The Origins of the ‘Paradinha’
The stutter-step penalty, often referred to as the “paradinha” or “little stop” in Portuguese, has a long history in soccer, with its origins believed to be in Brazil during the late 1950s and early 1960s. This technique involves a player feinting or slowing their run as they approach the ball, aiming to deceive the goalkeeper into moving in a particular direction. One of the earliest proponents of this move was Pelé, who, in his autobiography “My Story,” claimed to have developed the ploy after observing Didi in a training session in 1959. Pelé noted that Didi would pause just before striking the ball to observe the goalkeeper’s movement, gaining an advantage.
The move’s objective is to create uncertainty for the goalkeeper, making them commit to a dive before the ball is struck. This “goalkeeper-dependent technique” is considered sophisticated but carries inherent risks. Over the decades, many players have adopted this style, including notable figures such as Neymar Jr., Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé.
Evolution and Regulations
The theatrical nature of the stutter-step penalty has made it a subject of debate. While it can showcase a player’s skill and cunning, it has also led to criticism, particularly when players fail to convert their attempts. The technique gained significant attention when Neymar, at the age of 18, executed an extreme version for his club team Santos. He came to a complete standstill before striking the ball, prompting soccer’s lawmaking officials to amend the regulations ahead of the World Cup in South Africa. Initially, feinting just before striking the ball could result in a yellow card and disallowing the goal.
The rules have since been refined, now permitting players to feint during their run-up to the ball, but not after completing the run-up immediately before shooting. This adjustment allows for the strategic element of the stutter-step while maintaining fairness. Despite the rule changes and the mixed success rate, the stutter-step remains a part of many penalty-takers’ arsenals, even if not used consistently.
Recent Performances and Challenges
The 2026 World Cup has seen both successes and failures with the stutter-step technique. Players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Neymar have all employed it with varying outcomes. For instance, Messi missed a stutter-step penalty in group play, while Mbappé successfully converted one to help France secure a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16. Ronaldo also scored with the technique in Portugal’s 2-1 win against Croatia in the same round.
However, there have been high-profile misses that have fueled the debate surrounding the technique. Bruno Guimarães of Brazil had his stutter-step effort saved when the score was 0-0 against Norway in the round of 16, a match Norway went on to win 2-1. Harry Kane also had a stutter-step penalty saved during England’s group-stage match against Croatia, though he scored on the retake after the goalkeeper moved too early. These instances highlight the inherent risk, especially under significant pressure, and suggest that goalkeepers are becoming more adept at anticipating and countering the stutter-step approach.
The move continues to be a topic of discussion among fans and players alike, with some appreciating its flair and strategic depth, while others view it as an unnecessary risk. Neymar, at 34, used the technique to score in the final moments against Norway, marking his last international appearance before retiring from international play.
Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com
