Detailing Juninho Pernambucano free kick techniques | Football science

Detailing Juninho Pernambucano free kick techniques | Football (soccer) biomechanics and sports science | Dr. Raj, DPT breaks down Brazil international and current Lyon director of football Juninho Pernambucano’s free kick techniques - including both his shorter distance instep form and longer distance knuckleball form - via the lens of biomechanics and sports science.
Here’s a table of contents, header (subheadings):
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:38 General strategy
- 1:12 Shorter distance instep technique (set up, run up, strike technique, variations)
- 4:35 Longer distance knuckleball technique (set up, run up, strike technique, knuckleball science, variations)
- 7:08 Mind-body learning loops
- 7:45 Final takeaway
For those at work or the hard of hearing, I've transcribed subtitles on KZbin so sound isn't required.
For reference, I’m a DPT (Doctor of Physio) and youth football (soccer) coach well-versed in sports science and biomechanics, and owner of 3CB Performance - online health content, telehealth services and sports rehab & performance clinics in West LA and Valencia, CA.
Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media:
Website: www.3cbperformance.com/
Twitter: / 3cbperformance
Instagram: / 3cbperformance
Script:
Hey there it’s Raj from 3CB
Brazilian international and current director of football at French club Lyon Juninho Pernambucano is often called the greatest free-kick taker of all time - netting 77 free kick goals over his 20 year career, 44 of those coming during his eight year career at Lyon. His mastery of the free kick combined technical & tactical skill, often leaving goalkeepers with a sour, flabbergasted look on their faces.
In this video, I’ll dissect Juninho’s free kick strategy and technique via the lens of biomechanics and sports science.
General strategy
Juninho himself has explained that free kick technique & approach depended on distance due to the specific demands of each, with a short free kick technique emphasizing placement and a long free kick technique requiring power. Let’s go through each.
Shorter distance free kick technique
The setup
First, we have the setup. Everything begins with a consistent routine & setup.
The run-up
Now into the run up
The strike
Juninho used an instep side-spin technique on his short free kicks.
He’d change the strike point depending on where he wanted to place the ball.
This ability to place the ball into either corner kept keepers guessing
Longer distance knuckleball free kick technique
The setup
The long free kick again begins with the consistent routine.
The run-up
Now the run up
The strike
Juninho primarily used a dorsal distal (top of the foot, near the toes) strike technique to create a knuckleball effect.
Juninho would further vary the height of the knuckleball
Or create top spin to unleash a dipping, bouncing nightmare for keepers.
Mind-body learning loop
Juninho - like other elite free kick takers - watched the flight path of the ball after every free kick. This creates a constant unconscious loop that links his free kick sequence to outcome, with the brain filing away each attempt in the internal movement database and adding relevant information to the inherent feedback and feedforward loops that characterize skilled human movement and learning.
Final takeaway
Juninho’s free kick mastery was the result of tactical & technique mastery. He had a strategy for each free kick and repeatable, consistent techniques - Juninho has said he’d practice at least 50 free kicks per day on the training ground - for both his short and long distance free kicks upon which he could alter his strike point to change placement and spin rates. This left the opposition guessing and often at his mercy.
That’s a wrap for this video. Thanks for watching. My goal is to provide you with in-depth, evidence based, narrative free analysis and you can always find me on IG and Twitter @3CBPerformance.
Please take care of yourselves and follow the appropriate precautions to limit your exposure to and spread of COVID-19. Make sure to sub to the channel and follow along on all social media for the latest updates. 3CB out.

[@3cbperformance]

If you appreciate the channel, please support via subs, likes, comments, and shares on other platforms. All questions and your time spent watching are always appreciated. Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media: Website: www.3cbperformance.com/ Twitter: twitter.com/3cbPerformance Instagram: instagram.com/3cbperformance/

[@bdub-er5090]

Please analyze David Luiz free kick from the 2014 Worldcup - Brazil vs Columbia. It is an amazing instep power technique from long distance. Also Garethe Bales power shots. Your videos are outstanding.

[@3cbperformance]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will get to them

[@arminiuszmazowszanin2670]

The best of all time. Even if messi surpass him with numbers - he will never be better freekicker than Juninho for simple reason - Juninho wasnt scoring from same distances and with one technique like messi - Juninho was scoring goals from very difficult distances and situations and different angles. He did it like it was a penalty. That makes him TOP freekicker for sure in 21 century - but even in all times in my opinon. His creativity and technique was the best.

