Today's head to head : Elastico flip flap vs Maradona turn/Zidane Pirouette. Which of those 2 advance football skill is most difficult to master?

[LuckyScout78]

Today i am writing about 2 of the most advance football skill in football. Which one of those 2 is most difficult to master? And with difficult i mean "how long does it takes to master it and. Not only on the training pitch. But in football matches too.

But first i will explain 2 those football skill and a short history of those 2 skills. Like who invented those skills. The pioneer and football legend that were best known for it.


1. We start with "Elastico" or flip flap skill. Due to wikipedia. Mr.Sergio Echigo who was playing for Corinthhians 1965 -1966 who invented it. At the same time his teamate. A Brazilian legend Rivellino and aquired from mr.Echigo.

And later Brazil Ronaldo was really known for it. Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo did it in football matches and master this skill really well and effective too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sérgio_Echigo

Now. I show how this "Elastico" or "Flip flap" looks like in visual:


Mr. Rivellino:




Mr. Echigo:




Brazil Ronaldo :




The elastico is a quick, deceptive dribbling move that uses a single foot to fake out an opponent. By pushing the ball outward in one direction, then snapping it back in the opposite direction, the elastico tricks defenders into over-committing. This creates a window for the attacker to slip by and gain an advantage.

That is the description of the "Elastico " skill.




2. Maradona turn/ Roulette or Zidane "Pirouette"

A description of this skill :

The Roulette / Maradona Turn / Zidane Pirouette

• When the defender gets close, stop the ball with your feet and drag it back with your dominant foot.
• Turn 180 degrees so that your back is now facing the defender.
• Use the other feet to take the ball past the defender and complete the 360 degree turn.

To add more to description. You can do a 270 degree turn/pirouette too. Complete and 360 degree turn more difficult.

So due to wikipedia. Maradona was the invented of it. Later Zidane was really known for it. Why it was calling The Zidane Pirouette.


Now i will show this skill in visual :


Maradona :





Zidane :






And now it's time to head it up. "Elastico/Flip flap " vs "Maradona & Zidane turn/pirouette". Which of those 2 skill is most difficult to master? Take longest time to master it? And you have to pass a opponent player when you master it too. Stand still and master it and not passing any player. It will not count.
Football skill is meant to help you to pass opponent players.


I have tried to master both skill while i was playing football. An active football player. But to be honest i just gave up the "elastico" I could stand still and do the flip flap. Change the direction of the ball. But to do it in speed and to pass a opponent player. It was so so difficult. I did gave up.

The Zidane was more easily to master it. First, compare to the elastico skill. With a 360 degree turn. You can still use both feets. You control and dribble with 2 feets.
With a good football coordination. Good balance. And if you are doing and practising martial art. Like Tae Kwon Do. Ballett dancing/ Ice skate dancing. In those sports where you are doing a lot of 360 degree turning.
This skill will take lesser time and easier to master.

One more thing is. You are not showboating a pirouette. Like a overhead kick skill. It is because "a rigth moment" to do a pirouette. Close to "have to do " moment. To pass and get away from opponent players.
Compare to the "elastico "....It is not a "you have to situation/moment". You can do others tricks and just drop it and use your top explosiveness and top speed to pass opponent players.


And when you have mastered both those 2 skills. The level of effectiveness/efficience is the same. All previous football legends made those 2 skills looked really effective on the football pitch/ on the match day.


But again. To combine the skill + with the top speed and acceleration to get away or pass opponent players. With only one feet.
I will conclude:


+ Most difficult/take longest time to master :

Elastico/flip flap > Maradona/Zidane turn/pirouette







I have done and master all kind of Piouette/degree turn.


A example of a 270 degree turn/piouette:

The ball was on the way of the left sideline and i knew i had one opponent right behind my back. And to keep the ball still in playing, but at the same time turn and have the direction towards opponent goal. I put the right foot sole on the ball, drag it back a bit. So my left foot sole can drag the ball in the direction i want, which is against opponent goal. And i did get away the opponent player who follow right behind my back too.


left side line
I
I
I
I
I o--<---Me trying to keep the ball in the game --opponent player behind my back. It is like a "L". It's looks like a 90 degree turn. But it is a 270 degree turn.
The ball

Beside playing football. I had same came from and had same kung fu master as Cantona and Zlatan. So i think it might help some. To master all kind of pirouette. Because i used to turn a lot in Tae Kwon Do. When i learn to master a kick after a 360 degree turn or 180 degree turn.

