There’s always that moment every FIFA player remembers. You’re holding your shape, defending smart, everything feels under control, then out of nowhere your opponent whips out a rainbow flick, spins into a roulette, and smashes the ball into the net. You don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or throw the controller across the room.
Outplayed? Definitely.
Humiliated? Without a doubt.
That’s the power of skill moves in FIFA; they sting, they dazzle, and sometimes they completely ruin your day.
Skill moves aren’t just circus tricks for YouTube montages. They’re weapons. A simple ball roll can make a sliding defender look like he’s tackling ghosts. A clean step over can open up a shooting lane you didn’t even know existed. And then there are the moments when you want to go full showman, dropping an Elastico just to rub it in, because winning is nice, but winning with style is delicious.
Every new FIFA release resets the game. EA tweaks the mechanics, and suddenly the skill moves you leaned on last year feel like relics. One year it’s La Croqueta tearing defenses apart, the next it’s drag backs running the show.
Players scramble, tutorials flood YouTube, and the meta shifts like quicksand. If you don’t adapt, you’re left behind, watching a swarm of teenagers who know button combos better than their school lessons dance around you.
That’s why this guide exists. I will walk through the essential FIFA skill moves, give you the controls for both Xbox and PlayStation, explain when they work best, and show how the pros make them look effortless.
The Evolution of FIFA Skill Moves
When skill moves were first introduced, they were raw and simple, often requiring awkward combinations that felt risky to attempt mid-game. Over the years, the right stick became the playground for creativity. Players learned that timing a feint, roll, or stepover could dismantle defenders as effectively as a well-placed through pass.
By FIFA 12, advanced techniques like the Elastico or Roulette started shaping competitive matches. By FIFA 20, chaining skills was an art form, with pros weaving together stepovers, ball rolls, and flicks in split seconds. Now, with EA FC 26, a new “Simplified Skill Moves” system makes this language of expression available to every player, regardless of mechanical mastery.
Skill moves are categorized by Star Ratings, ranging from 1 to 5. A player’s in-game star rating determines which moves they can perform. Lionel Messi or Neymar may access the entire repertoire, while defenders with low ratings are limited to the basics.
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New EA FC 26 Skill Moves
Dribbling has always been a foundation of flair in FIFA. With FC 26, new animations add explosiveness and unpredictability. Here are the standout additions:
| Skill Move | SM Stars Required | PlayStation Controls | Xbox Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explosive Stepover (Stand or Jog) | 3–5 Stars | Hold L1 + Rotate RS Forward to Left/Right (+ LS exit) | Hold LB + Rotate RS Forward to Left/Right (+ LS exit) |
| Advanced Heel Flick (Jog) | 4–5 Stars | Flick RS Forward, Back + LS Diagonal | Flick RS Forward, Back + LS Diagonal |
| Drag to Chop (Stand) | 4–5 Stars | Hold L2 + Roll RS Left, Back, Right / Right, Back, Left | Hold LT + Roll RS Left, Back, Right / Right, Back, Left |
| Elastico Variation (Jog) | 5 Stars | Hold L2 + Rotate RS Right, Back, Left / Left, Back, Right | Hold LT + Rotate RS Right, Back, Left / Left, Back, Right |
| Trickster Rainbow | 1–5 Stars | Flick RS Back, Forward | Flick RS Back, Forward |
These replace the old stepover speed boost, demanding adaptation from long-time players.
EA FC 26 Simplified Skill Moves
A new accessibility feature lets players execute contextual skill moves with just a flick of the stick. While slower and less precise than traditional moves, this system opens the door for casual players to enjoy the expressive side of FIFA.
Moves are grouped by Star Ratings. Below is the full chart of Simplified Skill Moves across tiers.
Complete FIFA Skill Moves Control Guide
To give a comprehensive look, here is the full table of skill moves across Xbox and PlayStation, organized by star rating. This brings together both the classic old-school games and the latest EA FC 26 innovations.
