How Fast Is Football Free Kick?

A professional free-kick reaches 36 m/s — 130 km/h. The 'curl' on a banana free kick comes from the Magnus effect: spinning balls deflect because air pressure is uneven on opposite sides. Ronny Heberson hit 211 km/h in 2006, the fastest free-kick ever recorded.

Ronny Heberson hit 211 km/h with a free kick in 2006 — the fastest football free-kick ever officially recorded.

• Faster than motorway driving
• Curl comes from the Magnus effect