Rayan Cherki's Pass Was A Thing Of Beauty | Defector

"The video of any great goal is a rich text that offers the viewer countless details to plunge into and enjoy. One of my favorite aspects are the players' reactions. There's so much to read into the body language of a scorer and their teammates after the ball hits the net: their thoughts about the feat, their intentions, their perception of the moment's importance, how they feel about themselves, how they feel about each other."

"One of the more interesting situations is when the pass that set up a goal was the play's true star, and looking out for how or whether the scorer goes about acknowledging that fact. I've seen all kinds of reactions in situations like those-from big-headed goal-getters who hog the spotlight after merely tapping in a sensational through ball, to grateful scorers who make a bee-line to the assister, imaginary shine rag in hand, to share the joy and glory together."

"What I can't recall seeing, however, was a response quite like Phil Foden's on Saturday after Manchester City's third goal in a 3-0 win against Sunderland: Out of context, you might imagine that Foden's reaction came after Cherki had just scored a worldie, and Foden-clearly mind-blown, his closed, disbelieving eyes spreading wide along with an unalloyed grin as his head and hand shook in that telltale "Now what the FUCK did I just see?!" gesture-was rushing over to congratulate the Frenchman for it."

Goal videos provide abundant visual detail beyond the strike itself, especially in players' reactions. Post-goal body language reveals scorers' thoughts, intentions, perceived importance of the moment, and feelings toward teammates. Reactions vary widely: some scorers claim the spotlight after easy finishes while others immediately acknowledge the assister. Phil Foden produced an unusually astonished celebration after scoring, behaving as if the creator deserved the credit. Exceptional assists can provoke disbelief and wonder that eclipse the scorer's own achievement. The rabona exemplifies a technique that highlights the gap between elite players' perception and ordinary capabilities.

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