There are moves in football that seem simple, but in the hands of the best players, they can completely change the outcome of a match. ‘La croqueta’ is one of them. And Andrés Iniesta made it one of his trademarks.

The Spanish midfielder was nominated for the Ballon d’Or eight times in a row: from 2009 to 2016. That recognition is no small feat. Making it onto that list once is already an achievement. Doing so eight times in a row speaks of a legend. In fact, in 2010, Iniesta finished second in the award, just behind Lionel Messi.

That same year, Iniesta scored the goal that gave Spain its first World Cup in the final against the Netherlands. A strike in extra time that made history. However, beyond that defining moment, his legacy is built on the finer details: the precision of his passing, the intelligence in moving between the lines and, of course, technical skills such as ‘la croqueta’.

But what exactly is ‘la croqueta’? Why is there so much talk of this move whenever Iniesta is mentioned? And what purpose does it serve in a match? In the Ballon d’Or’s ‘Academia de Campeones’, we take a look at one of the most elegant and effective moves in modern football, through the player who best embodied it.

What is the croqueta: Laudrup as a source of inspiration

Technically, ‘the croqueta’ involves passing the ball from one foot to the other in a single, quick, continuous movement. The ball moves sideways whilst the player shifts his body weight to the opposite side, creating a change of direction that breaks the opponent’s line of defence. If executed swiftly, the defender is left behind.

The term comes, quite literally, from the kitchen: it is the same action of passing the dough from one hand to the other to shape a croqueta, a typical Spanish dish. Transferred to the pitch, the ball travels between the boots with identical fluidity. Although the dribble already existed, it was the Dane Michael Laudrup who put it on the world map, noting that the move “serves to set you up for the next pass”.

Iniesta took note. His fascination with the Dane was such that in 2014, when asked by ‘El Confidencial’ about the best footballer he had ever seen, he replied without hesitation: “Laudrup”. In fact, his move to Japanese side Vissel Kobe years later had a lot to do with his idol’s past at that very club.

Iniesta absorbed that move and made it his own. He used it particularly when space was closing in and one or two opponents were pressing him. With a touch inwards and another outwards, he managed to escape the trap and regain his freedom.

This habit had such a profound influence on the next generation that players like Isco Alarcón adopted it as their own. “My favourite move is the ‘croqueta’,” the Malaga-born player admitted in France Football, demonstrating how Iniesta became the template for those who followed him.

The 'croqueta' at the service of the team: What is it for?

Iniesta was not the fastest, tallest or strongest midfielder. His advantage lay elsewhere: he read the game before anyone else and made decisions in a fraction of a second. In that context, the croqueta was his tactical tool. It allowed him to escape the pressure, buy the time needed to look up and find the best-positioned teammate.

The move was always the same: wait for the right moment, draw the opponent in and switch feet before the defender could react. Simple in appearance, but devastating in practice. The step-over was effective and Iniesta used it repeatedly in matches.

What made the move particularly valuable was its collective function. When Iniesta escaped the pressure with that move, he wasn’t doing it to show off: he was doing it to maintain possession and ensure the team kept the ball moving. Every ‘croqueta’ was one less problem for his teammates and one more problem for the opposition, who opted to press and ended up losing out.

Unlike Xavi, who was a pure passer, Iniesta had something different: a change of pace, an ability to turn quickly and, above all, the ‘croqueta’. That move gave Barcelona something that the possession-based system alone could not guarantee: the ability to break through lines in tight spaces, without needing speed or strength.

For a team that built its play from pauses and passes, Iniesta and his ‘croqueta’ were a perfect escape route. The dribble allowed the team’s collective play to continue. That is why he fitted in so well with that Barcelona side and that Spanish national team that dominated the world between 2008 and 2012.

The story of Iniesta and the Ballon d’Or

  • 2009: 4th place

  • 2010: 2nd place

  • 2011: 4th place

  • 2012: 3rd place

  • 2013: 6th place

  • 2014: 17th place

  • 2015: 9th place

  • 2016: 25th place

"Iniesta was my idol and I tried to copy what he did" – Pedri

A legacy: A lesson that goes beyond the move

The croqueta perfectly sums up Iniesta’s style of football; he proved that you didn’t need to be the fastest or the strongest to make a difference at the highest level. All he needed to do was read the game before everyone else.

In that sense, this technical move was the practical application of that philosophy: proof that having good technique and thinking quickly is more effective than going head-to-head with an opponent.

That vision of the game is his true legacy. Iniesta showcased a different kind of midfielder and showed subsequent generations that you can dominate the midfield without having an imposing physique.

That is where his influence is most evident. Players from the next generation, such as Isco, used the ‘croqueta’ as inspiration. Younger players, such as Pedri, developed their skills by studying his matches. “He was my idol and I tried to copy what he did,” the Canary Islander admitted to UEFA.

Today, when a player quickly flicks the ball from one foot to the other to shake off a defender, the reference is clear. It is a useful, direct move designed for the team that Iniesta turned into his guide to playing football.