But with football and a pirouette. I think doing a 180 degree turn is not effective. Because if you only do a 180 degree turn. You will end up running with your back against opponent goal. So why i think i will not be effective to do a 180 degree turn.


And to end this article and head to head up:

One of the reason why i gave up to master "Elastico " skill was i knew i could easily pass opponent players and defenders with top explosiveness and acceleration. I was a lot quicker in the first metres. So i use it as my advantage.

Imagine playing against Rio and Vidic. Rio is "an elephant " & Vidic "The Tank " They are rock solid and robust. But you imagine who quick they turn around and change of direction. And if you small and little as a "mouse"....Which abilities and skill will you use?

Just an example. Playing against big and slow defenders. And you have quicker acceleration. Like the Brazil Ronaldo has. Most of the time he just passed CBs and defenders with his top acceleration and explosiveness.


I think i will end it here and wish all the readers a great weekend


P.S By doing research about the Elastico. I got to known the football legend Echigo and Rivellino. I didn't knew who they were before the research. So great legends. They like Zidane and Brazil Ronaldo were using the foot sole a lot. Like futsal and street football players. And i did it too. The foot sole dragging. A lovely, funny and effective football skill.

 

[Nani Nana]

But with football and a pirouette. I think doing a 180 degree turn is not effective. Because if you only do a 180 degree turn. You will end up running with your back against opponent goal. So why i think i will not be effective to do a 180 degree turn.
.

Solid insight

 

[Lynty]

Elastico is harder to learn

Roulette harder to master, and generally the more useful skill

 

[didz]

Zidane pirouette.. urgh..

Half of the time Zidane used it he didn't use it for anything at all. Nobody around him, no rhyme or reason to it. If anything it slowed his game down more often than not. Maradona used it really well, often backing into a marker and taking them out of the game with it, then getting space infront of him. The worst thing about Zidane's game was probably his overuse of that bloody pirouette.

The elastico wins because I've never seen anyone do it with nobody around him. Zidane killed the pirouette.

 

[Querulous Megapode]

Messi's one elastico wasn't shabby either:

Zidane pirouette.. urgh..

Half of the time Zidane used it he didn't use it for anything at all. Nobody around him, no rhyme or reason to it. If anything it slowed his game down more often than not. Maradona used it really well, often backing into a marker and taking them out of the game with it, then getting space infront of him. The worst thing about Zidane's game was probably his overuse of that bloody pirouette.

The elastico wins because I've never seen anyone do it with nobody around him. Zidane killed the pirouette.

I was never the biggest Zidane fan around, but that description is... unkind.

Yamal's the first player I've seen regularly pull off the roulette in a while (I'm sure I may have missed someone -- does Bellingham use it often?), and always for a reason. Furstratingly, the highlight videos tend to leave that last bit out.

 

[didz]

Messi's one elastico wasn't shabby either:




I was never the biggest Zidane fan around, but that description is... unkind.

Yamal's the first player I've seen regularly pull off the roulette in a while (I'm sure I may have missed someone -- does Bellingham use it often?), and always for a reason. Furstratingly, the highlight videos tend to leave that last bit out.

Thing is, I love Zidane. Best technique on the planet for years and a far more combative player than he's ever given credit for. But the amount of times you saw him do the old spin for no reason is ridiculous.

 

[Salt Bailly]

It is like a L.

 

[Scandi Red]

I never thought I'd say this, but LuckyScout; I'm confused!

 

[Arlo]

I'm trying to remember if Ronaldinho ever used the flip flap? I seem to remember him pulling off some really impressive move to get past an opponent while he was at Barcelona where I couldn't figure out what I'd just seen

 

[Andycoleno9]

Master of elastico was R9.

 

[Top_Bins]

Great thread.
Had no idea about Echigo.

 

[Skills]

Pirouette looks much better when tall players do it.

