What is the Maradona Turn?

Diego Maradona wasn’t built like a ballet dancer, but he sure moved like one, and his signature move is not unlike a pirouette. When the Argentine “Number 10” twirled over the ball in a Maradona Turn, defenders and soccer fans were left awestruck by its elegance and efficiency—it’s basically a 360-degree spin on top of the ball.

The Maradona Turn is a dribbling skill that players can use to take the ball past a defender, particularly one coming at them from an angle. The player uses their body to shield the ball from the defender, while dragging the ball into the direction they want to go.

Another name for this move is a “roulette,” because the player spins so smoothly over the ball.