Not Roberto Carlos or Cristiano Ronaldo for hardest shot record
The Guiness Book of Records has the most powerful shot in football timed at 129km/h, but the holder of that record is not one of those expected.
Marc Márquez, Fernando Alonso, Mireia Belmonte, Cesc Fábregas and ... Javier Galán. All names that appear among the Guinness Book of Records from the world of Spanish sport. The latter may not have the fame or fortune of the others, but he has a footballing ‘accolade’ ahead of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. Javier, now 41 years old, is an energy training technician, holds the record for the most powerful shot in the world.
Shooting power record to Spaniard
Former Fuencarral player, in the Tercera División, Galán signed up for a contest in Spain 18 years ago and broke the speedometer, even beating Brazilian thigh-monster, Roberto Carlos.
"He [Carlos] was shooting at 121km/h and Lima, at Levante, was at 122km/h. I tried and won with 138km/h," he explained to AS.
Once he won the national title, he went for the world record, which was broadcast on Spanish TV. It was there when he got the record that has stood since 2001 and is printed in the famous book. His shot was timed at 129 kilometres per hour, more than the maximum speed limit on the roads in Spain.
"The distance recorded is that of a normal penalty. They measure it from when it leaves your foot.
“The camera focuses on the point after connection with the ball. For Guinness, they only give you three attempts. You go and shoot and mine came out at 129km/h,” he recalled.
The production company that organised his record went looking for others around the world to challenge it, but were unable to find anyone.
The secret of the missile
We asked Galán what the secret of his shooting power was and his description is reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's 'dry leaf', although faster.
"Cristiano shoots at about 117km/h," he said. "My hit is normal. I do not take a run up on the side, I do it straight.
“As I came from futsal, I hit the ball with the instep but further inside. It is a very dry hit. It does not make it curve, the ball goes straight," he explained.
What is the limit?
The only ‘one’ that appears in the records book that has been able to beat Galán was a robot designed by Castrol that was measured at 210 km/h.
According to several internet sites that reproduce similar rankings, the most powerful shots hit during matches, without official radar measurements, have been close to that robot, with a particular one exceeding 200 km/h in the case of Ronny Heberson, a Brazilian who fired a howitzer from a direct free kick with Sporting Lisbon.