Football is a beautiful game that brings joy to millions of fans around the world. You see some amazing goals, great tackles, and technical mastery that make the sport thoroughly enjoyable.
Then there’s also the showmanship – some neat football tricks, which players pull off to surprise their opponents. Those are the players that are remembered both on and off the field. Their ball control, technique, and skills are second to none. It may look effortless, but behind the scenes, there’s a lot of hard work and practice involved.
So, if you’re looking to develop some nifty technical skills, practice these 10 football tricks.
Attention! These tricks are performed by professionals and may carry a risk of injury. Please attempt these tricks carefully, at your own risk. We suggest to first master the action without a ball. Try these tricks once you gain confidence and experience.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo Dribble Tutorial
Portuguese team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has won 33 trophies, including a UEFA European Championship and five UEFA Champions Leagues.
He is a gifted and hard-working player who has created several football tricks like the stepover chop (to change direction quickly), the Elastico (to beat a defender), the sonic turn (to quickly pass an opponent), and the fake move (to lose a marker).
His greatest move perhaps is the dribble. Here’s a quick summary of the Cristiano Ronaldo dribble tutorial:
- Keep the ball in tight control close to your feet. This will help you navigate through defenders. Train with cones daily to learn how to keep the ball close to your feet. Slightly bending your knees also helps to maintain balance and keep the ball close while changing direction rapidly.
- Keep shifting your body weight as you run through cones. This will help you dribble with both feet.
- Use body feints to confuse defenders. These are subtle body movements, like a shoulder drop, or swinging your foot around the ball, that can wrong-foot opponents.
- Do the Ronaldo chop to change the direction of the ball mid-air. Jump with one foot pointing towards the ball. At the same time, use the inside of your other foot to hit the ball. For this, you’ll need to practice dribbling with both feet.
- Mix up your pace, and accelerate and decelerate suddenly, to navigate past defenders.
- Keep some distance from the defender – but not too much! If you get too close to them, they can easily swipe the ball away. In the same way, if you are too far away from them, they will not get off-balanced by your body feints.
This move needs speed and agility, so sprint every day to become fast on the field like Ronaldo. You will also need consistent practice to dribble like a pro. Set aside dedicated time every day to improve your dribbling skills.
2. Marcus Rashford Flick Tutorial
The Manchester United forward has been playing professionally since the age of 18. He scored a goal on his very first international appearance for England, which earned him a well-deserved PFA Young Player of the Year award in the 2015-16 season.
He is a key player in Man U., known for his pace and technical skills. His most famous skill, by far, is how smoothly he flicks the ball up.
Here’s a quick rundown of the Rashford flick tutorial:
- Place one foot in line with the ball. Raise the second foot, so that its heel points to the ball. Flick the ball with your heel onto the toes of the other foot. Now use this rolling motion to flick the ball up.
- Once the ball is in the air, you need to do an “around the world” or ATW trick. This is a way to juggle the ball mid-air with just one foot. Bounce on your other foot to gain momentum for this football trick. In ATW, your foot should go around the ball in a circle while it is still in the air. Rashford does the inside ATW, meaning he circles his foot from right to left.
- After completing the ATW, quickly lower your foot and make a V-shaped arch to catch the ball before it lands on the ground. Your toes should be pointing up. This makes it easier to pop the ball back into the air.
The second part of this tutorial is to hit the ball mid-air like Rashford. Master the inside ATW before attempting to hit the ball.
- This move doesn’t need the full ATW. Flick the ball in the air with your dominant foot. Then do only a half ATW. This means your foot will now move from back to front of the ball, while it’s in the air.
- Now lift your other foot and flick the ball with your heel.
To master ATW, practice juggling the ball with as little spin as possible. You can start practicing without a ball to understand the correct motion. If you are unable to get your foot all around the ball, then your timing may be off. Start the ATW motion the moment you flick the ball up – don’t pause or hesitate.
