When Zlatan Ibrahimovic capitalized on an error by Joe Heart with an amazing 30-yard bicycle kick goal back in 2013, we thought it was a feat of singular athleticism and genius that could never be replicated. However, Javi Gomez, a 33-year-old striker in the Spanish Segunda Division B, has created that outlandish goal’s spirit double.
Facing off against CD Toledo in a league match, Gomez provided this outrageous piece of skill to win the match for his side. A long ball forward found Gomez 30-yards from goal and, from there, it quickly made its way into the back of the net. It's certainly one of the top two 30-yard bicycle kick goals we've ever seen.
What’s particularly startling about this finish isn’t just its distance and the necessary technique required to hit a bicycle kick so well, it’s also the fact that it all looks entirely planned.
Instead of attempting to trap or control the ball, Gomez appears to purposefully bounce it into the air with his chest. It doesn't look at all like a mistouch, he even brings his chest towards the ball to give it a little extra pop.
As soon as he sees that he’s applied the right amount of force and that the ball is going to reach the required height, he immediately launches himself into the bicycle kick motion. It’s all so extremely fluent that it’s positively genius.
A goal so great it already has its own cartoon. Photo: @LaLigaEN | Twitter
The rapidity of it all certainly flummoxed the goalkeeper, but he still hasn’t strayed that far from his line. This is in comparison to the Ibrahimovic goal, where the big Swede simply had to hit the target to score.
Here, Gomez manages to place his shot relatively near to the corner, past the outstretched hand of the diving keeper. The finish is exquisite, the process is flawless and the idea is beyond audacious.
For all of these reasons, this goal is probably even better than the one that landed Zlatan the 2013 Puskas Award.
