Nicking the ball off your opponent
- aaronptighe
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
It’s a great feeling when you get one up on your opponent. One of the best ways to do this is to steal, or nick, the ball off them. It’s a cat-and-mouse moment: you can miss, they can escape, or you can be the catalyst for your team in turning over the ball and getting on the attack.
So, how best can you consistently achieve this skill?
1) You need to read the game and be one or two steps ahead in your thinking. Is your opponent in a position to receive the ball? If so, are you in a position to get close to them when they do receive it? If not, get to that position.
2) As the ball travels towards them, think ahead about where their first touch will take the ball and move into a position where you can get close.
3) Stay hidden as long as possible. For example, if you are behind them as the ball comes to their foot (left or right), don’t let them think you are stepping in front of them.
4) As their touch pushes the ball away, pounce to the place where you anticipated the ball would be, and reach out to step between the ball and your opponent as you nick it away.
5) Be physically strong as you step in. Be ready for the shoulder, arms, push, and shove of your opponent.
6) Move super-fast, your burst forward in momentum will give you a head start from their more stationary position.
If you are in a one-on-one situation and the player is facing you, with the ball already under control, then you need to pick your moment.
1) Tricky attackers sometimes wait for your foot to move and then shift the ball quickly away.
2) Watch for a moment when they aren’t quite in control.
3) Be aggressive and strong as you step in to nick the ball, and be ready to adjust and recover if they shift it.
4) Come at the ball with your feet diagonally positioned to avoid a nutmeg.
5) Don’t give up, even if they do a Messi on you and somehow skin you, keep going. There aren’t many like Messi 🙂
Forwards – the “Pressing Thieves”
These players don’t wait for mistakes, they manufacture them.
Sadio Mané
One of the best ever at this.
Steals the ball as the defender is receiving it
Famous goals directly from nicks off centre-backs
Times blind-side presses perfectly
Heung-min Son
Deadly at ghosting in behind and nicking first touches
Especially dangerous when full-backs receive side-on
Gabriel Jesus
Relentless, chaotic presser
Doesn’t just tackle — he steals while moving forward
Julián Álvarez
Reads centre-backs like a book
Exceptional at stepping in just as the ball arrives
Wingers – the “Blind-Side Assassins”
Mohamed Salah
Targets the first touch not the tackle
Constantly nicks off centre-backs trying to open their body
Vinícius Jr
Aggressive on recovery runs
Will sprint 40 metres to steal rather than foul
Rafael Leão
Looks lazy — isn’t.
Waits, then explodes into the defender’s blind spot.
Midfielders – the “Pickpockets”
N’Golo Kanté (prime years)
The GOAT of nicking.
Didn’t tackle, he removed the ball from people’s lives.
Rodri
Intercepts by stepping through the opponent, not into them.
Elite at nicking from behind when players open their body.
Bernardo Silva
Presses with intent.
Steals while already turning forward.
Federico Valverde
Huge closing speed + physical dominance = constant nicks in transition.
Defenders – the “Silent Killers”
Virgil van Dijk
Doesn’t dive.
Waits for the heavy touch, then calmly takes the ball.
William Saliba
Exceptional at stepping through strikers instead of tackling them.
Rúben Dias
Hyper-aggressive on poor first touches inside the box.
One2Pro:
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Be the One!
Aaron Tighe
Founder, One2Pro
*What It Takes. Available on major retailers in hardcopy, eBook and audio.
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