It is becoming impossible to watch an FC Dallas match without your jaw dropping at least once after a Fabian Castillo dribble.
The speedy winger’s habit of shaking defenders in 1-v-1 situations – and sometimes 1-v-many – has become both a focal point of the Dallas attack and a spectacle for fans, as those at Toyota Stadium routinely jump to their feet and crank up the decibel level when the Colombian gets on the call the ball in space.
And Castillo knows it.
“It is really fun to go around [defenders]. People love to see that show,” Castillo told MLSSoccer.com through a translator. “And I’m all about showing people that show.”
Fortunately for the club, it has been more than just “The Castillo Show.” His dribbling has led to plenty of scoring opportunities both for himself and his teammates, with Castillo currently accounting for nine of his team’s 17 goals in only 10 games this season.
His five assists even put him in a tie for tops in MLS
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But as far as the dribbling itself is concerned, Castillo is second to none in the league. There were 113 times in 2014 when the young Colombian bested his defender while dribbling, 24 more than his closest competitor in Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe.
The 22-year-old leads MLS in the same statistic by completing 40 successful dribbles so far this season, six more than Nagbe.
“God gives each and every one a talent or special characteristic,” Castillo said. “Thankfully I have that talent that God has granted me in dribbling.”
Through the work of the Dallas coaching staff, Castillo has continued to add to his game by improving his finishing skills, which add yet another dangerous element for the opposition to account for.
But ball skills have always come naturally to him.
“It’s just something that I grew up with,” he said.
Head coach Oscar Pareja, who has arguably brought the most out of Castillo since taking the helm of Dallas in 2014, agreed with his young midfielder, attributing his dribbling ability to instinct. He also pointed out Castillo doesn't have to be on the ball to be effective.
“Fabian attracts attention because obviously he creates space and is in yours,” Pareja said, noting that forward Tesho Akindele’s game-winning goal against the LA Galaxy on Saturday night was in part a product of Castillo drawing multiple defenders.
“We just try to use that talent, that gift that he has been given by God,” he continued. “We try to punish with it and use it in the right moment in the right way on the right side at the right time. That’s our job. But the talent that Fabian has is pure.”
