- Brazilian forward Richarlison scored an early contender for the best goal of this year's World Cup.
- He unleashed a stunning sideways scissor kick at the 73rd minute in Brazil's game against Serbia.
Brazilian soccer player Richarlison scored an astonishing bicycle kick goal on Thursday during his national squad's first match at this year's World Cup in Doha.
Receiving a low cross from Vinicius Jr., Richarlison de Andrade — professionally known as Richarlison — deflected the ball mid-air with his left foot and spun to unleash a sideways scissor kick with his right, blasting the ball past Serbian goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić and into the net.
The 73rd-minute goal brought Brazil's score against Serbia to 2-0.
—Mimi Fawaz (@MimosaFawaz) November 24, 2022
Brazil's first goal of the day was also scored by the 25-year-old Richarlison.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward sent home a close-range finish at 62 minutes after Milinković-Savić saved a shot by Vinicius Jr, as Brazil finally broke through Serbia's tough defense.
"It was a boyhood dream come true," Richarlison told Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo, per Agence France-Presse. The striker said he had cried four weeks ago amid concerns he would miss the World Cup because of a calf injury.
Fellow Brazilian soccer star Fernandinho later tweeted a video of Richarlison performing a backflip on a trampoline. "The Pigeon has been practicing this goal for some time at home," wrote Fernandinho, calling Richarlison by his nickname.
—Fernandinho (@fernandinho) November 24, 2022