FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013

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Something doesn't look right. I think the dribbling stat is no more than a fabrication, but the rest seems fine. Great picture though.

Edit - Interpretation of dribble is based on their definition, so it makes sense I guess.
 
Something doesn't look right. I think the dribbling stat is no more than a fabrication, but the rest seems fine. Great picture though.

Edit - Interpretation of dribble is based on their definition, so it makes sense I guess.

What is their definition of dribble? I don't think it's that surprising that Ribery has significantly more dribbles. He's still playing as a winger, constantly taking players on, getting into 1on1s before playing crosses or passes from out wide. Just look at how often he crosses the ball in comparison to Ronaldo and Messi. Ronaldo is most of the time playing as a wide forward, making runs towards goal without the ball to get in great scoring positions, while Messi also became much more of a finisher in the last 2 years and was less involved in the build-up than in his first 2 years as a false 9. All 3 are completely different players, imo, even though they play in a comparable area on the pitch.
 
What is their definition of dribble? I don't think it's that surprising that Ribery has significantly more dribbles. He's still playing as a winger, constantly taking players on, getting into 1on1s before playing crosses or passes from out wide. Just look at how often he crosses the ball in comparison to Ronaldo and Messi. Ronaldo is most of the time playing as a wide forward, making runs towards goal without the ball to get in great scoring positions, while Messi also became much more of a finisher in the last 2 years and was less involved in the build-up than in his first 2 years as a false 9. All 3 are completely different players, imo, even though they play in a comparable area on the pitch.
I, too, don't think it's surprising that he tops the dribbles section, but I don't believe that he has that many dribbles completed, compared to Messi. That's what I initially thought, but I took a closer look at the picture and it says "Dribbles & Runs". Ronaldo makes a lot of great runs off the ball, but doesn't dribble as much as Ribery. I do believe that Ribery has the advantage in this regard, but I don't believe that it's as big a margin as the stat portrays.
 
That's runs with the ball, right? Don't think that changes much to be honest, Ronaldo rarely carries the ball forward for Madrid with the exception of a few counterattacks, Ribery is doing that all the time for Bayern, doesn't matter what situation the game is in. I've no idea if the difference is too big in numbers here, but it definitely shows the different roles both players have in their teams. Basically those numbers prove that they really aren't comparable as players at all, even though they appear to start in the same position if you just look at the formation on paper.
 
That's runs with the ball, right? Don't think that changes much to be honest, Ronaldo rarely carries the ball forward for Madrid with the exception of a few counterattacks, Ribery is doing that all the time for Bayern, doesn't matter what situation the game is in. I've no idea if the difference is too big in numbers here, but it definitely shows the different roles both players have in their teams. Basically those numbers prove that they really aren't comparable as players at all, even though they appear to start in the same position if you just look at the formation on paper.

I think it's runs off the ball. What constitutes to a dribble is also ambiguous. It doesn't matter that much to be honest, but I think the stats show how underrated Ribery is in comparison to Messi and Ronaldo. He's not on their level, however, he accomplished a more successful year and great season (last season). If he shot more, he would have more goals and that's basing it on 22 goals from 92 shots. I'm glad he received recognition though.
 
Pretty sure it's runs with the ball, you know, driving the ball forward through midfield or something like that. Makes no sense at all to combine runs without the ball with dribbles? Then the stat wouldn't tell you anything anymore and then the difference wouldn't be as big.
 
Fair enough, doesn't make any sense though, at least imo. How do you quantify runs off the ball? Do they only count when you receive the ball at the end of it? Because if not, everyone is making runs off the ball all the time everywhere? And even then it's strange, do they only count towards goal, in the final third or everywhere?
 
So Ribery made average 20 dribbles & runs per game according to the stats? I don't recall seeing that many whenever I turned onto Bayern match at random though.