11 Best Soccer Moves to Beat Your Opponent

Some of the most basic skills that any soccer has player has to improve are soccer moves that allow them to get past opponents and create space for themselves and their team. Soccer moves are your secret weapon on the field.

By practicing different skill moves and becoming confident performing them against live players you will have an easier time performing them when it matters the most. As an amateur footballer and trainer I can confidently say the following skill moves are the most effective and basic ones to learn.

Over time as you get better at these you will be able to come up with different skills moves and adding your own style into it. These are the 11 best soccer moves to master to beat your opponents.

I did not create these videos, but I did link back to the creators, just click on the image to watch the video.

The Body Feint

In soccer, sometimes the most effective moves are the most simple ones such as a body feint. To successfully perform a body feint, shift your body weight quickly to one side as if you’re going to move in that direction, then quickly push off in the opposite direction with the same foot.

Use your upper body as well, by dropping the shoulder, to deceive the defender, making them think you’re going one way when you’re actually going the other.

The Cruyff Turn

The cruyff turn is another simple, yet effective move that was popularized by the late Johan Cruyff, one of the best players of all time. To perform this skill move, drag the soccer ball behind your standing foot with the inside of your other foot, then quickly turn and accelerate in the opposite direction.

This move allows players to create space and beat defenders who are expecting you to continue in your current direction. It is also important to stay low, to lower your center of gravity, for better balance and to turn in one continuous motion.

The Scissor Move

The scissor move is a bit more advanced than the other two moves, but it is still an effective and fairly simple move. To perform the scissors, step over the soccer ball with one foot while moving your body in the opposite direction, then quickly step over the ball with your other foot in the same motion.

This move is great for confusing defenders and creating openings to dribble the ball past them.

The Step Over

The step over can be considered the opposite of the scissor move and to perform this move players have to fake a move in one direction by stepping over the ball with one foot, then quickly accelerating in the opposite direction. This move is all about timing and tricking the defender into committing to the wrong direction.

The Elastico (Flip Flap)

The elastico, also known as the flip flap, is an incredibly effective skill move to beat a defender, but it is not as easy as it looks to perform. To successfully perform this move you have to hit the ball using the outside of your foot and then quickly hit the ball again with the inside of your foot and across your body.

This skill move requires quick footwork, good timing to strike the ball properly, and elite ball control. The Elastico was popularized and mastered by Brazilian icon, Ronaldinho.

The Reverse Elastico

The reverse elastico, or reverse flip flap, is exactly what it sounds like, the opposite of a regular elastico. To perform this soccer move you have to first hit the ball with the inside of the foot and then quickly hit the ball again with the outside of your foot and across your body.

This move can be considered easier to perform than the regular elastico by many players, fans, and coaches of the game and this move is used in different occasions than the regular elastico.

The Stop and Go

The stop and go move is a great move to delay and confuse defenders. With this move, similar to a body feint, the goal is to trick the defender into thinking you are going one direction, stopping, and then going in the other direction.

To perform this move, dribble towards the defender at full speed, then abruptly stop the ball with the sole of your foot and quickly accelerate in the opposite direction. This move is effective for catching defenders flat-footed.

There are different variations of the stop and go move, but they all follow the same concepts, be able to slow down, decelerate quickly, and stop, before taking off in another direction.

The Ronaldo Chop

The Ronaldo Chop, created by the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo, is a bit similar to a cruyff turn, but slightly different. To perform this move, plant your dominant foot next to the ball and quickly drag it back behind your standing leg, then use the inside of your other foot to push the ball in the opposite direction. This move is great for changing direction quickly and getting past defenders.

The Maradona Turn (Spin Move)

The Maradona Turn is a skill move that requires great technique and was popularized by Argentine legend, Diego Maradona. To perform this move, drag the ball behind your standing foot with the sole of your other foot, then quickly spin your body around the ball to shield it from the defender. This move is effective for maintaining possession and evading pressure.

The Nutmeg

The nutmeg is a simple skill move and a term that refers to kicking the ball through the legs of an opponent and getting the ball back afterwards. The nutmeg can be performed in different ways but the main goal is to hit the ball through the legs of the opponent and win the ball back afterwards.

If you get the ball through the legs, but lose possession right afterwards, then the nutmeg was not as effective as it could be.

The V Pull

The V pull is an excellent soccer move to keep possession of the ball and beat the defenders. The initial movement to perform this move requires the player to dribble towards the defender at an angle, then once the defender commits, you quickly pull the ball back with the sole of your foot and push it forward in the opposite direction with the outside of the same foot.

This move is great for changing direction and creating space to pass or shoot.

Summary

In conclusion, as a soccer player, no matter what position you play it is important to have some soccer skill moves in your toolbox. The best way to get better at performing skills moves is by improving your ball mastery with the best soccer training drills, training barefoot, and of course by playing against real opponents in live scenarios such as:

• Real games
• Team trainings
• small sided games (5v5, 7v7, or 9v9)
• Pickup games
• Futsal
• Beach soccer

In this blog I shared with you 11 of the most basic but effective soccer skills moves to learn and practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?

To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.

How can I learn more about the game?

To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.

What are the best soccer skills to beat defenders?

Some of the best soccer dribbling skills to beat defenders include the body feint, cruyff turn, the scissors, the stepover, the elastico, the reverse elastico, the stop and go, the Ronaldo chop (CR7’s signature move), Maradona turn (Maradona’s signature move), the nutmeg, the v pull, and the rainbow flick.