Rabona

In association football, the rabona is a method of kicking the football whereby the kicking leg is wrapped around the back of the standing leg – effectively with one's legs crossed.

There are several reasons why a player might opt to strike the ball this way: for example, a left-footed striker advancing towards the goal slightly on the right side rather than having the goal straight in front may feel that his shot power or accuracy with his right foot is inadequate, so will perform a Rabona in order to take a better shot. Another scenario could be a left-footed winger sending a cross while playing on the right side of the pitch without having to turn first. A good example of this is Diego Maradona, who often made use of this move for both short and long passes.Fact|date=November 2007

Another reason why a player could perform a rabona might be to confuse a defending player, or simply to show off his own ability – as it is considered a skillful trick at any level.

Although this move become popular in recent times, it was first introduced by the Italian player Giovanni Roccotelli in the 1970s, for Ascoli Calcio. At that time this move was simply called a "crossed-kick". [ [http://www.mondopicchio.it/viewnews19.php?id_news=6 "Giovanni Roccotelli"] it icon] [ [http://www.sportpiceno.biz/giovanniroccotelli.htm "Cocò, l'acrobata del numero 7"] it icon]

One of recent year's most astounding performances of this kick was made in 2007 by IFK Göteborg's Andrés Vasquez during a Swedish Allsvenskan game against Örebro SK when he scored from outside the penalty area. This goal was voted Goal of the Year by both Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet's readers and by TV channel TV4's viewers. [ [http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/allsvenskan/article1210773.ab "Läsarna: Han gjorde årets mål"] sv icon] Vasquez achievement became something of a world wide phenomena, the Youtube clip [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=ltEaUSTiIZQ "Örebro SK - IFK Göteborg 0-4, Andres Vasquez"] sv icon] of it being shown more than a million times the first week after it's posting, among other things resulting in Vasquez receiveing an offer from Peruvian national squad manager José del Solar to make his debut in the Peruvian national jersey. However, Vasquez has so far declined playing for his parent's native Peru, apparently hoping for a chance to play for Sweden in the future. [ [http://www.fotbollsverige.se/news_show_peru_vill_ha_vasquez.html?id=382381 "Peru vill ha Vasquez"] sv icon]

The rabona is also a dance step used in the tango. The dance step takes its name from the football kick. [ [http://www.tangoafficionado.com/tango_terminology.htm#r tangoafficionado.com] ] Players who do this move include Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma,
Diego Maradona, Ronaldhino and Joe Cole.

References

See also

* Pele runaround move