How to Chip like Messi

Today we are learning how to chip like Messi.  This style of Messi chip is great for scoring goals and chipping the ball short distances.

Key Points:

Key Point #1:

Lock your ankle and point your toes back towards your shin.

How do I know if my ankle is locked? Good question! If I were to come out of the internet cloud and slap your foot with my hand and your toes stay up your ankle is locked. If your toes fall down to the ground like a soft old grandma who has arthritis then your ankle isn't locked. 

You want your ankle hard like a rock so when it hits the ball it bounces off your foot. It's loose like jello your foot will absorb the power and the ball won't go far. 

Key Point #2: 

Make contact underneath the ball. 

Key Point #3:

Power comes from your knee down. It's a little movement from your knee down; not a giant leg swing. 

You do not want a straight leg.

Key Point #4

DO NOT bring your thigh back to far. This will create to much power. 

Yes, if you want to chip like this for more power you could by bringing your thigh back farther but that is not what we are trying to do when we chip like Messi. Remember it's a small, soft touch. 

Key Point #5

Stick the ball of your foot into the ground on your follow through.

Your kicking foot should be next to your plant foot or slightly past it when you stick into the ground. 

DO NOT have a big follow through.

Besides almost karate kicking someone in the face by following through high you will have to much power on your chip.

Key Point #6

The ball should have backspin. 

Equipment Needed:

For this exercise you will need as many balls as you have, one cone, a goal and some type of object to act as your goalie. The object can be a bag or a bench. If you don't have a goal, no prob, just use some cones like I'm going to do. 

I'll set up this exercise like you don't have a partner, but if you do then use them. 

Exercise Player Can Do:

Start off practicing your technique from a stand still without the ball. After a few swings get the ball out and continue practicing from the ball being at a stand still. 

Once you are confident try it from a dribble. The same technique applies on the dribble, you just need to time it now with the ball moving.

Now that you have it from a dribble lets try it on goal. Set up a start cone about 25 yards from goal. Dribble up at a jog pace, imagine the goalie is coming out as you get closer, then Messi chip the object you set up to be your goalie. Light jog back and repeat the process. Go through all the balls you got and then repeat. Do a few sets. 

Start your dribble slow and as you feel more confident increase your speed. Baby steps, don't go to fast to early and mess up your chip technique. 

Bonus Tip:

Give a shot fake to get the keeper to fall down before you chip it over them. 

Ever wonder why goalies always look like they are laying down when Messi chips it over them? That's because he gives a fake like he is going to shoot low and hard, the keeper dives, Messi waits for them to dive and then he does his soft, short chip. He makes it look easy and you can too. 

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong:

Some things that could be going wrong. If your chipping it over the goal or past your target then you are swinging to hard. Remember this is a soft chip. 

If your ball doesn't have backspin then your ankle is not locked and your toes are not pointed up and back towards your shin.

This Video Covers: 
Soccer Tutorial - Soccer Passing Drills - Passing Drills for Soccer - Passing Soccer Drills - Soccer Passing - Soccer Pass - Passing in Soccer - Soccer Passing Drill - Soccer Positions - Soccer Attacking Drills - Soccer Players - Soccer Tutorial - Strikers Soccer - Soccer Striker - Soccer Forward - Soccer Skills - Soccer Drills - Soccer Tutorial - Soccer Drills for Kids - Soccer Training Drills - Youth Soccer Drills - Soccer Practice Drills - Drills for Soccer