[@3cbperformance]

Juninho is clearly the best FK taker of all time to me as well; like you said, he was varying his technique as needed. Just incredible ability

[@Stefano2071]

@@3cbperformance Mihajlovic was to me the best of all time. Even though he score 66 in his career, most of these happened in Italy and, at least at the time, Serie A goalkeepers were harder to surprise than french keepers. He also had more power and precision in his shots. Statistics seem to back up Mihajlovic too, yes he scored less than Juninho (although 66 is still impressive), but he also played less overall games .... and has a better FKgoals/total games ratio than Juninho, or any other player in history. He's also the only one to have ever scored a hattrick of free kicks in a single game in one of the major european leagues .... Juninho is just more famous because he played in the UCL, anyone who consistently saw both will have no doubt on who is better ..... I watched Mihajlovic play for my team (Inter) and was watching Lyon and Miha had a higher conversion rate .... he needed less overall attempts to score a goal. That being said ... this video is VERY cool :)

[@a.r.417]

Juninho y Assunçao. The best !

[@shazam1522]

@@Stefano2071 i dont think he has the knuckleball in his repertoire but indeed he could use the same technique across all distances and angles.

[@Stefano2071]

@@shazam1522 you are right, he never used the knuckleball technique in his shots. However his repertoire included more gentle, accurate shots, and more powerful shots too. Overall if you have a look at videos, Mihajlovic's power shots were more powerful than Juninho's, and his accuracy shots were more accurate. But then again, that is only subjective. Statistics offer an answer already

[@franciskamanga3085]

Juninho i miss u. i always watch his highlights. No one will be better than Juninho.

[@3cbperformance]

Incredible player

[@jvliverpool873]

Andrea Pirlo's autobiography I think therefore I play, Pirlo says that Juninho strikes the ball with the first three toes of his foot when shooting from long distance.

[@3cbperformance]

I've read that as well and Juninho himself said it's from the top aspect of those three toes. In fact, the picture in picture I included in the long distance section that shows the foot strike spot in one corner is from a video where Juninho is explaining his foot strike position

[@jvliverpool873]

@@3cbperformance also what I noticed on my own from watching Juninho is that his planting foot before striking the ball is unique.

[@3cbperformance]

@@jvliverpool873 In what way? What I noted on film study is that it's slightly externally (outwardly) rotated

[@jvliverpool873]

@@3cbperformanceThat his planting foot is half aligned with the ball.

[@3cbperformance]

Joel Villanueva what do you mean by half aligned?

[@mateusveloso4561]

Juninho Pernambucano o especialista em cobranças de faltas ✔️

[@josemano461]

Ainda

[@Jj_2723]

Thank you for making this video! I love to analyze mechanics of good players and be able to apply it to my game

[@feederchua]

Oh yesss. This is awesome. Thank you!

[@3cbperformance]

You're welcome

[@gentleken7864]

Pirlo revealed the moment when he realised how Juninho did his knuckleball in an interview in 2014. 'The magic formula was all about how the ball was struck, not where: only three of Juninho's toes came into contact with the leather, not his whole foot as you might expect.' So, the knuckleball explanation needs a caveat to add this. Great video.

[@3cbperformance]

Oh love this. Do you have a link to the interview?

[@gentleken7864]

@@3cbperformance Not sure if youtube allow links in comments, but if you google 'pirlo reveals juninho knuckleball secret' the top choice from 'Goal' has it. It's actually an article about Pirlo's book.

[@GHERKHAHKIS]

THE ONE, THE MASTER, THE BEST.🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏👏👏🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@JustinSpakable]

Great vid. Great player. Thanks

[@3cbperformance]

yw

[@ricksoncastelino4568]

What A Genius.

[@3cbperformance]

Incredible mentality and approach

[@dannycv3254]

Lovely work.

[@3cbperformance]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@AlexandreAugustin]

I would love to see you doing one with Pirlo... He seems always so calm shooting the ball, and also seems that he doesn't "apply" power. Would like to see how he is able to generate power with that relaxed movement.

[@abhijeetshetty5950]

Need more videos like this

[@3cbperformance]

Hoping to make them as I have time

[@awemanyfit]

Great work. I need freekick skills

[@3cbperformance]

Keep working

[@DEEDUBZ]

Really good vid

[@3cbperformance]

DEE DUBZ thanks mate

[@sadece_kuzeyy]

muhteşem olmuş emeğine saglık

[@videepdev8189]

Please add the English subtitles.

