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The greatest free-kick ever taken has been explained by physics.
Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos' 1997 banana shot has been labelled both a moment of genius and a fluke.
His goal, from 35 yards in an international against France, saw the ball fly straight until friction slowed it and rotation took over, causing a late curl.
Physicists worked it out from videos of the goal and other free-kicks by stars such as David Beckham.
The French experts also did tests using plastic balls and a slingshot.
Christophe Clanet, from École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, said: "People noticed Carlos' free-kick had been shot from a long distance.
"We show this is not a coincidence but a necessary condition for generating a spiral trajectory."
The scientists' findings are reported in today's New Journal of Physics
The greatest free-kick ever taken has been explained by physics.
Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos' 1997 banana shot has been labelled both a moment of genius and a fluke.
His goal, from 35 yards in an international against France, saw the ball fly straight until friction slowed it and rotation took over, causing a late curl.
Physicists worked it out from videos of the goal and other free-kicks by stars such as David Beckham.
The French experts also did tests using plastic balls and a slingshot.
Christophe Clanet, from École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, said: "People noticed Carlos' free-kick had been shot from a long distance.
"We show this is not a coincidence but a necessary condition for generating a spiral trajectory."
The scientists' findings are reported in today's New Journal of Physics