Argentinian goalkeeper Leandro Requena has made history by scoring what is being called the longest strike in football history.
It’s not often we see a goalkeeper score a goal, even less so from their own area.
Any time it happens, it’s a sight to see - but this time may be extra special with claims that it's the ‘longest goal’ ever scored in football.
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It happened in Chile’s top division, with Requena playing in goals for Cobresal against Colo-Colo.
Cobresal were already 2-0 up in the 77th minute when the 35-year-old had possession of the ball inside his own six-yard box.
Clearly having the vision of a hawk the keeper saw his opposition number standing well outside his own area.
Quickly rolling the ball out, Requena launched one long over the heads of all of Colo-Colo’s outfield players and bounced just ahead of Colo-Colo’s Brayan Cortes.
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The ball got a decent bounce as Cortes tried, and failed, to head the ball away as it slowly bounced into the back of the net to make the game 3-0.
The broadcasters let out the most worthy drawn out ‘GOAL!’ as the keepers teammates swarmed him to celebrate.
The goal helped his side to a 3-1 win, but it may be about to get better for the shot-stopper.
It is believed that Requena’s kick went in from 101 metres, which is more than the previous Guinness World Record of 96.01m.
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That’s held by Newport County keeper Tom King who secured the feat in 2021.
Requena revealed after the match that the club are applying for the record.
He told Radio Bio Bio: ”I asked Juan Silva, the club’s manager, if the request for the record application was really going to be made and he told me ‘obviously yes’.
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“So now we are waiting for what is needed to verify what the distance really was. (Silva) did tell me that the ANFP (Chilean Football Federation) called him to check the measurements of the field, which is 105 meters and a bit.
“If so, since the area is five meters, it would be logically over 100. The truth is that I am happy with all this, more than anything personally, but also for the institution, for Chilean football. Going down in history with an event like this makes me happy.”
The location of the field may have played a big part in the feat as well, with Cobresal’s stadium Estadio El Cobre 2200m above sea level.
Requena explained how he used the conditions to his advantage.
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He continued: “I wanted to take the kick quickly as we have done so many times at altitude, to try to catch the rival off guard and it came out a little stronger than normal.
“The first thing I did as soon as the ball left my foot was hold my head because there were two players in a clear position to counter-attack and I realised that it had gone long.
“When I saw the bounce made it difficult for Brayan and it went past him, I thought the ball could go in.”
Featured Image Credit: @TNTSportsChile/Twitter.
