The bicycle kick — also called an overhead kick, scissor kick, or in Spanish a 'chilena' — is the flashiest technique in soccer. The player jumps, throws their body backward, and strikes the ball over their head with a scissoring leg motion. When it works, it might be the prettiest thing you can do with a soccer ball.
How It Works
The player times a jump, falls backward, and swings one leg up to strike the ball while the other leg kicks downward for balance and power. The motion looks like pedaling a bicycle in reverse — which is where the name comes from. The ball must be above head height and ideally coming from behind the player for the technique to work.
The Greatest Examples
Zlatan Ibrahimović's overhead kick for Sweden against England in 2012 is widely considered the greatest bicycle kick in history — struck from 30 yards out. Cristiano Ronaldo's goal for Real Madrid against Juventus in the 2018 Champions League drew a standing ovation from the Juventus fans. At the World Cup, bicycle kicks are rare but unforgettable when they happen.
A bicycle kick goal at WC26 would immediately become one of the tournament's defining images. The expanded format and the involvement of technically gifted players from Brazil, Portugal, and other creative nations increases the chances of seeing one.
