Ronaldo is Jumping to New Heights

  Soccer has always been a passion of mine. As such, I found it fitting to discuss the physics behind one of the most famous soccer goals of all time. Being able to head the ball is an essential part of being able to play soccer. Heading the ball correctly, and in the right direction, can be the difference between a win and a loss for any team. 

Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps one of the best soccer players in the history of the sport, is renowned for his ability to jump to extreme heights in order to score goals. In fact, his jumps have been recorded as being higher than the average NBA basketball player. In the particular instance shown in the picture below, Ronaldo jumped to reach a height of 2.6 meters (over 8.5 feet above the ground!) in order to head the ball into the back of the net. Ronaldo is 188 cm (6’2”), meaning that he jumped 0.72 meters (almost 2.5 feet) in 0.75 seconds in order to reach the ball. 

 

Using the equation:

, we can determine that Ronaldo’s initial vertical velocity was 4.64 m/s!

Ronaldo’s ability to perform such a feat was measured during biomechanic tests on the forward at the University of Chichester in 2011. They determined that the force Ronaldo used to push off was almost 5g – similar to what an astronaut experiences during take-off. Because Ronaldo jumps so high, he appears to be airborne for much longer than less athletic players. Dr. Neal Smith, from the University of Chichester, explained that at the peak of his jump, Ronaldo tucks his feet up, giving him a boost which slows down his descent. That is why it looks like he is hanging in the air. But what accounts for Ronaldo’s high jumps? Is he defying the laws of physics? It turns out that having powerful thigh and upper body muscles are essential for this kind of leap. Cristiano Ronaldo spends hours in the gym each day, training his muscles to maintain his power (the circumference of his thighs is 62cm!). His muscle strength, in addition to his low body fat, may account for his ability to jump so high compared to other players.

Below is a link to the video of researchers at the University of Chichester performing research on Cristiano Ronaldo and how he is able to reach such extreme heights!

Link to video of biophysical tests being performed on Cristiano Ronaldo:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2278671/Cristiano-Ronaldo-Why-Real-Madrid-player-jump-higher-else.html#v-2165166084001