Rabona: Soccer technique, drills and fixes

A rabona is a kick where your weaker foot becomes the standing foot and your stronger foot swings behind it to strike the ball. It lets you pass, cross or shoot with your strong foot when the ball has arrived on your weak side, and defenders rarely see it coming (the name is Argentine slang for skipping school, from Ricardo Infante's widely credited 1948 goal for Estudiantes). It has less room for error than a normal kick, so balance on the standing leg is the whole skill: build it up slowly.

Plant & aim

Plant your weaker foot firmly beside the ball, about 7-10 inches (18-25 cm) away, pointing at your target. The ball sits on the outside of that foot.

steady on the standing foot before anything else moves.

Bend your standing knee slightly, stretch your arms out and lean back and a little away from the ball. Keep your eyes on the ball and the spot you want to hit.

arms wide like a tightrope walker, chest slightly back.

Swing it behind

Lift your kicking heel up toward your backside by bending the knee, then wrap the leg behind your standing leg. A higher lift gives more power, but only once the balance is there.

your legs cross behind, the standing foot stays put.

Swing the kicking foot around the back of your standing leg and through to the ball. Don't move the plant foot to make room; if you can't reach the ball, reset the plant distance on the next rep.

Strike & balance

Strike the lower half of the ball. Coaching guides describe contact with the outside of the boot; on stationary reps, find the part of your foot that sends the ball straight at your target.

you hit under it, so it lifts.

Keep the lean back and away through contact. It counters the twist of the crossed legs.

Finish

Turn your far shoulder toward the target as you follow through. If your standing foot blocks the follow-through, let both feet come off the ground just after contact, then land on two feet.

Feel it

A planted standing foot that never shifts, arms out, a slight lean back, and the strong foot whipping round behind it to send the ball up and toward your target. You finish balanced, far shoulder facing where the ball went. If you swipe air or stumble, the plant was in the wrong place or you stopped leaning away.

Fix-its

You miss the ball or scuff it Eyes stay on the ball. Your plant foot is too close or too far: adjust its distance (start around 7-10 inches) and its position, one rep at a time.
You lose your balance or fall into the ball Arms out wide, standing knee slightly bent, and lean back and away from the ball. Go slower and lift the kicking leg less until you stay up every rep.
The ball doesn't lift Strike the lower half of the ball, and let both feet leave the ground just after contact if the standing foot is in the way.
The ball goes off line Point the plant foot at the target and turn your far shoulder to the target on the follow-through.
Your legs tangle Bend the kicking knee and lift the heel toward your backside before you wrap, so the foot clears the back of your standing leg.

Drill

Warm up first (jog, leg swings). Stop if your standing knee, hip or groin hurts.
No ball: one hand on a wall or a partner's shoulder, rehearse plant, lean, lift and wrap slowly until it feels balanced.
Stationary ball: rabona short passes to a wall or partner a few metres away. Clean contact and staying up matter more than power.
Rolling ball: a partner rolls the ball to your weaker side; plant the weak foot and rabona it back with the strong foot.
On the move: dribble in at different speeds and angles, then rabona a cross or shot. Only add speed once the stationary version is consistent.

By position

Wingers and attacking players: FIFA's history of the move lists crosses and assists from players such as Di María, Quaresma and Müller, and goals from attackers. It fits when the ball is on your weak side and there's no time to shift it onto your strong foot. Defenders: rarely the right choice; a normal clearance is safer.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-31.