3. The Cruyff Turn
Johan Cruyff was a brilliant Dutch footballer and later Barcelona’s manager. Barcelona won the La Liga four times under his leadership.
But perhaps what he is most remembered for is the “Cruyff turn”, which he invented at the 1974 Football World Cup. The trick behind this move is to fake an action to confuse the other team. It looks like a player is about to pass or shoot but instead drags the ball behind and quickly changes direction. Here’s how you can perfect the Cruyff turn:
- Keep your shoulders and hips in line as you dribble the ball.
- Maintain speed till the last minute and shape up as if to pass or cross.
- Next, slow down instantly, and drag the ball with the inside of your foot toward your other leg.
- Now turn your shoulders and change direction. Resume your speed to evade defenders.
This is an impactful way to move past a defender. However, the success depends upon how well you sell the fake kick. Professional footballers can usually read a fake kick, especially if you try to fake a pass to a teammate who is not even there. It’s all about timing and body language. Commit to the kick until the last second. Maintain your speed and lean your body in so it looks like you’re definitely going for a pass or kick. Don’t ease off your momentum till the absolute last second.
It’s a fantastic skill to learn while practicing your dribbling skills. Try out this move in scrimmages and small-sided games before attempting it in a real game.
4. The Ronaldo Chop
Cristiano Ronaldo has invented several moves – including the “Ronaldo chop”. This is a great move for an attacking player, especially the left-winger (like Ronaldo).
Here’s how to perform the Ronaldo chop:
- Dribble the ball down the field. Keep your pace high. When a defender approaches you, use the chop to lose him.
- Keep running at top speed until a defender gets too close. Then, slow down a little and hop forward on your plant foot. Say, you hit the ball with your right foot. Then your left foot becomes the plant foot, which remains on the ground.
- When you hop forward, you physically defending the ball with your body. This also gives room to kick the ball behind you.
- As you hop forward with your left foot, lift your right foot. Face the inside of your right foot in line with the ball. Flick the ball with your right foot, and slightly pivot your body to keep controlling the ball.
- Make sure to hop forward to make space. If you hop on the side, the ball will crash into your other foot.
It’s a little hop, then the chop. When done right, the ball will go one way, and the defender will go another. It’s also a kind of fake kick like the Cruyff. However, unlike the Cruyff, it uses only the kicking foot to slice the ball. You also don’t have to change the direction of your body much in this move.
This football trick is best done at high speed when dribbling one-on-one against a defender. However, this may not be the best move if you are crowded by opponents. You need open space to slice the ball in another direction. If you are an inexperienced player, use the Ronaldo chop to pass the ball to your team’s attacker.
5. Kylian M’bappé’s One-and-a-Half Stepover
French football team captain Kylian M’bappé has played for more than eight years in Ligue 1. He has been Ligue 1’s top scorer four times and won the Player of the Year award thrice. He keeps tight control over the ball and has invented several tricks.
M’bappé’s one-and-a-half stepover is a slightly improvised version of the regular stepover. It’s best used when a defender is charging towards you and is determined to tackle the ball away from you. Here’s how you can lose the defender with the one-and-a-half stepover.
- Slow your dribble a little when a defender comes close. Approach the ball from the outside of your foot. Say, you hit with your right foot. Approach the ball from the outside of your right foot. It would appear that you are shooting the ball.
- Instead, step over to the other side. Now the ball comes between your two feet.
- Slightly bend your left knee and tilt your body to create a feint. It will look like you are shooting the ball left.
- Now, the defender will move left thinking that’s where the ball will go. Use this gap to hit the ball with the outside of your right foot again.
- This now gives you time to speed up and move past the defender.
This trick is called the one-and-a-half stepover, because of the body feint. Practice this move in your dribbling sessions. Stand still with the ball, and practice kicking with the outside of your foot. Don’t kick with force or you’ll lose control of the ball. Give it just a gentle flick. Now step over the ball so it is positioned between both feet. Then practice moving your knees and body at a 45-degree angle to appear you are kicking the ball the other way. That’s when you flick the ball in the same direction and confuse the defender.