[@mhvgamer91]

Perefct

[@princeuchechichinda]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@maximgd3994]

Analyse David Beckham free kick technique please

[@3cbperformance]

He's on the list

[@peachespeach5110]

@@3cbperformance yes ok

[@smashonlamez]

Hey bro just found your channel I love it. As a fellow DPT and avid sport fan, I really appreciate what your doing, more people need to learn about your channel! Anyways being inspired by you and my love of juninho I wanted to track all of his goals so i did extensive research (watched every goal he's ever made essentially), it's hard finding the exact time/date prior to 01/02 season. I found a video with @AlexJE youtube channel that has 77 to confirm my own independent research(note: @AlexJE states he actually has 79 FK goals total and will update his vid). His vid is great everyone should check it out. Anyways I noted that I counted originally 77 but found 78 total upon closer examination. The online reports differ from 74-77. It seems like no one can agree or no one is even trying to find out. Anyways... Here's what I found: 43 FK goals came from 01/02-2013 (confirmed by transfermarket and vids) 9 at his two year stint in Al Gharafa (vids) 22 from both of his times at Vasco Da Gama (vids) 2 international goals (non-friendlies) (Vids) and 2 way back when he was young at Sport Recife (vids) for a total of 78. Anyhow not sure how sound that research is but to go even deeper I looked at websites like transfermarket that have goal logs. Not sure if they are 100% accurate but a good starting point. It seems rare or at least I found it hard to find out any information about how many Fk were scored per season. So I went and compared Juninho with other all time great FK scorers. Here's what i found. (keep in mind that many sources state 5 per season in a single league or competition is the highest anyone has reached since number have been verifiable) Free kick goals scored per single season Juninho: 4@ all comps 03/04 4 @ UCL 05/06 5 @ Ligue 1 04/05 (with one brace via both FK goals) 5 @ Ligue 1 08/09 (with one brace via both FK goals) 5@ All comps 06/07 5 @ All comps 07/08 6@ All comps 04/05 7 @ All comps. 05/06 and again in 08/09 Bonus: 13 FK goals scored all comps in 2005 calendar year -He also averaged 3.9 goals in all comps via free kicks/per season from 2001-2013 (which is ridiculous) Messi: 4 @ La Liga 19/20 5@ La liga 18/19 6@ la liga 17/18 7 @ all comps 17/18 and again in 18/19 Bonus:12 Fk goals all comps in 2018 calendar year CR7: 4 EPL 07/08 4 EPL 08/09 5 @ all comps while at EPL 07/08 & 08/09 5@ all comps while at La liga 09/10 & 13/14 Ronaldinho: 5 @ brasil Seria A 2013 (with one FK brace) 6 @ La liga 06/07 6 @ all comps 05/06 7 @ all comps 06/07 I found somewhere stating David Beckham had 5 in one season but cant confirm that. If anyone could confirm or deny my findings that would be great. I couldnt find this type of data in articles or surfaces research, so do with it what you will. lol Thanks just wanted to add to your stats. Great vid.

[@Amazing46810]

Good

[@3cbperformance]

thanks mate

[@dualipa4]

Can u make swaz shot tutorial plz

[@monstergaminghd1083]

First to watch the video and comment

[@bdub-er5090]

Analyze David Luiz free kick 2014 WC Brazil vs Columbia.

[@3cbperformance]

Will do. It's on the list

[@maki-su4jy]

I think you made a mistake on 3:22. Red cross should be on the right side of the ball if you refer on that kick that you are actually showing in the footage.

[@nerazzurri2112]

Bí ẩn Knuckleball của anh ấy thật khó để lĩnh hội dù đã xem rất kỹ, băng quay chậm tua lại nhiều lần. Có lẽ đó là năng lực đặc biệt chỉ Juninho mới có sau những ngày tháng khổ luyện

[@pedroricardomg]

Brasil

[@sionaldinho]

Giovinco please :)

[@rizztaker1]

So which knuckleball is more powerful in your honest opinion Ronaldo or Juninho?

[@callumafsar2524]

where do you think Ronaldo got the idea for the knuckleball in the first place😂problem is he couldn’t master it like Juninho did hence the crazy inconsistency & sudden decline

[@GHERKHAHKIS]

Any goalkeeper who is able to stop a no-spin ball is among the best because that ball will suddenly change its trajectory.

[@joseaugustoromero904]

Ojalá estuviera en español

[@josemano461]

Catalunha

[@dasilva8475]

In Brasil "Marcelinho Carioca" is the Best free kicker, check this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJzWlWl8n5mhpZo in short, medium and long distance he usted every parte of his foot

[@3cbperformance]

Great link. Marcelinho and Didi are both players who Juninho has mentioned that he borrowed from. Same way Pirlo borrowed from Juninho

[@taufeeqiklim2801]

At the end of this, its all down to practice and practice and practice and skills and a bit of luck. Pretty sure he didnt take theory science lessons to master this.

[@3cbperformance]

Taufeeq Iklim He didn’t and I mentioned that in the video based on his own quotes. However, considering he spent years to master this, we can learn a lot from his techniques.

[@Number1Hater939]

For me David beckham was better as free kick taker