 

[Querulous Megapode]

The elastico always seemed like a very broadly defined move, to be fair. Just shift the ball twice with one foot well enough, and you're potentially clear in some quarters.

 

[Fobal]

A bit of a side note, but I never really buy the whole invented thing regarding skills. It's a very grey subject, the great majority of the players got some skill from another fella and few things are new under the sun while others at some point get sadly forgotten.

I get thought that if a player uses a certain skill a lot, it kind of becomes his trademark, mostly if that player gets a lot of exposure.

In the next awesome video (it's even funny too, Chaplinesque in some way) you can see lots of River's "La Maquina" players in the 40's, already doing the Cryuff turn (from 4:00), the original and real Bycicle ("Bicicleta" from 8:52 BTW stepovers shouldn't be call a bycicle) that sadly it's very rarely used and for me it's a very effective and aesthetically pleasent skill and the odd Marianela (from 9:31) that also it's very very rarely used these days.



PD: The great Hagi at 60 pulling out some sort of Marianela near the end (0:38)

 

[Fobal]

The elastico always seemed like a very broadly defined move, to be fair. Just shift the ball twice with one foot well enough, and you're potentially clear in some quarters.

Also like many skills, it has its variations, with less or more movement, with less or more ankle display...even sometimes even not being entirely an elastico, some players just step on the ball creating the same leg shifting effect, with a faster result. Diego and Messi used this last one quite a lot, Redondo too and even tend to passed the ball a lot with a similar effect.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

I'm sure Pele pioneered all them skills, yet Maradona/Zidane get credit with the name.

 

[simonhch]

Elástico is way harder, and better than the pirouette. Even I can do a decent pirouette and I’m rubbish. I remember Fellaini doing a world class pirouette in midfield against Man City. It’s a really basic skill, although can be really effective when used right.

An elástico at speed, speed being the key word, is so much harder. No one did it better than the OG Ronaldo, before or since.

Thing is, I love Zidane. Best technique on the planet for years and a far more combative player than he's ever given credit for. But the amount of times you saw him do the old spin for no reason is ridiculous.

I love this description of Zidane. I think his game changed somewhat as his profile grew, and with age, but in his mid twenties, he wasn’t just a technical master but he was a combative industrious midfielder. It’s what made him so good. He wasn’t just some hyper skilled flake in the hole, he was an all round brilliant CM who could dribble past people with ease, produce a worldie pass, and stick a tackle in and close people down. As time wore on he moved further forward and became less industrious, but mid to late nineties era Zidane, at Juve, was the complete midfielder.

 

[Fobal]

I'm sure Pele pioneered all them skills, yet Maradona/Zidane get credit with the name.

Nope, I recently watched a video claiming that Pele almost inveneted football, it never worked like that.
I've just posted a 1940's clip with even skills that no longer are used so much.

There's very little new under the sun, what actually happens is that some skills add variations, are combine, some are invented by not famous players and a more famous one got the recognition of it. It's a very grey area.

 

[HisNameIsEarl]

Could you also do a comparison of the "Neymar floor Pirouette" and the "Rivaldo corner Flip Flap"?

 

[Fobal]

Elástico is way harder, and better than the pirouette. Even I can do a decent pirouette and I’m rubbish. I remember Fellaini doing a world class pirouette in midfield against Man City. It’s a really basic skill, although can be really effective when used right.

An elástico at speed, speed being the key word, is so much harder. No one did it better than the OG Ronaldo, before or since.



I love this description of Zidane. I think his game changed somewhat as his profile grew, and with age, but in his mid twenties, he wasn’t just a technical master but he was a combative industrious midfielder. It’s what made him so good. He wasn’t just some hyper skilled flake in the hole, he was an all round brilliant CM who could dribble past people with ease, produce a worldie pass, and stick a tackle in and close people down. As time wore on he moved further forward and became less industrious, but mid to late nineties era Zidane, at Juve, was the complete midfielder.

