Ivorian winger Nicolas Pépé has emerged as the leading dribbler in the Spanish top flight, underlining his impressive return to form with Villarreal.
The 31-year-old has completed seven successful dribbles in the current La Liga campaign, according to statistics from specialist website Sofascore.
Pépé is currently ahead of Athletic Bilbao’s Iñigo Vicente, Getafe’s Ramón Terrats and Málaga CF’s Carlos Puga, who have each recorded six successful dribbles.
The figures provide another indication of the influence Pépé has had since joining Villarreal, where he has been contracted since 2024 and is tied to the club until 2028.
The winger has started both of Villarreal’s opening matches this season and has already found the net, scoring against Racing Club de Santander on the opening matchday.
His strong beginning follows what was arguably his most productive season since leaving Lille, as he continues to rebuild his reputation in Spanish football.
Pépé enjoyed an impressive 2025-26 campaign with Villarreal, scoring eight goals and supplying 10 assists in 36 La Liga appearances.
Those performances were enough to earn him a return to the Ivory Coast national team for the 2026 World Cup.
His resurgence represents a significant turnaround for a player whose career had stalled after a difficult period in England and subsequent spells elsewhere in Europe.
Pépé struggled to produce the expected impact during his time with Arsenal before moving to OGC Nice and later Trabzonspor. Those struggles contributed to a substantial decline in his market value.
His valuation has fallen to €6m, a dramatic drop from the €75m peak he reached in 2019.
The contrast highlights the change in his fortunes since arriving at Villarreal. Rather than being defined by his difficult spells at previous clubs, Pépé has begun to re-establish himself through consistent performances in La Liga.
His ability to take on opponents has been particularly evident at the start of the new campaign. With seven successful dribbles, he currently occupies the top position in the league’s dribbling statistics.
Pépé’s current form also adds to the significance of his return to international football with Ivory Coast. His recall for the 2026 World Cup came after a season in which he contributed directly to 18 goals for Villarreal through goals and assists.
The winger’s revival has also renewed attention on his career trajectory. Once valued at €75m in 2019, he is now competing in La Liga while attempting to maintain the momentum generated by his performances for Villarreal.
His contract with the Spanish club runs through to 2028, giving him an opportunity to continue developing his role at Villarreal and build on his recent progress.
For now, Pépé is setting the pace among La Liga’s most effective dribblers. His seven successful attempts place him one clear of three players on six, while his early-season goal and his previous campaign’s contribution suggest he could remain an important attacking figure for Villarreal.
After several difficult years, the Ivorian’s latest chapter in Spain is proving to be a striking comeback story.
