It was a special evening for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans. Not only did they defeat Manchester United 2-0 on Boxing Day, but they also witnessed an ‘Olimpico’ at Molineux. Matheus Cunha sent the crowd into raptures with his brilliant yet cheeky goal, which caught the entire Manchester United defense off guard.
An Olimpico refers to a goal scored directly from a corner kick. It is a rare feat in football, as few players intentionally aim to curl the ball into the net from that particular angle.
There were initial questions over whether goals from corner kicks might be ruled illegal, but the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the rules, decided against such a change. As a result, players can still score directly from corner kicks.
Cunha scored his Olimpico in the 58th minute of the Premier League match against Manchester United on Thursday. The Wolves players did just enough to keep the Red Devils’ defenders at bay, and there was little goalkeeper Andre Onana could do to prevent the ball from sailing into the far post corner.
Why is it called Olimpico?
To understand this, we must take a trip down memory lane, back to 100 years ago. Uruguay had just won the 1924 Paris Olympic Gold medal in the first-ever organized international football tournament.
Later that year, Argentine player Cesareo Onzari scored against Uruguay in a match, directly from a corner kick. It was a big deal, and the fact that it came against the best team in the world at the time made it even more special.
From that moment on, the goal became known as the ‘Gol Olimpico,’ which, when translated from Spanish, means ‘Olympic Goal.’ Soon, this term became widely used to describe such a goal.
To score an Olimpico, players must demonstrate exceptional technique—if they intend to score it deliberately. Few have mastered it or managed to do it intentionally, but those who have earned a special place in football history.
Players who have scored directly from corners
Here are five players who have scored Olimpicos in their careers.
1. David Beckham (LA Galaxy)
One of the greatest set-piece takers of all time, Beckham achieved this feat while playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Given his exceptional skill with free kicks and corners, it’s reasonable to assume that he intended to score in this way. Beckham certainly possessed the ability to do so.
2. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
He wasn’t known as the ‘German Sniper’ for nothing. Kroos, who retired from football at the end of the 2023/24 season, possessed an accuracy that most players would envy.
In a Spanish Super Cup match against Valencia in 2020, Kroos noticed goalkeeper Jaume Domenech off his line and took full advantage by scoring directly from the corner. It was truly incredible, and there’s little doubt it was entirely intentional.
3. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
A more recent name on the list, Pulisic’s intention to score the Olimpico earlier this year against Club Brugge may be debatable, but there’s no denying that it was a special goal.
The American, playing for AC Milan, is currently thriving in Serie A, and that brilliant corner goal is one he will likely look back on fondly in the years to come.
4. Diego Forlan (Internacional)
An example of a true goalkeeping howler, Forlan’s goal was purely accidental—one of those Olimpico goals that were admittedly not intentional.
Typically not known for his corner-taking abilities, Forlan delivered a brilliant ball into the box that, quite frankly, should have been saved by the opposition goalkeeper.
5. Ronaldinho (Flamengo)
With his signature South American flair, the former Barcelona star was never shy to try something unconventional on the pitch. So, why not attempt a goal directly from a corner?
Playing for Flamengo in his native Brazil, Ronaldinho sent a cheeky set-piece toward the near post, curling it perfectly into the back of the net. Even more astonishing, there was a defender marking the near post, yet he still couldn’t prevent the ball from going in.
