sArgentina captain Lionel Messi has climbed to the top of the dribbling charts at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup after overtaking Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the tournament’s official rankings.
Messi achieved the milestone during Argentina’s 2-1 comeback victory over England in Wednesday’s semi-final, delivering another standout performance to help his side secure a place in the final.
The 39-year-old completed nine successful dribbles and registered two assists, with Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scoring the goals that sealed Argentina’s comeback win.
According to official FIFA World Cup statistics released on Wednesday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has now recorded 24 successful dribbles in the tournament, moving ahead of Yamal, who has 22.
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior occupies third place with 16 successful dribbles, while Germany’s Jamal Musiala and France’s Michael Olise are joint fourth after recording 15 successful dribbles each.
Top successful dribblers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Lionel Messi – 24
- Lamine Yamal – 22
- Vinicius Junior – 16
- Jamal Musiala – 15
- Michael Olise – 15
- Ibrahim Maza – 14
- Kylian Mbappe – 14
- Jude Bellingham – 13
- Julio Enciso – 13
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