What Is An Olimpico Goal (+6 Best Examples)
For England fans watching at home, there were some nervy moments in the recent European Championship quarter-final match against Switzerland. However, there weren't many Swiss chances that got pulses racing more than the moment Xherdan Shaqiri tried to swing the ball into the back of the net direct from a corner during extra time. The audacious effort impressed England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who was relieved not to concede from the set piece. If the ball had been converted, though, it would not have been completely unprecedented.
Throughout the history of football, numerous players have scored direct from a corner kick. And when this rare type of goal does happen, there's a special name for it: an olimpico. In this article, we'll be explaining exactly what this type of goal is and giving you a few examples of when it has been scored in professional football. We'll wrap up by providing you with a few top tips for scoring an olimpico goal yourself.
What Is An Olimpico Goal?
In soccer, an Olimpico goal is a goal scored directly from a corner kick.
A corner kick is a type of set piece taken from the corner of the pitch after the ball exits the field of play via the goal line following a touch from a defending player (more information on the rules regarding corners can be found here).
Olimpico goals are extremely rare in professional football. Even amongst top pros with extremely high technical skill levels, you'll only see a goal scored direct from a corner once in a blue moon. A big factor behind this is the acute angle the corner kick must be taken from, but another important thing to consider is that no other player can touch the ball for a goal from a corner to be considered an Olimpico. If even the faintest of touches off a forehead or a tip of a boot is made, the goal will be credited to that player rather than the corner taker.
Where exactly does this type of specialist goal come from, and why is it called the Olimpico?
The Origins Of The Olimpico Goal
To find out the reason behind the name 'Olimpico' goal, you must go back exactly 100 years, to an era in which global soccer was extremely different — at this point, neither the World Cup, UEFA or the European Championship had even been invented.
In 1924, Argentina's Cesareo Onzari became famous for scoring direct from a corner kick against reigning Olympic champions Uruguay. As a result, this type of goal started to become known as the Spanish for 'Olympic goal': 'Gol Olimpico'. In the years since, this kind of goal has gained notoriety for its difficulty — but can it really be that hard for a top professional to swing the ball into the net from a corner?
Why Is It So Hard To Score An Olimpico Goal?
When you attempt to score direct from a corner, you're aiming for a spot of the goal that you can't even see. The Laws of the Game state that the football must be placed within the corner arc when a corner kick is taken, and even if you place it right on the furthest edge of that chalk line (as many players do), the angle is so insanely acute that it's almost impossible to squeeze the ball over the line without any other players touching it.
As a result, scoring an Olimpico goal is a serious achievement that the vast majority of players will never accomplish. That being said, there are a number of top pros that have converted from a corner, and a few of them have become renowned for their ability to do so repeatedly.
6 Of The Best Olimpico Goals In Football History
Below, you'll find a list of 6 of the best Olimpico goals to have ever been scored in football.
#1. Thierry Henry, New York Red Bulls
France World Cup winner Thierry Henry was a legendary player who many consider to be the Premier League's greatest ever. He dazzled for clubs such as Arsenal and Barcelona during the 1990s and 2000s before ending his career in the MLS with New York Red Bulls. It was here, in 2012, that he scored one of the most audacious goals of his career, whipping the ball to the far post and clipping against the inside of the woodwork to beat the keeper without any touch from another player. You can check out that marvellous strike here.
#2. Megan Rapinhoe, USWNT
Megan Rapinhoe is a player who throughout her career was capable of grabbing headlines. One of the ways she repeatedly did this was via her impressive ability to strike the back of the net direct from a corner kick. Rapinhoe scored multiple Olimpicos for the USWNT, but perhaps the most memorable came in 2012 at the London Olympics, where she converted from a corner against Canada in the semi-finals. This goal made history, as the USWNT winger became the first-ever player to score an 'Olimpico' at the Olympics.
