# rabona

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rabona
Updated: 2026-07-26

## Definition

a special way of kicking a ball in football where you cross one leg behind the other. You use this move to trick an opponent or to use your stronger foot when the ball is on the wrong side.

For teachers: a technique in association football where the kicking leg is crossed behind the back of the standing leg to strike the ball. Often employed as a deceptive maneuver or to compensate for a player's weaker foot.

## Examples

- The winger scored a beautiful goal with a perfectly timed rabona.
- Instead of crossing with his left foot, the striker used a rabona to send the ball into the box.
- While often dismissed as mere showmanship, the rabona can be a functional tool for a one-footed player caught at an awkward angle near the touchline.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the verbs 'perform', 'attempt', or 'execute'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.