Capturing the Most Iconic Goal in Soccer History
You’ve seen the clip a hundred times. The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, April 3, 2018. A cross from the right, a leap that defies gravity, and an overhead strike so perfect it seemed to hang in the air before rippling the net. Cristiano Ronaldo’s bicycle kick against Juventus wasn’t just a goal; it was a moment of athletic art.
As an artist, capturing that blend of raw power, perfect form, and dramatic tension is a thrilling challenge. The pose is complex, a twisting mid-air scissor motion that can stump even experienced drawers. But breaking it down into manageable steps makes it achievable.
This guide will walk you through how to draw Ronaldo’s bicycle kick, from the basic gesture to the final details of his iconic celebration. We’ll focus on anatomy, perspective, and capturing motion, giving you the techniques to create a dynamic and accurate piece of sports art.
Gathering Your Reference and Tools
Before your pencil touches the paper, the right preparation is key. A good drawing starts with understanding your subject.
First, find high-quality reference images. Search for “Ronaldo bicycle kick Juventus 2018” and look for clear, high-resolution photos from multiple angles. Video footage is also invaluable; watch the goal in slow motion to understand the fluid sequence of the kick. Pay attention to the moment of impact—his body is fully extended, back arched, eyes locked on the ball.
For tools, you don’t need anything fancy to start. A simple HB pencil for sketching, a 2B or 4B for darker lines and shading, a good eraser (a kneaded eraser is excellent for lifting graphite cleanly), and smooth drawing paper are perfect. If you’re working digitally, any drawing software with basic brush and layer functions will work.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Kick
Don’t try to draw the uniform or the face first. The core of this drawing is the pose. The bicycle kick, or overhead kick, is a specific kinetic chain.
Ronaldo’s body forms a dramatic “C” shape in mid-air. His kicking leg (the right leg) is fully extended, pointing toward the ball. His supporting leg (the left) is bent, pulled back for balance and power. His torso is twisted, with his back facing slightly downward and his chest open. His arms are out for balance, one often raised.
Think of the body as a series of connected lines and shapes, not a detailed figure. This initial simplification is your roadmap.
Step-by-Step Drawing Process
Now, let’s build the drawing from the ground up, layer by layer.
Establishing the Gesture and Basic Forms
Start lightly with your HB pencil. Draw a simple line of action—a sweeping curve that represents the spine’s arc from the head down through the torso. This curve captures the backward lean of the body.
Next, sketch a basic “stick figure” on this curve. Use ovals for the head, chest (ribcage), and pelvis (hips). Use lines for the limbs, paying careful attention to their angles.
- The line for the kicking leg should shoot straight up from the hip.
- The line for the bent supporting leg will come from the same hip but angle down and back.
- The arm on the side of the kicking leg is often stretched down or back for counterbalance.
- The other arm may be up near the head.
Don’t worry about details. Focus on getting the proportions and dynamism of this skeletal frame correct. This is the most important step.
Building the Body Volume
Once your gesture feels right, start adding volume. Use simple 3D shapes to flesh out the stick figure.
- Turn the chest oval into a cylinder or a box-like form to show the twist.
- Define the pelvis as a smaller box or cylinder.
- Use cylinders for the upper arms, forearms, thighs, and calves.
- Use spheres or ovals for the joints (knees, elbows, shoulders).
At this stage, you are constructing a mannequin. This helps you visualize the form in space and is crucial for getting the perspective right, especially for the legs that are coming toward the viewer.
Defining the Outline and Silhouette
Now, refine your shapes into a coherent outline. Smooth out the connections between the cylinders and spheres to create the contour of the body. Define the curve of the back, the taut line of the kicking leg’s hamstring, and the bent angle of the supporting knee.
Pay special attention to the silhouette. The outline of your figure should be instantly recognizable as a player mid-bicycle kick, even without internal details. A strong, clear silhouette is a hallmark of a powerful action drawing.
Adding Details and Features
With the body structure solid, you can now layer on the specifics that make it Ronaldo.
Drawing the Face and Expression
Position the face on the head oval. In the reference, his focus is intense, eyes fixed on the ball. His mouth is often open in a shout of effort or concentration.
- Lightly mark a center line down the face oval, curving it to follow the head’s tilt.
- Add a line for the eyes, which will be looking upward along the line of the kicking leg.
- Sketch the basic shapes of the nose, mouth, and jaw. Keep it simple; details can be refined later.
Capturing his determined expression sells the effort and moment of the kick.
