Stoper Stones dribbler of Messi and Ronaldinho quality? The numbers from the final say so

Last year Ngolo Kanté, last year Eduardo Camavinga, this year John Stones. Champions League winners usually have a hidden star who doesn’t score one goal after another and yet is indispensable. This year it was John Stones.

John Stones’ involvement with Manchester City is very specific. At the beginning he faced criticism for unnecessary mistakes and weakness in duels, gradually he developed into a mainstay, but last year he was not such a hit parade.

But when Kyle Walker dropped out this winter due to injury and Joao Cancelo was sent out on loan, Guardiola reached for something new. Or rather, an old one, as Oleksandr Zinchenko had also played as a full-back in previous years.

By moving into midfield, Stones outnumbered the opposition’s backline, while also giving more freedom to both wingers, especially Jack Grealish. The England international put in his best performance since his move to Manchester in the final third of the season.

In any case, the move of Stones to the midfield was not accidental. For many years, he has been regarded as England’s best stopper in terms of combination of movement, crossing and ball work in general.

In Saturday’s final, he proved it when most of the offensive actions were led through him. He took six dribbles himself and was successful in all of them. He was the first player since the 2015 final to dribble more than five times while never failing.

The last time he was better was Lionel Messi in a game against Juventus eight years ago. Back then, with ten successful dribbles, he led a 3-1 win over Juventus, although he didn’t score once in the final.

Only one man has managed a similar feat to the Argentine superstar in a Champions League final. As expected, it is Ronaldinho, who successfully dribbled ten times in the 2006 Barcelona-Arsenal match (2-1) and never once failed.

Source: WyScout, Twitter