11 Best Soccer Moves Every Player Should Learn

Every great dribbler started with the same basic question: How do I get past this defender?

The answer to this question is not as simple as just perfecting one move; the answer is more about building a complete arsenal of skill moves that you have practiced long enough that they become instinctual. This is because in a game, there is no time to think about what skill move you’re going to do – your body is simply going to use the skill move that you’ve repeated thousands of times in training, the one that fits the situation, the defender’s angle, and the space available.

Each move acts like a key to unlocking different types of defensive pressures, which means there is a time and place to use each one. These dribbling skill moves also work best when you also have a strong foundation in all the other important skills of the game, including ball control, first touch, passing, dribbling, shooting, defending, decision making, composure, awareness, and creativity.

Learning new skill moves, as well as improving all of the skills above, is what helps players improve their talent and become better players, but it is also important to improve your passion, discipline, game IQ, mindset, athleticism, fitness, and recovery. After years of playing, coaching, and running sports leagues, I’ve seen that the best dribblers all share one trait: they never rely on just one move to beat defenders.

While any soccer player can learn the technique of each move through practice, the most important part comes from understanding when to use each skill move while having the instinct to pull them off whenever needed. In this post, I will be going over the eleven best soccer moves that every player must learn, no matter what position or level they’re playing at.

I did not create these videos, but I did link back to the creators. Just click on the image to watch the video and see how to perform the move.

Table of Contents

What are the Best Soccer Moves Players Should Learn to Perform?

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

What are soccer tricks called?

Soccer tricks are commonly called skill moves, dribbling moves, or simply “skills” by players and coaches. These terms all refer to the same thing, which are the skill moves on this list.

What are the basic skills of soccer?

The basic skills of soccer include ball control, passing, shooting, dribbling, first touch, and defending – fundamentals that every player must master regardless of their age, level, or position. These core abilities form the foundation for more advanced techniques and tactical play.

How to do a simple cool move in soccer?

The body feint is one of the simplest yet most effective moves – just shift your body weight to one side as if going that direction, then quickly push off in the opposite direction. This basic deception can beat defenders at any level and requires no complex footwork to master.

What gear and equipment are needed to improve my soccer skills?

The best thing about soccer is that you don’t need a lot of equipment and accessories to start playing and improving. All you really need is a soccer ball, but the more serious you want to play, the more gear you will need, such as soccer cleats, shin guards, grip socks, shorts, and shirts, and soccer equipment, such as cones, rebounders, ball pumps, soccer bags, etc.