LIONEL MESSI is not even in the top 50 dribblers in Europe – but Adama Traore is the No1.
The Paris Saint-Germain forged a sterling reputation for his dazzling dribbles and mazy runs in the red and blue for Barcelona.
But Messi has struggled for form since his incredible transfer to the French capital in the summer.
And according to CIES Football Observatory’s latest research, his dribbling stats are way down.
Taking into consideration players to make at least 40 dribbles across Europe’s big-five leagues, Traore tops the list with a whopping 11.24 per 100 minutes of action.
That is more than FOUR dribbles more than second-placed Rafael Leao of AC Milan.
And Newcastle’s fan-favourite Allan Saint-Maximin joins them on the podium with 7.02.
Renne’s Kamaldeen Sulemana (6.44) pips PSG superstar Neymar (6.28) with Alphonso Davies (6.14) next on the list as the Bundesliga’s only representative.
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Sassuolo’s ex-Chelsea man Jeremie Boga (5.80) and Nahitan Nandez of Cagliari (5.36) sandwich Angers’ Sofiane Boufal on 5.52.
And completing the top ten is another of Messi’s team-mates, Kylian Mbappe.
The Frenchman’s return of 5.33 is 0.07 dribbles per 100 minutes more than Real Madrid ace Vinicius Junior.
Premier League stars past – Felipe Anderson, Gerard Deulofeu, Memphis Depay and Leroy Sane – and present – Lucas Moura, Valentino Livramento, Wilfried Zaha and Mason Greenwood are further down on the list.
Incredibly, Traore’s tally is the best figure in world football with Nahuel Lujan of Universidad de Chile way back on 9.68.
The ex-Barcelona bulking speedster, 25, also has the second-best success rate in the world on 78.9 per cent, just shy of Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk on 80.6 per cent.
Unfortunately for new Wolves boss Bruno Lage, Traore’s successes with the ball at his feet has not yielded many returns.
Traore is yet to register a goal or assist for his club in his 12 appearances so far this season, totalling 697 minutes.
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