What is Rabona?
It's an unusual kick where a footballer stands on one leg (usually their weaker leg) and strikes the ball with the other leg, swinging it behind the standing leg rather than in front of it.
Origin of the Rabona
There are several different stories about how the move got its name. The earliest recorded footage of a player attempting a Rabona features none other than Pelé, from 1957. But it was Giovanni Roccotelli who popularized it among football fans, and he's widely regarded in the football world as the father of the Rabona. According to Roccotelli, crossing the ball this way came naturally to him, more so than using his weaker foot. He'd been doing it since childhood, and fans would chant for a Rabona during his pre-match warm-ups.
Famous Rabonas
Until I saw Juan Sebastián Verón pull one off, I hadn't even considered that such a shot was possible in football. If Verón's was the first Rabona I ever saw in a match, then Erik Lamela's goal against Arsenal in the North London derby was the first Rabona goal I witnessed. The first one I ever found on YouTube, though, was scored by Dutch player Dave de Jong for VfL Osnabrück (third division) against SpVgg Greuther Fürth (second division) in a German Cup match in August 2005.
If you want to see more, check out this top five Rabona goals compilation:
Most Famous Miss
It's agonizing to watch Pablo Aimar miss his attempt by the finest of margins against Levante in 2005 — still the most famous miss I've seen.
Boon or Bane?
Players often resort to the Rabona when the ball falls to their weaker foot but they're too one-footed to use it comfortably. Ángel Di María is a good example — in every match I've watched him play, he's visibly reluctant to use his right foot. If he needs to cross from the right side of the field, he'll attempt a Rabona rather than simply use his right leg. That, to me, exposes a limitation rather than showcasing skill. Isn't it?
A player can strike the ball with the inside, outside, or instep of their foot — three options. If a player develops their weaker foot, those options effectively double. So it's always worth a player's time to sharpen their weaker foot rather than remain a one-footed player.