Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard registered the most successful dribbles at Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 respectively. No back-to-back winners of the category have registered more than their combined 86.
Messi pulled off 46 take-ons at the 20th World Cup, finishing 12 clear of runner-up Arjen Robben as Argentina finished runners-up. Jairzinho, with 47 at Mexico 1970, and Diego Maradona, with 53 at Mexico 1986, are the only men to record more in one edition.
Hazard amazingly completed all 10 of his attempted dribbles in Belgium’s quarter-final victory over the Brazil in Kazan – the most in a World Cup game for anyone with a 100-per-cent record. It helped the attacking midfielder manage 40 overall in Russia, with Kylian Mbappe eight back in second.
At that same instalment, Messi stole Maradona’s record for the most successful take-ons in World Cup history.
