By Daily Sports Nigeria on November 21, 2022

Nigeria legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has the honour of being the player with the most dribbles in a single World Cup since the 1966 edition of the tournament, according to the statisticians at OPTA. 

At USA 1994, the attacking midfielder broke the record jointly held by England hero Paul Gascoigne and Brazil icon Jairzinho who registered thirteen dribbles each at Italia 1990 and Mexico 1970 respectively. 

Three-time World Cupper Okocha made fifteen successful dribbles in a round of sixteen clash against Italy at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough on July 5, 1994.

There is a five-way tie for fourth place, with Italy’s Sandro Mazzola, Germany’s Reinhard Libuda, Barcelona legends Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona, and Portugal’s Eusébio registering twelve dribbles each.

Another Barcelona legend in Lionel Messi made eleven successful dribbles during Argentina’s 3-1 win versus Mexico in the 2010 edition in South Africa, and he’s one of four players with 11 in a single World Cup game, the others being Jean Tigana, Maradona and Jose Valencia. 

Chelsea icon Eden Hazard topped the dribbling charts at Russia 2018, registering 10 on two different occasions in matches for Belgium against Brazil and France. 

Ex-Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amuneke, Joaquin, Rafael Martin-Vasquez, Chris Waddle, Messi, Jairzinho, Diego Simeone and Argentina’s 1978 World Cup hero Mario Kempes also completed ten successful dribbles. 

Source Sporting Sun

Posted November 21, 2022

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