Google are celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Brazilian footballer Leonidas da Silva, who is widely regarded as the inventor of the bicycle kick.
The search engine’s home page is often manipulated to mark significant anniversaries and today da Silva’s inception of a now commonly-used goalscoring method has been depicted on the company’s logo (above).
The player – who turned to management after he retired in 1950 - first used the acrobatic technique in 1932 while playing for Bonsucesso club of Rio de Janeiro.
It was his remarkable displays as a tricky centre forward that earned him a reputation on the world stage.
Da Silva deployed a shoot-on-sight policy during matches, unleashing efforts from all angles and distances, while using his supple physique to produce athletic efforts.
He became known as the ‘Black Diamond’ after winning the support of Brazilian football fans with his displays for the Samba Boys. The forward scored 21 goals for his nation, eight of which came in the 1938 World Cup finals.
Aged 27 the Brazilian was jailed for forging a certificate that deemed him exempt from fighting in the Second World War.
Da Silva died in January 2004, aged 90.
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