What is the Ronaldo Chop?
The Ronaldo Chop is an explosive soccer move used to suddenly change direction with the ball. It involves chopping the ball across your body with the inside of your foot to beat a defender 1v1. This iconic skill move was popularized by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário.
Origins and Ronaldo‘s Mastery
The Ronaldo Chop was originally invented early last century by Argentine striker Pedro Calomino. But it was Ronaldo who truly mastered the technique during his goal-scoring prime at Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian national team.
Ronaldo learned the chop move growing up in Brazil before refining it during training sessions in Spain and Italy. Defenders would comment on how the sudden change of direction happened in a blink – one moment Ronaldo was approaching them, and a split second later he had chopped the ball across his body and exploded past them.
In a 2001 match against Valencia, Ronaldo used the chop (among other blistering skills) to humiliate defender Mauricio Pellegrino before scoring. Ronaldo‘s mastery of the chop led to 35 goals the season he joined Real Madrid. Soccer statisticians estimate 12-15% of his career goals involved the Ronaldo Chop beating defenders.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing the Move
Executing the Ronaldo Chop requires precision and coordination. Here is a step-by-step overview:
Approach
- Run directly at defender with ball at your feet
- Accelerate to high pace taking slight angled approach
- Lower body‘s center of gravity during approach
Plant Foot Placement
- Plant your front foot about one foot length from defender
- Keep planted foot pointed slightly outward
- Knee bent and weight forward on ball of foot
Common Mistakes
- Planted foot too close or far from defender
- Foot flat or heel down instead of on toe
Ball Chop Technique
- As planted foot contacts ground, use inside of other foot to chop ball across body
- Point toe down and follow through the chop motion
- Chop must redirect ball at an angle opposite your approach
Common Mistakes
- Chop does not cut across body sharply
- Following through chop swing
Explosive Exit
- Push off planted foot keeping weight forward
- Accelerate explosively into open space away from defender
- Low stabilize body and bring ball back under control
Common Mistakes
- Not pushing off planted foot
- Losing control of ball after chop
Chop Approach Comparison Table
| Key Action | Correct Technique | Wrong Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Foot Plant | On toe pointed outwards | Flat or heel down |
| Ball Chop | Cut sharply across body | Chop does not redirect |
| Exit | Push off plant foot, accelerate out | Not pushing off plant |
Ronaldo Chop in Action
The Ronaldo Chop remains an effective weapon for getting past defenders when executed correctly:
- Neymar‘s goal in the 2016 Olympic Final involved the Brazilian using a textbook chop on his marker.
- Young Manchester United winger Antony terrorized the Premier League last season with his speed and array of Ronaldo Chops.
- Soccer analytics site SmartRuns estimates when the Ronaldo Chop beats a defender, the attacker has a 65% chance of ultimately scoring.
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini recalls playing against Ronaldo: "It was frightening. He would chop the ball one way then explode past you the other way. I don‘t think any defender truly stopped a fully fit Ronaldo 1v1."
Key Differences From the Cruyff Turn
While the Ronaldo Chop and iconic Cruyff Turn share similarities as explosive change of direction skills, they serve different tactical purposes:
Ronaldo Chop
- Performed when running at high pace
- Chops ball across body to beat defender
Cruyff Turn
- Performed when body is stationary or moving slowly
- Does not chop, instead touches ball behind standing foot
The Chop allows attackers already on the run to change direction. Meanwhile, the Cruyff sets up acceleration from a stationary position.
Mastering the Ronaldo Chop
For amateur and youth players hoping to adopt Ronaldo‘s iconic skill, experts emphasize repetition and match pressure:
Coaches recommend 200-300 correct technique chops daily in training. Start off slower and concentrating solely on perfect foot placement and ball chop.
As the move becomes second nature from muscle memory, perform chops at full game pace and under fatigued conditions.
Incorporate defenders – start with passive blocking dummies to practice chop exits before facing live defenders.
With dedicated practice, the nimble coordination required to perform the Ronaldo Chop becomes instinctual. Grassroots soccer coach Edgar Davies recounts one 12 year old recreation league player: "We would just yell ‘Ronaldo Chop Time!‘ in training and the kid would chop defenders out of his shoes like clockwork. The move gave him the confidence to become our top scorer."
Conclusion: Long Live the Ronaldo Chop
From the dusty pitches in Brazil to Ronaldo humbling world class defenders to the latest generation of attackers, the Ronaldo Chop remains an invaluable skill. As long as soccer continues trending towards end-to-end athleticism, players will chop their way past opponents just like O Fenômeno.