| Star Rating | Skill Move | PlayStation Controls | Xbox Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Star | Directional Nutmeg | Hold L1 + R1 + Flick RS | Hold LB + RB + Flick RS |
| Ball Juggle (Standing) | Hold L2 + Tap R1 | Hold LT + Tap RB | |
| Open Up Fake Shot | Hold L1 + Square/Circle then X | Hold LB + X/B then A | |
| Flick Up | Press R3 | Press RS | |
| First-Time Feint Turn | Hold L1 + R1 + LS Down | Hold LB + RB + LS Down | |
| 2 Star | Feint Forward and Turn | Flick RS Down Twice | Flick RS Down Twice |
| Body Feint (Left/Right) | Flick RS Left/Right | Flick RS Left/Right | |
| Stepover | Rotate RS 12–3 or 12–9 | Rotate RS 12–3 or 12–9 | |
| Reverse Stepover | Rotate RS 3–12 or 9–12 | Rotate RS 3–12 or 9–12 | |
| Ball Roll (Left/Right) | Hold RS Left/Right | Hold RS Left/Right | |
| Drag Back | L1 + R1 + Flick RS Down | LB + RB + Flick RS Down | |
| 3 Star | Heel Flick | Flick RS Up then Down | Flick RS Up then Down |
| Roulette | Rotate RS 270° | Rotate RS 270° | |
| Fake Left/Right | Rotate RS 180° | Rotate RS 180° | |
| Heel Chop | Hold L2 + Square then X | Hold LT + X then A | |
| Stutter Feint | Hold L2 + RS Left+Right | Hold LT + RS Left+Right | |
| 4 Star | Ball Hop | Hold L1 + R3 | Hold LB + RS |
| Ball Roll Drag | Hold L1 + Flick RS Up + LS | Hold LB + Flick RS Up + LS | |
| Drag Back Turn | Hold L2 + RS Down | Hold LT + RS Down | |
| Heel to Heel | Flick RS Up then Down | Flick RS Up then Down | |
| Simple Rainbow | Flick RS Down then Up | Flick RS Down then Up | |
| Lane Change | Hold L1 + Hold RS Left/Right | Hold LB + Hold RS Left/Right | |
| Three Touch Roulette | Hold L2 + Flick RS Down + Side | Hold LT + Flick RS Down + Side | |
| 5 Star | In-Air Elastico | Hold L2 + Flick RS Right then Left | Hold LT + Flick RS Right then Left |
| Around the World | Hold L2 + Rotate RS 360° | Hold LT + Rotate RS 360° | |
| Elastico / Reverse | Rotate RS Quarter Turns | Rotate RS Quarter Turns | |
| Advanced Rainbow | Flick RS Down then Hold Up then Flick Up | Flick RS Down then Hold Up then Flick Up | |
| Sombrero Flick | Flick RS Up, Up, Down | Flick RS Up, Up, Down | |
| Rabona Fake | Hold L2 + Square then X | Hold LT + X then A | |
| Tornado Spin | Hold L2 + L1 + Flick RS Up+Side | Hold LT + LB + Flick RS Up+Side | |
| Flair Rainbow | Hold L1 + Flick RS Down then Up | Hold LB + Flick RS Down then Up |
Offensive Controls
- Short Pass: X (PS) / A (Xbox)
- Through Ball: Triangle (PS) / Y (Xbox)
- Shoot: Circle (PS) / B (Xbox)
- Lob Pass / Cross: Square (PS) / X (Xbox)
- Finesse Shot: R1 + Circle (PS) / RB + B (Xbox)
Timing and angle are everything. A pass released too early can ruin an attack. A finesse shot released too late may sail wide. These basics form the heartbeat of every attack.
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Defensive Mechanics
- Change Player: L1 (PS) / LB (Xbox)
- Standing Tackle: Circle (PS) / B (Xbox)
- Sliding Tackle: Square (PS) / X (Xbox)
- Contain: X (PS) / A (Xbox)
- Jockey: L2 (PS) / LT (Xbox)
Defense in FIFA has evolved from button-spamming to timing and angles. Mastering jockeying and patience separates strong defenders from reckless ones.
Advanced Play
Here is where creativity flourishes. Rabona crosses, no-look flicks, drag backs to roulette chains. The key lies in rhythm. Combine special passes with ball rolls, feints, and flicks, and suddenly defenders are chasing shadows.
Examples:
- Rabona Cross: Hold L2 + Square (PS) / Hold LT + X (Xbox)
- False Touch Pass: R1 + Pass (PS) / RB + Pass (Xbox)
- Ball Roll Chop: Ball Roll + Shoot Cancel
These are not only crowd-pleasers but match-winning tools when mastered.
Set Pieces
- Free Kicks: Aim with LS, power with Shoot, add curve with RS.
- Corners: LS to aim, Square/X to deliver, RS for trajectory.
- Penalties: LS to aim, power with Circle/B, finesse with R1/RB.
Each set piece has become more nuanced across FIFA generations. The knuckleball free kick, the Panenka penalty, or the driven low corner can turn stalemates into wins.
Goalkeeping
Modern FIFA gives goalkeepers more manual control:
- Positioning: LS
- Diving: RS Flick
- Rush Out: Triangle (PS) / Y (Xbox)
Reading the striker is everything. Narrow angles, wait, then commit. A mistimed dive is as costly as a mistimed pass.
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Gameplay Tips to Master Controls
- Practice in Skill Games – repetition builds instinct.
- Mix Basics with Flair – do not force tricks every possession.
- Shield and Turn – L2/LT is as powerful as any skill move.
- Know Your Players – not every defender can do a rainbow flick.
- Anticipate, Don’t React – FIFA is a game of rhythm.
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