Bicycle kick shot was a masterpiece
Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational overhead kick in Real Madrid’s Champions League game against Juventus has been hailed as one of the greatest goals of all time.
Modesty has, perhaps understandably, never been one of Ronaldo’s greatest attributes so it was no surprise when he hailed the strike – the second in a 3- 0 victory – as “probably the best” of his entire career.
But how did the 33-year-old striker come to score what his legendary manager Zinedine Zidane described as “one of the most beautiful goals in the history of the game”? Can sport scientists explain his super-human skill on the pitch?
Francisco Fardilha, a doctoral researcher at Stirling University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, puts the magnificmagnificent goal down to Ronaldo’s desire to be the best rather than magic. The Portuguese postgradp student, who is writing his thesisth on creativity in football, also believesb there are several physical andan cultural factors which led to his executione of the “PlayStation” goal. The 32-year-old, whowh grew up in Porto, said: “What CristianoCristian did on Tuesday night is a masterpimasterpiece of skill, physical prowess and decdecision-making, but it is also a consconsequence of several variables ‘conspiring’con for success, the first beingbei his work ethic and perseverance.persev “WhetherWheth some like him or not, I believeb it is accepted that CristianoCri is one of the most hard- work ing playersplaye in the world of football,foot devoting his life to the game and to being the best version of himself.
“Skills and creativity take time to develop until they become ‘automatic’.
“I am sure that Ronaldo did not think before acting – due to his previous experiences in the game, he was able to automatically execute.
“Cristiano’s self- conf idence and fearlessness allow him to perform difficult manoeuvres like this superb overhead kick.
“Other young players may fear getting hurt, which hinders them learning something new.
“If they fail to complete a move, they tend to avoid further attempts to improve their skill-set, resorting instead to easier skills that they feel comfortable with. Not Ronaldo – he believes he is capable of anything if he puts his mind to it.”
Francisco, an associate fellow who