It's not that black or white, there are always nuances with everything.
The thing with the roulette it's that it becomes a lot more difficult when you do it full at throtle (or even at normal speed when surrounded) and without actually loosing your awarness of where the heck you are and what to do next, that's why many players do not even try it, you can easily fell like a clown or loose your compass looking very silly without balance or end worse than before the skill if not knowing when and how to pull it out.
It's no mistery than only very gifted players, with great balance and great manage of time and space are always the ones that use it more or improvised it all of a sudden, even if like you've said, it's not precisly an extremely difficult skill the maneuver itself.

Also some players had pulled a backheel nutmeg with a roulette and that it's even harder. I do think that doing an elastico a la R9 at full speed, it's amazing and so pleasent on the eye and I preffer a move, skill with the player always facing forward with more control of the situation.

 

[HisNameIsEarl]

Could you also do a comparison of the "Neymar floor Pirouette" and the "Rivaldo corner Flip Flap"?

Well, I just asked chatgpt for it. Not only did he seem to know luckyscout78, it felt like he could really imitate his style, although I'd still prefer the original. But here's what I got:

------

1. Neymar Floor Pirouette: Theatrics at its Finest​

• GIF-worthy moment:
  Neymar, hit with the lightest of brushes (or maybe the wind), executes his signature floor pirouette. He rolls… and rolls… and rolls, leaving fans wondering if gravity took a personal vendetta against him. The ref’s whistle? Blows like clockwork.
• How it works:
  • The Setup: A defender comes in for a challenge—be it a real foul, a soft nudge, or sometimes just an aggressive stare.
  • The Execution: Neymar hits the deck, spins like a roulette wheel, clutching random body parts for added effect. The secret sauce? Timing it right to pressure the referee while frustrating opponents.
• Why it’s spicy:
  It’s not just a flop; it’s an artful distraction. Neymar knows when to sell the drama and disrupt the game’s flow, often turning these moments into crucial fouls or cards for opponents. Bonus points for triggering meme-worthy reactions.
• Memorable Case Study:
  The 2018 World Cup versus Mexico. Neymar’s floor pirouette made more headlines than the actual scoreline. The internet? It exploded with replays and parodies.

---

2. Rivaldo Corner Flip Flap: From Knee Tap to World-Class Drama​

• GIF-worthy moment:
  World Cup 2002, Brazil vs. Turkey. Rivaldo’s at the corner flag, waiting for the ball to restart play. The ball is kicked toward him, hits his knee, and he crumbles, clutching his face like he just took a Mike Tyson uppercut. The Turkish player? Straight red card. Rivaldo? Unbothered as Brazil cruises to victory.
• How it works:
  • The Setup: Rivaldo, the master of cunning, positions himself to bait the opponent into frustration.
  • The Execution: The ball makes contact—harmlessly, of course—but Rivaldo’s reaction is Oscar-worthy. He grabs his face, falls to the ground, and writhes in apparent agony, leaving refs with little choice but to intervene.
• Why it’s spicy:
  This wasn’t just drama; it was game-changing drama. Rivaldo turned an innocuous situation into a decisive moment, tilting the game in Brazil’s favor. Sure, it’s controversial, but it’s also genius in its own way.
• Memorable Case Study:
  The move itself is the case study. Rivaldo vs. Turkey is the prime example of tactical acting turned into a game-winning strategy.

---

Side-by-Side Breakdown​

Trait	Neymar Floor Pirouette	Rivaldo Corner Flip Flap
Vibe	“Am I hurt? Or am I just that dramatic?”	“Theater meets tactical chess.”
Execution Difficulty	3/5 – The roll’s easy; selling it is an art.	4/5 – Timing the clutch is key to success.
Humiliation Factor	4/5 – Frustrates opponents and entertains fans.	5/5 – Opponent gets a red card; enough said.
Utility	2/5 – Great for time-wasting or earning fouls.	4/5 – Tactical advantage and mind games.
Best Seen In	Tense knockouts, meme compilations.	World Cup drama, football folklore.

---

The Verdict: Theater Kings of Football​

• Neymar’s Floor Pirouette is a meme-making machine and a masterclass in trolling defenders. It's flashy, fun, and undeniably annoying.
• Rivaldo’s Corner Flip Flap, however, is next-level deception. It wasn’t just showmanship—it shifted the game’s momentum and wrote itself into football history books.

