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Humans

Is there an equivalent of being ambidextrous for feet?

Many footballers have displayed this ability, explain our readers

22 April 2026

Lighthouse Films/Getty Images

Tobias Bast
Nottingham, UK

While virtually every footballer has a stronger or preferred foot (typically the right), many of them – and almost all those at the top level – can control the ball very well with either. However, it is extremely rare that they choose not to use their favoured foot when it comes to corner kicks, free kicks, penalties and the like.

Andreas Brehme, a 1990 World Cup winner with West Germany, was an exception: because he took penalties with both feet, goalkeepers didn’t know what to expect. He scored from a penalty with his left foot in the 1986 World Cup quarter final and with his right foot in the 1990 World Cup final (winning it for his team). So, Brehme perhaps came as close as is possible to being ambipedal – equally good with either foot.

 

Andy Kadir-Buxton
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK

Santi Cazorla is widely considered the most two-footed player in football history due to his extraordinary, natural ambidexterity developed from a childhood ankle injury. This allowed him to take penalties, free kicks and corners with both feet. Pelé, who I got to see play, had a similar style of play.

While virtually every footballer has a preferred foot, almost all those at the top level control the ball well with either

 

C. H. Johnson
Colyton, Devon, UK

When I was at school, aged about 10, I picked up an injury in my left foot, so I switched to the right and, after some practice, found I could manage just as well. The left foot then recovered, so I had both sides of the pitch sorted. I am partly ambidextrous as well (I can play some racket sports with both hands), so that might explain my foot action.

 

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