#3. Marcos Coll, Colombia
Part of what made Marcos Coll's Olympic goal at the 1962 World Cup so special is that it was scored against arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Lev Yashin (who gives his name to the Yashin Trophy, the goalkeeper's equivalent of the Ballon d'Or). Playing for Colombia in the first round of the tournament, Coll scored a consolation against the Soviet Union to make it 4-2, and while it wasn't enough to keep his team in the competition (they finished bottom of Group 1), he made history by becoming the first player to score an Olimpico at the World Cup.
#4. David Beckham, LA Galaxy
David Beckham's decision to leave Real Madrid and join LA Galaxy in 2007 was a controversial one, and it had a deep impact on the development of US soccer (which in the years since has grown and professionalised significantly). One of the most memorable moments of Beckham's Los Angeles adventure saw him send a trademark curling set piece into the box against Chicago Fire in 2011, and wind up whipping the ball into the far corner of the net. Amazingly, the curve of the ball allowed it to bounce twice before crossing the line, outfoxing two hapless Chicago Fire defenders on its way in. Check it out here.
#5. James Ward-Prowse, West Ham United
Fans of the Premier League will know James Ward-Prowse as one of the best specialist set piece takers England has ever produced. His record of 17 Premier League free kicks scored is just one away from the legendary David Beckham, but it isn't just free kicks that the former Southampton man is a master of. In an away match against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, the England international converted with a stunning Olimpico goal that put his side ahead in the final minutes of the game. It's a dramatic way to do it, that's for sure.
#6. Katie McCabe, Republic of Ireland
When Republic of Ireland international Katie McCabe scored just minutes into her team's group stage match against Canada at the 2023 World Cup, she made history — it was Ireland Women's first ever World Cup goal. And what's more, she did it in style. Achieving the extremely rare fate of scoring an Olimpico goal, she struck her corner with power, precision and whip, teasing the opposition keeper and defenders before they see it soar over their heads and land in the far side netting. You can watch that delightful effort here.
How To Score The Perfect Olimpico Goal
If after watching those phenomenal set piece strikes you want to learn how to perfect the skill of scoring direct from a corner yourself, you're in the right place. It takes a huge amount of practice to become a quality corner striker, but if you read through the tips below and get on the training ground, you'll start to improve.
#1. First, work out which way the wind is blowing. If there are strong gusts heading towards the goal you're aiming for, you might be in luck — this could help sweep the ball into the far corner with a little more power. However, if the wind is blowing in the opposite direction, you might be advised to hold off, as it's even more difficult to score an Olimpico if the weather conditions aren't just right.
#2. Ensure that you're taking the kick from the right side of the pitch. You should be taking the corner with your strongest foot, and in order to score an Olimpico you need to be on the opposite side of the goal to your strongest foot so that you can achieve an in-swinging corner. For example, if you're right-footed, you should be on the left hand corner so that you can whip the ball in with your right foot and it will bend toward the goal.
#3. Take your run up from behind the goal line, approaching the ball from an angle in order to ensure that you can strike the ball with the right level of precision and power. You should be aiming to strike the ball in the lower half before following through from the left side to the right to achieve a curving motion. More on this in the next section.
#4. Aim to create lots of bend and spin on the ball. Do this by swinging your hip around in a semi-circular sweep as you kick in. At the same time, lean your torso over the ball slightly as you shoot, in order to keep the ball down and under control.
#5. Ensure you're hitting the ball low enough and slightly leaning back when striking in order to get a fair bit of height on it. The majority of Olimpico goals will hit the back post after speeding over the heads of defenders and dipping just at the right moment.
#6. Try to find the right balance between force and finesse. There needs to be plenty of spin achieved via your leg motion, but you also need to make sure you strike the ball with enough power to take it through the far post and into the back of the net.
Follow these steps and you'll get yourself on the way to being able to score an Olimpico goal. If you'd like to find out more about the role of the corner in soccer, check out our in-depth guide to this subject here.