Both moments show us that football isn’t just about skills—it’s about the drama we love to hate.

---

Bonus GIF Descriptions:​

1. Neymar doing his floor pirouette, with defenders glaring in disbelief and fans divided between boos and cheers. Drama-level? Over 9000.
2. Rivaldo’s Corner Flip Flap, where he collapses like a Shakespearean actor after the ball brushes his knee, while the ref pulls out the red. Savage and strategic.

Who’s the real king of drama for you?

 

[Malkovich]

The elastico is much, much harder to execute than a roulette. If you disagree, you never played football.

 

[devilsadvoca8]

I mastered the Zidan pirouette but it also lead to me having to stop playing football. Used it to evade a player on the right wing, drove into the middle, feeling myself I said ill do it again. This time I went past the player but on back end of the turn, he studded by ankle, broken ankle pour moi.

 

[didz]

Elástico is way harder, and better than the pirouette. Even I can do a decent pirouette and I’m rubbish. I remember Fellaini doing a world class pirouette in midfield against Man City. It’s a really basic skill, although can be really effective when used right.

An elástico at speed, speed being the key word, is so much harder. No one did it better than the OG Ronaldo, before or since.



I love this description of Zidane. I think his game changed somewhat as his profile grew, and with age, but in his mid twenties, he wasn’t just a technical master but he was a combative industrious midfielder. It’s what made him so good. He wasn’t just some hyper skilled flake in the hole, he was an all round brilliant CM who could dribble past people with ease, produce a worldie pass, and stick a tackle in and close people down. As time wore on he moved further forward and became less industrious, but mid to late nineties era Zidane, at Juve, was the complete midfielder.

His profile definitely is incredibly underrated. He could take the ball of you and wonder why you had it in the first place. An absolute magician. But I still think his pirouettes were shit.

 

[didz]

The best Zidane I ever saw was at Juventus. And I was a kid at the time, so the fact he could give the likes of Edgar Davids and Gattuso a lesson on how to be a bastard while also springing through balls to Del Piero and Trezeguet - he could do everything.

At Madrid they tried to make him a pure 10. Why? Best midfielder you've ever seen and you immediately try to make him an attacker? Zidane's beat quality wasn't that he could turn around on the ball - it was that whatever happened you wanted a midfielder to do everything he could do that and 3 other jobs, then ask you where you wanted the ball places for the match winning goal.

We don't have enough "he can do everything" players in the modern game.

 

[HisNameIsEarl]

And as I was already at it:

-----

Today’s Head-to-Head: Zidane vs. Materazzi​

Let’s dive into the ultimate showdown from the 2006 World Cup Final, where artistry met antagonism, and history was written in the blink of a… head.

---

1. Zidane: The Maestro with a Touch of Madness​

• Vibe:
  Picture a man who glides through midfield like a poet writing verse, yet can flip the script into raw, unfiltered emotion. Zidane isn’t just a player; he’s a force of nature. His legacy? Cemented with moments of brilliance and that final moment of fury.
• Stats for the Day:
  • 89th minute: Scores a Panenka penalty in a World Cup Final. Who even does that?!
  • Minute 110: Delivers the most infamous headbutt in football history. Accuracy? 100%.
  • Overall: Controlled the midfield, creating waves of attack, and still found time to settle scores—literally.
• Why we remember him:
  Zidane’s mix of elegance and rage encapsulates what makes football iconic. The man painted masterpieces on the pitch, then tore them down to remind us he was human.

---

2. Materazzi: The Provocateur Extraordinaire​

• Vibe:
  Think of a defender who treats every duel as a personal vendetta. Materazzi was more than just physical—he was psychological warfare in a football kit. He knew how to unsettle opponents, and Zidane? He took the bait.
• Stats for the Day:
  • 1 goal: Yep, Materazzi leveled the score with a towering header, proving he wasn’t just a trash-talker.
  • Countless barbs: He whispered, he prodded, and he unleashed the words that would spark the fire.
  • Final record: Walked off with a World Cup medal and left Zidane with a red card. Job. Done.
• Why we remember him:
  Materazzi turned one moment of chaos into an entire nation’s triumph. He’s the villain you love to hate, but his dark art of provocation? Effective.

