A one-on-one contest for the ball between two players. Duels get split into aerial duels (headers) and ground duels (tackles, physical challenges). Duel success rate is a key metric for defenders and midfielders - it shows how often they win individual battles. Some leagues track them obsessively, and certain players like Casemiro and Van Dijk dominate these numbers.
Virgil van Dijk rarely loses duels. His combination of size, timing, and positioning means attackers struggle to get past him one-on-one, whether the ball is in the air or on the ground.
Robbie
Feb 3, 2026
Letting the ball run through your legs or past you to a teammate behind, fooling the defender. Instead of controlling or shooting, you show you're going to play the ball, then leave it. The defender buys the fake and is now out of position. Dummies require awareness that someone's behind you and trust that they know what you're doing. When they come off, they look effortless.
Bergkamp's dummy against Argentina in 1998 is legendary. He let Orie's pass run through him, fooling the defender, then controlled it on the other side and scored. The whole stadium thought he was going to control it one way.
Robbie
Feb 10, 2026