This move requires a slight change in pace, so keep repeating it at different speeds till you get it right.
6. The Maradona Turn
Diego Maradona was a famous Argentinian player, best remembered for his “Hand of God” moment, where he allegedly used his hand to score a goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Argentina went on to lift the 1986 World Cup, with Maradona scoring five goals in the tournament. In 2000, he was voted the Player of the Century, along with Pele. Maradona became the head coach of the Argentina football team in 2008 and helped them reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.
Maradona invented “the roulette” or “the turn” – a 180-degree turn while dribbling the ball with both feet. Here’s how you can perfect it:
- Stop the ball with your dominant foot and drag the ball back a few inches.
- Place your dominant foot between the ball and the defender and get your arm up to shield the defender
- Use your back foot to flick the ball slightly as you do a 180-degree turn. Now your body will face the other way and the defender is completely blocked. The ball will land between your two feet.
The move works only if a defender is approaching you from an angle. This gives you room to maneuver the ball and your body. If you do the Maradona, while the defender is approaching head-on, you might crash into him.
The point of the Maradona is to shield the ball with your body. It is a difficult maneuver so first practice without a ball. Then, use three cones set up in a V-shape. Start with the inner cone and dribble to the second cone on the left. That’s where you should do the Maradona and try to bring your body and the ball back to the first cone. The third cone on the left is the defender that you should avoid.
If the ball is going all over the place, you may be going too fast. Slow down to perfect this move. Also, if the defender is able to win the ball, this means you are not pulling the ball back far enough.
7. The Nutmeg
The nutmeg is an iconic move, where the player kicks the ball between the opponent’s legs and then runs past them to catch the ball on the other side.
There are several theories about why this move is called the “nutmeg”. The most popular is that this term was used in the Victorian era as slang for being conned. Nutmeg used to be an expensive commodity so exporters of yore would hide wooden replicas in the sacks being shipped to avoid theft. This practice soon came to imply cleverness on the part of the trickster.
Players like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, and Kylian M’Bappe use the nutmeg while dribbling to lose their opponent. It’s a difficult skill to master, but you can get it with practice. Here’s how to master the nutmeg:
- Kylian M’Bappe usually does the nutmeg when he is backed into a corner. If your defender is facing you directly then there is likely to be a visible opening between their feet. This move only works when the defender is approaching you from the front. If they are at an angle, the opening between their feet will be quite narrow.
- Wait for the right moment so their body is aligned with yours. There should also be enough space behind the defender to run into once you pull the move. The nutmeg can be pulled off in a 1-on-1 setup.
- Use the underside of your foot and calmly pull the ball back, encouraging the defender to move toward you to close down the space. When the defender is aligned, kick the ball through their feet. Don’t kick with too much force, or the ball will be picked up by another player.
- Now quickly run to the other side to receive the ball.
Tip: If you want to avoid being nutmegged, approach the player through an angle and move laterally to stop the ball. Keep your knees bent, and stay on your toes to catch the ball.
8. The Bicycle Kick
Pelé was one of the most popular footballers of the 20th century. He led Brazil to World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970, thanks to his famous “bicycle kick”. It’s also called an overhead or scissors kick, because of its acrobatic style.
In this maneuver, the player jumps and throws their body backward, with a leg lifted in the air. The dominant leg points toward the ball and kicks it rearward in midair. This is a formidable football trick that carries a risk of injury. Here’s how you can perform it safely:
- Use your judgment on when to use this trick. You need space to kick your foot up, so avoid using it if you are crowded by opponents. This is ideal if the ball is approaching your goalie and you want to move it out pronto.
- Jump on your plant foot (non-dominant) and begin tilting backward, as if doing a cartwheel. As you begin to drop, lift up your kicking foot to meet the ball mid-air. It’s important to have eyes on the ball at all times to connect your foot perfectly.