---

Key Moments: The Battle Breakdown​

• The Goal Duel:
  Zidane’s Panenka penalty was pure audacity. Materazzi’s header was raw grit. Two players, two different philosophies—both delivered on the biggest stage.
• The Provocation:
  Materazzi whispers something (allegedly involving Zidane’s sister), and the seeds of chaos are sown.
• The Headbutt Heard Around the World:
  Zidane, cool and collected just minutes earlier, turns and plants his bald, beautiful dome squarely into Materazzi’s chest. Materazzi collapses like a tower of bricks, the crowd gasps, and the ref flashes red. Drama doesn’t get better than this.

---

Side-by-Side Breakdown​

Trait	Zidane	Materazzi
Vibe	“Elegance on the edge of explosion”	“Villainous mastermind”
Skill Factor	10/10 – Panenka + midfield dominance.	6/10 – Physical presence and clutch header.
Drama Factor	11/10 – Headbutt makes global headlines.	12/10 – Orchestrates the ultimate meltdown.
Legacy	“A flawed genius, immortal in football lore.”	“The antagonist who won it all.”

---

Final Verdict: Who Won the Day?​

• Zidane’s performance was pure artistry marred by one impulsive act. He controlled the game, scored a stunner, but left the pitch in disgrace. A tragic hero.
• Materazzi? He got under Zidane’s skin, delivered the mental KO, and left with the World Cup. In the head-to-head, Materazzi played the long game and won.

---

What’s your take? Was Zidane’s headbutt justified, or did Materazzi play the perfect villain? Let the debate rage on!

 

[Arlo]

Well, I just asked chatgpt for it. Not only did he seem to know luckyscout78, it felt like he could really imitate his style, although I'd still prefer the original. But here's what I got:

------

1. Neymar Floor Pirouette: Theatrics at its Finest​

• GIF-worthy moment:
  Neymar, hit with the lightest of brushes (or maybe the wind), executes his signature floor pirouette. He rolls… and rolls… and rolls, leaving fans wondering if gravity took a personal vendetta against him. The ref’s whistle? Blows like clockwork.
• How it works:
  • The Setup: A defender comes in for a challenge—be it a real foul, a soft nudge, or sometimes just an aggressive stare.
  • The Execution: Neymar hits the deck, spins like a roulette wheel, clutching random body parts for added effect. The secret sauce? Timing it right to pressure the referee while frustrating opponents.
• Why it’s spicy:
  It’s not just a flop; it’s an artful distraction. Neymar knows when to sell the drama and disrupt the game’s flow, often turning these moments into crucial fouls or cards for opponents. Bonus points for triggering meme-worthy reactions.
• Memorable Case Study:
  The 2018 World Cup versus Mexico. Neymar’s floor pirouette made more headlines than the actual scoreline. The internet? It exploded with replays and parodies.

---

2. Rivaldo Corner Flip Flap: From Knee Tap to World-Class Drama​

• GIF-worthy moment:
  World Cup 2002, Brazil vs. Turkey. Rivaldo’s at the corner flag, waiting for the ball to restart play. The ball is kicked toward him, hits his knee, and he crumbles, clutching his face like he just took a Mike Tyson uppercut. The Turkish player? Straight red card. Rivaldo? Unbothered as Brazil cruises to victory.
• How it works:
  • The Setup: Rivaldo, the master of cunning, positions himself to bait the opponent into frustration.
  • The Execution: The ball makes contact—harmlessly, of course—but Rivaldo’s reaction is Oscar-worthy. He grabs his face, falls to the ground, and writhes in apparent agony, leaving refs with little choice but to intervene.
• Why it’s spicy:
  This wasn’t just drama; it was game-changing drama. Rivaldo turned an innocuous situation into a decisive moment, tilting the game in Brazil’s favor. Sure, it’s controversial, but it’s also genius in its own way.
• Memorable Case Study:
  The move itself is the case study. Rivaldo vs. Turkey is the prime example of tactical acting turned into a game-winning strategy.

