It has been watched by millions of sports fans all over the world, and seen as the best free kick ever taken, but Roberto Carlos’s scorcher had always been in the mind, “was it a fluke or a moment of genius”

Video Roberto Carlos Confederation Cup free kick Vs France

However new research by scientists has finally concluded that Roberto Carlos’s astonishing 1997 free kick against France in the Confederation Cup was possible.

Carlos’s free kick from 35 metres against France in the confederation cup 1997 looked to be going awfully wide until the ball suddenly curved into the goal.

The high speed ball which was travelling towards the corner line even managed to scare a ball boy which was standing 3 metres away from goal.

But the sudden dip inwards, towards the goal was so shocking, even the then France goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez, was left watching as he thought the ball was going out.

Christophe Clanet, from École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, which researched the free kick 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.”

Scientists believe the speed in which Carlos kicked the ball and the distance between the ball and the goal made the shot totally possible and not a moment of fluke.

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