Footbonaut

Footbonaut was invented by Christian Güttler in Berlin, Germany.^[2] The machine is also described as a robotic cage.^[3] The Footbanaut, which costs $3.5 million is as large as an apartment with a cube shape and is capable of firing balls from a range of 360 degrees at different speeds and trajectories toward the training players.^[4] The players, who are standing inside a circle, must control the ball and pass it through one of 72 gates.^[5]

Mario Götze's winning goal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final has been credited to his years of practice using Footbonaut.^[6] It was reported that German team TSG 1899 Hoffenheim achieved its highest finish in the Bundesliga for five years - ninth place - after using the contraption.^[5] There are three clubs currently using Footbonaut in their training. ^[7]