---

Side-by-Side Breakdown​

Trait	Neymar Floor Pirouette	Rivaldo Corner Flip Flap
Vibe	“Am I hurt? Or am I just that dramatic?”	“Theater meets tactical chess.”
Execution Difficulty	3/5 – The roll’s easy; selling it is an art.	4/5 – Timing the clutch is key to success.
Humiliation Factor	4/5 – Frustrates opponents and entertains fans.	5/5 – Opponent gets a red card; enough said.
Utility	2/5 – Great for time-wasting or earning fouls.	4/5 – Tactical advantage and mind games.
Best Seen In	Tense knockouts, meme compilations.	World Cup drama, football folklore.

---

The Verdict: Theater Kings of Football​

• Neymar’s Floor Pirouette is a meme-making machine and a masterclass in trolling defenders. It's flashy, fun, and undeniably annoying.
• Rivaldo’s Corner Flip Flap, however, is next-level deception. It wasn’t just showmanship—it shifted the game’s momentum and wrote itself into football history books.

Both moments show us that football isn’t just about skills—it’s about the drama we love to hate.

---

Bonus GIF Descriptions:​

1. Neymar doing his floor pirouette, with defenders glaring in disbelief and fans divided between boos and cheers. Drama-level? Over 9000.
2. Rivaldo’s Corner Flip Flap, where he collapses like a Shakespearean actor after the ball brushes his knee, while the ref pulls out the red. Savage and strategic.

Who’s the real king of drama for you?

Your mention of Neymar's theatrics reminded me of this

 

[Arlo]

The best Zidane I ever saw was at Juventus. And I was a kid at the time, so the fact he could give the likes of Edgar Davids and Gattuso a lesson on how to be a bastard while also springing through balls to Del Piero and Trezeguet - he could do everything.

At Madrid they tried to make him a pure 10. Why? Best midfielder you've ever seen and you immediately try to make him an attacker? Zidane's beat quality wasn't that he could turn around on the ball - it was that whatever happened you wanted a midfielder to do everything he could do that and 3 other jobs, then ask you where you wanted the ball places for the match winning goal.

We don't have enough "he can do everything" players in the modern game.

We don't even have that many players that are considered to have truly mastered one thing. Jacks of all trades, masters of none.

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

People trying to Zidane into Lothar Matthaus or Di Stefano in here. This box to box powerhouse complete midfielder version never existed. Sure, his workrate and defensive ability was good enough not to be a liability, and avoided having to play him as a second striker/forward'ish ten, but it was still within the regions of plenty of other world-level 80s/90s creative attacking midfielders. He had an edge to him as a player, but he wasn't some complete midfielder going over and above expectations with lots of dirty work. The guy had spent almost his entire career surrounded by multiple workhorses and defensive minded, hard running midfielders. Not just one, but literally surrounded with them, until the post-Makelele Madrid.

 

[didz]

We don't even have that many players that are considered to have truly mastered one thing. Jacks of all trades, masters of none.

I call bullshit. Mazraoui clearly is more than comfortable in the ball, sois Licha. He's so good with it that the opposition switch h to man marking whenever he has the ball. That should open gaps for us, but Licha pretty much turned down about 3 attack in the opening 10 minutes. Genuine question, because I'm not sure why that happened?

Honestly, forget 343/4231/4421, they're all the fecking same when you have the ball. Why our player are acting like they're learning trigonometry for the first time after years of being told it's just magic. For fusk sake it's a City who keep losing and we all morbidly accept it. Amorim said it would be painful a d take time. He's quite obviously been treating December as an extended preseason momanagers don't normally do that .

 

[100]

The Antony Spin and the seal dribble (famously executed by players like Kerlon, a Brazilian midfielder) are both iconic skills in football, but they differ significantly in execution, purpose, and impact. Here’s a detailed comparison:





1. Execution


• Antony Spin:


• A ground-based, 360-degree spin move.


• Involves maintaining control of the ball at your feet while turning to evade opponents.


• Relies on agility, balance, and timing.


• Seal Dribble:


• A ball-on-head dribble performed by repeatedly bouncing the ball on the head while running.


• It’s aerial and requires excellent ball control, balance, and awareness of your surroundings.





2. Purpose


• Antony Spin:


• Aims to confuse defenders and create space on the ground.


