(Reuters) - With a flick of the head, some nifty footwork, a twist, flip and even a handstand, Norway's Erlend Fagerli won the Red Bull Street Style World Final after defeating Brazil's Ricardo Chahini in a showdown in Warsaw.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Fagerli added to his 2018 European and Super Ball crowns to complete a scintillating year at the 10th anniversary of the freestyle soccer tournament, which judges competitors on their skills doing tricks with a football.
"This has been a dream of mine for so many years to win the Red Bull Street Style. To do it, it's just amazing," Fagerli said.
On the panel of judges was Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid fullback who was part of the Brazilian team that beat Germany 2-0 in 2002's World Cup final.
"(There was) emotion, good players, it's very difficult (to decide) for the number one, number two," he said of the Street Style final.
For the women, Agnieszka Mnich topped the scoreboard with a victory over France's Melody Donchet in front of a patriotic Polish crowd.
"This is what I wanted to do from the beginning. I was preparing myself for the final battle," she said. "I am super happy."
(Writing by Kirsten Donovan; Editing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian)