What’s the one thing (well, okay, one of the things) that separates James Ward-Prowse and Lionel Messi? Unlike Messi, Ward-Prowse has scored an ‘olimpico’.
An olimpico is a goal scored directly from a corner kick. They are unmistakably memorable and to pull one off involves a combination of skill, opportunism and luck. Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry scored an olimpico for New York Red Bulls against Columbus Crew in 2012. Ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham, now Inter Miami’s co-owner, scored directly from a corner kick twice for LA Galaxy in 2012.
U.S. women’s national team icon Megan Rapinoe is the only player in women’s or men’s soccer to score two olimpicos at the Olympics. Last season, Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz scored directly from a corner in a friendly against Walsall, a Carabao Cup tie Bolton Wanderers and then against Arsenal in the Premier League.
The player who is thought to have scored the first olimpico, Argentinan Cesareo Onzari, did so in a friendly against reigning Olympic champions Uruguay in 1924, hence the name.
A century later and despite racking up over 800 career goals, Messi is yet to score one. There are YouTube compilation videos chronicling the 36-year-old’s many attempts over the years.
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