• Often used in midfield or attacking areas to break through tight defenses.


• Practical in tight spaces but also a flair move that excites crowds.


• Seal Dribble:


• Primarily a flair move to bypass opponents, often by exploiting their inability to deal with high, bouncing balls.


• It draws fouls because defenders typically react by tackling the player illegally due to frustration.


• Less about practical gameplay and more about showmanship or tactical disruption.





3. Key Attributes for Success


• Antony Spin:


• Requires quick feet, sharp directional change, and low center of gravity.


• Works best when performed with confidence and precise timing.


• Seal Dribble:


• Demands perfect coordination, neck strength, and balance to maintain control while running.


• Requires a player who can anticipate and withstand physical challenges from defenders.





4. Effectiveness in the Game


• Antony Spin:


• Effective as a part of gameplay when used to escape pressure or open up passing/shooting lanes.


• Risky if overused as it can seem wasteful or provoke criticism for showboating.


• Seal Dribble:


• Highly situational and rarely used in professional games due to its impracticality.


• Often provokes fouls, but if stopped, it leaves the player in a vulnerable position.





5. Cultural and Iconic Impact


• Antony Spin:


• Associated with modern Brazilian flair, popularized in Europe through Antony’s performances.


• Criticized by some for being unnecessary but loved for its entertainment value.


• Seal Dribble:


• A legendary move in football folklore, epitomizing Brazilian creativity.


• Less seen in today’s game due to its impractical nature and risk of physical retaliation.





Who Wins?


• For game effectiveness, the Antony Spin is more versatile and practical in professional football.


• For flair and audacity, the Seal Dribble remains unmatched, embodying pure Brazilian street football creativity.





Both moves are iconic in their own right, and their impact depends on the situation and the player’s personality.

 

[Querulous Megapode]

People trying to Zidane into Lothar Matthaus or Di Stefano in here. This box to box powerhouse complete midfielder version never existed. Sure, his workrate and defensive ability was good enough not to be a liability, and avoided having to play him as a second striker/forward'ish ten, but it was still within the regions of plenty of other world-level 80s/90s creative attacking midfielders. He had an edge to him as a player, but he wasn't some complete midfielder going over and above expectations with lots of dirty work. The guy had spent almost his entire career surrounded by multiple workhorses and defensive minded, hard running midfielders. Not just one, but literally surrounded with them, until the post-Makelele Madrid.

I was down with the original description of "combative" -- he was sly, much more positionally diciplined than people give him credit for, and occasionally confrontational, and looking back at footage from the Nineties, he so often seemed to pull off difficult maneuvers with a defender blatantly grabbing at his shirt. But this idea that he was ever very energetic or hard-working is at best misguided, IMO. I badly want to say it was a common criticism of him at the time, but I think I've seen some people put some effort into attempting to dispute that (albeit probably more on the inconsistency front).

In terms of function in that Juve team, Iniesta under Guardiola is probably a fairly apt comparison in most ways, but Zidane never had anywhere like his commitment, on or off the ball. (And very likely simply didn't have that kind of stamina).

 

[harms]

People trying to Zidane into Lothar Matthaus or Di Stefano in here. This box to box powerhouse complete midfielder version never existed. Sure, his workrate and defensive ability was good enough not to be a liability, and avoided having to play him as a second striker/forward'ish ten, but it was still within the regions of plenty of other world-level 80s/90s creative attacking midfielders. He had an edge to him as a player, but he wasn't some complete midfielder going over and above expectations with lots of dirty work. The guy had spent almost his entire career surrounded by multiple workhorses and defensive minded, hard running midfielders. Not just one, but literally surrounded with them, until the post-Makelele Madrid.

Yeah, there’s a difference between combative and hard-working. He certainly was the former but to say that he was the latter would be a stretch… he wasn’t bad but nothing to write home about. A slightly upgraded version of Cantona who also liked physical confrontation but rarely tracked back, at least not consistently.

 

[SilentWitness]

I use the Zidane one most weeks in 5 a side. 70% of the time I'm too slow now for the 20 year olds in our league but on the 30% of the occasions it does work I feel like a genius.