Sketching the Kit and Boots
Now, draw the Real Madrid kit (white) or the Portugal kit, depending on your reference. The key is to draw the clothing over the body form, not flat.
- Draw the neckline of the jersey and the seams over the shoulders.
- Show how the jersey fabric stretches across his chest and back.
- Draw the shorts, noting how they wrap around the cylindrical forms of the thighs and hips.
- The socks and boots are critical. Draw the sleek shape of the boot on the extended kicking foot, with perhaps a hint of the studs. The supporting foot’s boot will be at a different angle.
Include small details like the jersey number (7) and any logos, but keep them subtle at this sketch stage.
Incorporating the Ball and Environment
No bicycle kick drawing is complete without the ball. Place it at the point of contact with his foot. Draw it as a simple circle in perspective—it will look like an oval slightly flattened where his foot meets it.
You can add minimal context. A few simple lines on the ground to indicate the grass of the pitch, or a suggestion of the goal net in the background, can add to the story without distracting from the main figure. Often, leaving the background blank focuses all attention on the athlete’s form.
Refining, Inking, and Shading
This is where your drawing comes to life.
Cleaning Up the Sketch
Use your eraser to lightly clean up your construction lines, leaving only the final outline you want to keep. Don’t erase all the guidelines; they can be helpful for shading. If you’re working digitally, lower the opacity of your sketch layer and create a new layer on top for clean lines.
Applying Line Weight and Ink
If you’re inking, go over your final lines with a pen or a darker pencil (2B/4B). Vary your line weight. Use thicker lines on the underside of forms (like the back, the bottom of the thighs) to suggest shadow and weight. Use thinner, sharper lines for details like the face or the seams on the kit. This variation adds depth and professionalism.
Adding Shadows for Depth and Drama
Shading defines the muscles and the light source. Look at your reference to see where the light hits.
- Typically, light comes from above (stadium lights). This means the top of the shoulders, the top of the kicking leg, and the head will be lighter.
- The shadow areas will be under the chest, the underside of the arms and legs, and the side of the torso away from the light.
Use your pencil to build up shading gradually. Start light and increase pressure in the darkest areas. Use hatching (parallel lines) or cross-hatching for a textured look, or smooth blending for a more photorealistic style. The contrast between light and shadow will make the figure pop off the page.
Troubleshooting Common Drawing Challenges
Struggling with a specific part? You’re not alone.
The Perspective on the Legs Looks Wrong
This is the hardest part. The legs are foreshortened—the kicking leg is coming toward the viewer, so the thigh should appear shorter and wider than if it were straight out to the side. Use your cylinder construction. The end of the cylinder (the knee) facing you will be a wider circle. Practice drawing cylinders at different angles separately before integrating them into the full figure.
The Pose Looks Stiff, Not Fluid
Return to your gesture line. Is it a dynamic, sweeping curve, or is it too straight? Exaggerate the arch of the back slightly. Check the flow of energy: it should travel from the planted (imaginary) foot, up through the twisted core, and out through the extended kicking leg. Loosen up your initial lines; use quick, confident strokes instead of slow, scratchy ones.
The Face Doesn’t Look Like Ronaldo
Focus on the key identifiers: his strong, square jawline, his intense eyes set under distinctive eyebrows, and his generally stern expression of concentration. Study a close-up portrait photo. Sometimes, simplifying the likeness is better than an overworked, inaccurate detail. A suggestion of his features can be enough to convey who it is.
Exploring Alternative Styles and Compositions
Once you’ve mastered the realistic approach, experiment.
Try a more stylized, comic book version with exaggerated muscles and bold, black shadows. Or attempt a minimalist line art drawing, using a single continuous line to capture the essence of the pose. You could also draw the sequence leading up to the kick—the jump, the wind-up, the impact—in a series of panels.
Another powerful composition is to focus on the celebration. Draw the moment after, with Ronaldo running toward the corner flag, his arms outstretched in his iconic “Siuuu” celebration, with the stunned Juventus crowd in the background.
Your Next Steps to Mastery
Drawing dynamic action like Ronaldo’s bicycle kick is a skill built through practice and observation. Start with this step-by-step guide, using strong references. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt isn’t perfect; each sketch teaches you more about anatomy and motion.
Try drawing the pose from different angles. Study other athletes in action—gymnasts, dancers, basketball players—to better understand how bodies move through space. Most importantly, enjoy the process of capturing one of sport’s greatest moments on your page.
Grab your pencil, find your favorite reference photo, and start with that first, confident line of action. The goal is waiting to be drawn.
