Dribbling of Messi (Where Messi is using to control the ball)

Do you know where Messi is using to control the ball while dribbling? Looking at the video below carefully, you can see him control the ball with the near part of the toe. Also he is spinning the ball backward as he pushes the lower part of the ball.

Who else can dribble like this? Normally, to have better control of the ball, you would want to control by using instep or near part of it. It seems to be a little difference but very important. Not that I have actually seen him dribbling in real life, but I’m guessing the defenders who actually do would see it as very odd.

Later, I have come up with whom else dribbles like Messi. They are small kids or those who just started playing football. Guessing, they are dribbling freely and the way they feel the least pressure physically. As they move on, they will be taught to correct their dribbling by their coaches and lose their natural style of controlling the ball.

Messi is said that his football style hasn’t changed since his childhood. His naturally acquired skills through playing football in his childhood could be said as gifted.

I think Kagawa from Dortmund and Miyayoshi from Kyoto Sanga FC also dribble the same way. It is maybe because they are used to dribbling in small steps. It could be said that it’s difficult for standard players over age of 15.

So, what I recommend you to do is to control the ball with your instep. →Basic training for “ One touch in two steps dribbling” I have found out this way of dribbling by watching Cesc Fabregass. Personally I think Cesc Fabregass has the most flexible touch on the ball in players who is still active.

One more important thing, when Messi is cutting the ball to other direction (turning with the ball), he does it like reaping the bottom of the ball. He lands his left foot and touch the ball, almost at the same time.

The reason to do this is not just to lift the ball up a little, but to put weight on your left leg, which will be the first step to push your body and accelerate. Touching the ball like rubbing it by foot is important, but your body wouldn’t move agile as you think only by doing this. What you need to have in mind is to take a proper step and to put weight on your dominated foot to enable drastic change of direction.

Two important things to dribble like Messi are dribbling with your toes and to cut the ball to other direction which will be the first step to push your body and accelerate.