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Two Parts:Building FundamentalsFaking Out Defenders

Lionel "Leo" Messi makes professional defenders--great defenders--look like fools. His dribbling recalls great players like Diego Maradona, and his ability to keep the ball in close to his body and change direction explosively is why he's widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation, and maybe one of the greatest players of all time. If you want to learn how Messi dribbles, you can start building the fundamental dribbling skills and juke-maneuvers he uses to up your game to the next level. See Step 1 for more information.


Part 1 of 2: Building Fundamentals

  1. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 1 Version 4.jpg
    • It's important to practice as a quick clip. It's easy to keep the ball close while you walk around, but it's much harder to do at a full sprint. Gradually build up your speed and your dribbling stamina, aiming for a touch on the ball every 2-3 strides.
  2. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 2 Version 4.jpg
    Keep your head up. Good vision is essential to good ball control and excellent Messi-style dribbling. Practice keeping your eyes looking up at the action around you, focusing on defenders hips to see which direction they're moving so you can anticipate the best way to get them off balance or even catch them with their legs spread for a morale-killing nutmeg.
  3. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 3 Version 4.jpg
    Establish a low center of gravity. It's almost unfair: Messi is a great dribbler in part because he's short. Not that height makes you a better dribbler, but he takes more strides per dribble than some other dribblers, and he's forced to keep the ball close, taking short little quick steps as he moves. Taller players can do the same thing, but it'll take more practice and helps to center yourself low, squatting and staying on top of the ball.
  4. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 4 Version 4.jpg
    Keep your arms out. Remember how Jack Sparrow walked in Pirates of the Caribbean, arms out to steady the drunkenness? Watch some tape--great dribblers like Messi dribble like that. Keeping your arms bent and slightly out from your body allows you to maintain your balance during quick transitions and changes of direction, keeping yourself in the best position.
  5. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 5 Version 4.jpg
    Get faster. Speed is one of the major keys to Lionel Messi's style of play and his ball control. Being able to keep the ball close at fast speeds is what distinguishes Messi from average players.
    • Run lines, or suicides. To build your fast-twitch explosiveness, start running suicide drills that'll have you moving back and forth across the field, from the goal line to the 6 yard (5.5 m) box, the 18 yard (16.5 m) box, mid-field, and back.
  6. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 6 Version 3.jpg

Part 2 of 2: Faking Out Defenders

  1. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 7 Version 3.jpg
  2. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 8 Version 3.jpg
  3. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 9 Version 3.jpg
    Locate the space. Keeping your eyes up, decide which direction is more likely to allow you enough space to maneuver around the defender. His hips won't lie: Look closely at the defender's hips to see which direction they're turned and what he seems to be anticipating you'll do.
    • If you're right-footed, most defenders will instinctively guess that you'll go right, which might be your natural tendency anyway. Use that misconception to your advantage.
  4. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 10 Version 3.jpg
    Bring the defense in by stepping in the opposite direction you want to go. Control the ball with the foot that matches the direction you're eventually going to go and take a step with the other foot. Messi's signature move happens so quick it's easy to miss, which is why it's so effective against defenders. Basically, to juke out a defender, Messi takes one stutter-step in the fake direction, feints, and then dribbles in the opposite with the outside of his foot.[2]
  5. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 11 Version 3.jpg
    Approach the defender slowly. Messi brings the defender in and forces him to reveal his hand and make a mistake before blowing past them finding space. Messi isn't a flashy dribbler like Ronaldhino or a master of the step-over like Cristiano Ronaldo, he just uses simple changes of direction and ball control to do inhuman looking things.
  6. Dribble Like Lionel Messi Step 12 Version 3.jpg
    Explode. Drop it into high gear when you decide to switch direction. Blow past your opponent by flicking the ball in the direction you want to go and moving into your quick-dribble that you've been practicing so aggressively.
    • You don't have to go super-fast to find space, you just need to make the smart dribble and catch the defender flat-footed and out of position. He won't be able to touch you.

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  • Never give up.
  • Always try to keep control under the ball.
  • Most importantly you must have flexible body language.
  • Practice, until you get better and better at it.
  • Be careful. The Dribbling technique (which you learn with lots of practise) is going to go away if you have too many breaks.... even after 5-6 months regular practising, it can still happen.

Article Info

Categories: Soccer

In other languages:

Español: Cómo hacer dribles como Lionel Messi, Italiano: Come Dribblare Come Lionel Messi, Português: Como Driblar como o Lionel Messi, Français: Comment dribbler comme Lionel Messi, Deutsch: Dribbeln wie Lionel Messi, Русский: научиться дриблингу Лионеля Месси, 中文: 像梅西一样盘带

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