# Diomande Challenges Lamine Yamal as La Liga's Top Dribbler The Real Madrid winger is outperforming teammates and rivals in successful dribbling metrics. - **Source:** [AS – Portada](https://as.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b5c96804-0c72-4b68-b35a-96d6e3de85b1 ## Rising Dribbling Dominance Yan Diomande has emerged as a premier dribbler in La Liga, currently ranking second with 43 successful dribbles. He trails only Lamine Yamal, who has 57, but Diomande boasts a superior efficiency rate. The Real Madrid winger completes a successful dribble every 20 minutes, compared to Yamal's average of one every 23 minutes. ## Mourinho's Tactical Asset Manager Jose Mourinho has praised Diomande as an incredibly difficult player for opponents to contain. His recent performance at Mestalla, featuring six successful dribbles, stands as his best away record this season. Mourinho highlights the rarity of finding a winger who is both aggressive and capable of playing on either flank effectively. ## Internal Squad Comparison Within Real Madrid, Diomande has surpassed his teammates in one-on-one attacking success. Across all competitions, including the Champions League, he has recorded 52 successful dribbles. This figure is nearly identical to Kylian Mbappe's 53, despite Diomande achieving his total in 541 fewer minutes of play, demonstrating his significantly higher impact per minute. ## Physicality and Resilience Diomande has demonstrated remarkable physical resilience while enduring harsh challenges from opponents. Recent incidents include a stamp from Cancelo during the Clásico, a heavy blow from Mantilla at El Sardinero, and a tough tackle from Guido Rodríguez in Valencia. These moments highlight his ability to maintain performance levels despite consistent physical pressure from defenders. ## Teammate Recognition The winger's technical quality has impressed his teammates, particularly Jude Bellingham, who noted the special nature of Diomande's shooting ability after a goal in Santander. Beyond his individual skill, his chemistry with Kylian Mbappe on the pitch is becoming increasingly evident, providing a new dimension to Real Madrid's offensive strategy this season. ## Shifting Squad Dynamics Diomande's rise coincides with a period of decline for Vinicius, a shift reflected in their playing time. The Ivorian has accumulated 892 minutes compared to Vinicius's 882 minutes this campaign. Diomande has proven versatile, playing eight matches on both the left and right wings, showing higher productivity when operating on the left side. ## Positional Selection Debate The upcoming return of Vinicius from suspension creates a tactical dilemma for Mourinho regarding the left-wing position. While Diomande has made a strong case for a starting role, the manager has not guaranteed positions to anyone. Mourinho stated he will manage the situation once Vinicius is available to return to normal activity. ## Future Tactical Outlook The debate over the starting left-winger will intensify ahead of the Celta Vigo match at the Bernabéu. Diomande's ability to contribute three goals and one assist from the left flank provides a compelling argument for his continued inclusion. Observers will monitor how Mourinho balances these two high-profile attacking options in future matches. ## Sources covering this story - https://as.com/futbol/primera/diomande-planta-cara-a-lamine-f202611-n/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._