerns to deal with, but he has been a regular for Bayern in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Like most players on our list, Coman, too, banks on his pace to get around and past defenders. In the UEFA Champions League group stage alone, Coman completed 31 dribbles.
He also provided two assists and scored a goal over five UEFA Champions League group stage games this campaign.
#2 Kylian Mbappe - PSG
Paris Saint-Germain starlet Kylian Mbappe came agonizingly close to joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2021. The Parisians somehow managed to keep the Frenchman from leaving, but they are yet to tie him down to a long-term contract.
Off-field turmoil of such magnitude can throw off any footballer out there. Surprisingly, Mbappe has defied the odds and has been performing admirably for PSG in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
Mbappe, who’s dashed down the flanks more times than one can count, has 32 dribbles to his name in the UEFA Champions League this season. The 2018 World Cup winner can not only beat defenders with his sheer pace, but also his surprisingly agile ball control.
The combination of the two aforementioned traits has helped him be decisive for PSG in the UEFA Champions League this season. In six group-stage games, Mbappe registered four goals and four assists, emerging as the French club's second-leading goalscorer and leading assist-provider.
#1 Vincius Jr. - Real Madrid
Real Madrid left-winger Vinicius Jr. has been a sensation in La Liga this season. He is the league’s second-leading goalscorer and assist-provider behind teammate Karim Benzema and has had telling contributions in multiple Spanish league outings.
To Real Madrid’s delight, the Brazilian has managed to carry his sensational form over to the club’s favorite competition, the UEFA Champions League.
With 41 dribbles in six group stage matches, Vinicius Junior is currently the best dribbler in the UEFA Champions League. The youngster has a knack for carrying the ball through the thirds and loves to cut inside from the left flank whenever possible.
Vinicius has combined exceptionally well with his teammates in the premier European competition this season, regularly engaging in little one-twos in and around the box.
Vinicius has two goals and two assists to his name in the UEFA Champions League this campaign.
