# Anatomy of the Dribble: Lionel Messi

If you watch something enough times, you learn to identify common themes. Once you recognize the themes, you see the same things executed and time, and time again.  When Lionel Messi dribbles, we watch. And this is what we've come away with.

1. **Awareness -** Messi makes himself *aware* of the pursuing defenders, he takes quick glances and careful stock of the angle and speed (the vector) along which each defender is pursuing. A defender committed to an angle at speed, with momentum, is Messi's best friend. \\

2. **Analysis  -** Messi uses this knowledge to do a precise calculation and anticipate when and what the arrival of the defender will look like to determine his response strategy. If unsure of their vector, he alters the speed of his dribble, perhaps slowing, stuttering or outright stopping his dribble it to create hesitation on the part of the defender. Ultimately he aim is to entice a decision and a commitment from the defender, which allows him to select his next move from his range of options including a basic pass, a flick (moving the ball with a height slightly out of reach of the defender) , a slice (a sharp change of direction), and nutmeg (pass through an overly extended defender).\\

3. **Calculated Response -** When under pressure, at the moment of closure  he cuts A) against the grain the contact defender is pursuing B) into a vector from which it is MOST difficult to pursue and C) into the spot that pursuing defender has vacated (free space). It's important to note that it's not necessarily towards the goal every time, you must understand that he attacks the space, not the goal. When not under pressure he returns to straight lines.\\

4. **Acceleration -** And then he accelerates.  The speed of his acceleration over short distances is stupifying.\\

5. **Peerless Finishing -** And if left free he shoots.  His short stature belies his accuracy and overt power at distance.

Along with the obvious physical tools, his real superhuman ability lies in his responsiveness.  His ability to analyze and respond to the movements of the defense in real-time is an uncanny, but practice-able skill.&#x20;

His performance is analogous to that of Quarterbacks success in the NFL's West Coast Offense. In that offense, the Quarterback, let's say Aaron Rodgers (substitute Brett Favre, Steve Young or Joe Montana, if you prefer) drops back and takes stock of his first, second and third reads in series. If the first read isn't there he moves to the second, and if same, then the third. If he has a question at the line he may hard count, he may send players in motion to determine the coverage.  If the defender tips his hand he may call a pre-snap audible to change the play. Once the ball is in motion, he may move the defense with his eyes, roll to an unexpected position, or pump-fake.  What the successful West Coast almost *never* does is force the throw, the play, into coverage.  He doesn't attack the defense, *he attacks where the defense isn't*.

Messi is the same. Lionel Messi maintains POSSESSION. He READS the defense, MOVES them with his eyes, with his hips, with his hesitation, with their momentum. First one, then two. He looks for openings, he find the open space and attacks where they no longer are or even better where they never were.
