The bicycle kick is one of the most visually spectacular skills in football and to this day has a tendency to wow adoring fans of the modern game.
The technique is extremely difficult to accomplish, so when successfully attempted during a competitive setting, it is usually both breath-taking and memorable.
But what exactly is a bicycle kick and who invented it?
What Is A Bicycle Kick?
Within the world of association football, a bicycle kick (also known as an overhead kick) is an acrobatic shot where a player kicks the ball from behind them whilst in mid-air.
The technique is achieved by a player throwing their body upwards and backwards into the skies before landing on the ground without the use of their feet. They need to propel their striking leg forward to make clean contact with the ball.
The manoeuvre itself is named after the cycling motion it resembles. Both a bicycle kick’s complexity and rarity in competitive matches makes it one of football’s most revered skills.
Why Do They Call It A Bicycle Kick?
In standard English the move is known as either a bicycle kick or overhead kick. It is referred to by this name in European and World football when described in English but often labelled differently when translated into various other languages.
The term “bicycle kick” typically describes the action of the legs while the body is in mid-air loosely resembling the pedaling motion of a bicycle.
Who Invented The Bicycle Kick?
Some football historians infer that Chilean midfielder Ramon Unzaga invented the bicycle kick in 1914 whilst playing for home nation side Estrella del Mar.
Another popular belief is that the bicycle kick was invented as far back as 1892 in Peru during games against British Sailors.
However, a large number of experts seem to be in agreement that the technique originated from and was popularised by South American footballers in the early 1910s and 1920s.
Locally, the Bicycle kick also became known as the ‘Chilena’ which derives from the word Chilean and refers to natives of the country.
Who Was The First Person To Do A Bicycle Kick?
Whilst rumours of the bicycle kick’s roots seem to stem from the South American game, the move didn’t enter the sport’s mainstream until post-1930s.
According to Brazilian legend Pele, the first player to popularise the bicycle kick proper was fellow Brazilian Leônidas. He played as a forward from 1930-1950, enjoying his greatest success at Brazilian club sides Flamengo and Sao Paolo.
Leônidas is regarded as one of the most important players of the first half of the 20th century and scored 230 goals in 291 career games.
He played for the Brazil national team during both the 1934 and 1938 World Cups – even becoming the top scorer of the latter tournament. For Brazil he played only 19 times and yet found the net on 21 occasions.
Because of his immense quality and agility, Leônidas became known as the “Black Diamond” and the “Rubber Man.”
Who Has Scored The Most Bicycle Kicks?
Legendary Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez is considered to be the most prolific scorer of the traditional bicycle kick in football history.
With more than ten recognised bicycle kick goals throughout his career, the striker who previously played for Atletico Madrid and notably Real Madrid, owns the record for most goals of its type scored in a lifetime.
Famously on April 10th 1988, he converted an overhead kick against Spanish side Logrones and it remains a defining moment in the Mexican’s career. Sanchez unleashed an amazing shot on goal, twisting his body to meet the ball with precision and looping it over his head into the net. It is a goal the likes of which fans inside the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu had rarely seen.
Sanchez was a sensational goal scorer, renowned for breath-taking volleys and strikes throughout his time in Spain. He is still widely recognised as the finest Mexican football player in the sport’s history, making 956 appearances for his club and country whilst scoring 562 goals in total.
What’s The Difference Between A Bicycle Kick And A Scissor Kick?
The difference between a bicycle kick and a scissor kick is the focus on the positioning of a player’s body when the technique is attempted.
During a bicycle kick the footballer leaps into the air whilst facing in the opposite way to the direction in which the ball is intended to travel.
A scissor kick is completed with the body positioned horizontally instead of backwards and rather than the ball beginning above the player’s head, it instead starts at waist height.