- Don’t use any force to kick the ball or you may injure your hamstring. The jump will give you enough momentum.
- Stretch your arms and twist your body sideways when you fall back to the ground. This will steady the impact and protect your neck.
This football trick should be used rarely, as it exposes you to injury. Make sure your hamstrings are loose before you perform the bicycle kick.
9. Ricardo Infante’s “The Rabona”
Argentina’s Ricardo Infante is believed to be the first footballer to use this trick, way back in 1948. The Rabona is essentially a performative trick, where players cross their legs to hit the ball. Say, your right foot is dominant. You run up to the ball and stop as soon as the outside of your left foot is aligned with it. Now you cross your right foot from behind and hit the ball in style!
Here’s how you can master this football trick:
- For this trick to work, the momentum of the ball should be slow. So, slow down your run-up as you approach the ball.
- Plant your non-dominant foot a few inches to the side of the ball. Make sure to angle your foot toward your target.
- Swing your kicking leg behind your plant leg. Now curl your kicking foot and hit the ball with the outside of your shoe.
- Turn your shoulders to angle the kick toward the target.
Beginners may face problems making clean contact with the ball. Make sure your plant foot isn’t too close to the ball. Keep some distance when you run up to the ball. Kick the ball from underneath to give it height and distance.
10. Ronaldinho’s Air Elastico
Brazilian footballer, Ronaldinho, performs skillful feints in mid-air called “the Elastico” (also called “flip-flap”). This move can throw your opponent off balance and send them in the wrong direction. The idea behind this football trick is to confuse the defender about where you’re likely to hit the ball.
While performing the Elastico mid-air like Ronaldinho can be difficult, you can start by performing it on the ground. Here’s how you can do it:
- The ball should be stationary or really slow when you perform this maneuver. It should line up directly in front of you.
- Push the ball away with the outside of your dominant foot. Don’t hit with force or the ball may run away from you. Keep the ball in control with a slight push.
- Sell the move with body feint. If you kicked the ball with your right foot, then transfer your right to the right knee and angle your left shoulder to make it look like you are going to sprint right. The defender will react to your body and instinctively follow you right.
- Now, wrap the inside of your right foot and kick it back to the left. Bring it between your legs and sprint left, while the defender goes right.
This move should be done in one swift motion as professional players can read through the hesitation. The key lies in selling the body feint. Practice on your footwork to learn how to maneuver the ball in every direction, while keeping it tightly under your control.
Guess how many attempts it will take to master this trick?
Bonus: Football Flicks by Difficulty
Every football player, from Neymar to Messi, has their own style of flicking up the ball. Here, we give you seven ways to flick a ball, based on difficulty:
Simple Flick Up
Place the ball on the ground just in front of your legs. Keep your feet apart and knees bent. Contact the ball from underneath as this gives it height. Use the inside of your foot to push the ball up in the air. As the ball rises, continue flicking it with one foot at a time to keep it in the air. Make sure to flick the ball gently each time so it remains below your knees.
Advanced Flick Up
This is the same as a simple flick-up, however, the ball moves much faster now. Practice your footwork to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible while hitting it slightly harder.
Around the World Flick Up
Use your dominant foot to push the ball inside toward you. Now use the ball’s momentum to kick it up with the inside of your foot. As it rises, circle your kicking foot around the ball, and position it just under it. As soon as the ball drops, arch your foot in a V-shape to catch the ball and continue juggling.
Rainbow Flick Up
This is a difficult flick-up, so first practice it with a stationary ball. Put one step forward, so that the ball is angled between the heel of the forward foot and toes of the back foot. Now drag the ball forward with the other foot, and lock it between both feet. Now roll the ball up on your forward foot and flick it with the heel of the standing leg.
Double Leg Flick Up
Diego Maradona had mastered this difficult move. To do this maneuver, keep a stationary ball in front of you and place your feet at a 45-degree angle. Now jump up and bring your feet together. The ball will bounce up with the momentum.
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