Frenchman Arnaud "Sean" Garnier was crowned world freestyle soccer champion on November 18 in São Paulo, Brazil at the Red Bull Street Style World Finals.
Displaying a truly unique urban style Séan thrilled the crowd by mixing his skillful ball tricks with breakdance moves.
Yokota's trademark somersaults brought loud cheers from the crowd but wasn't enough to convince the judges who announced Séan the champion.
A star-studded panel of judges chose each battle’s winner. Dutch football star Edgar Davids was joined by 1994 World Cup winner Bebeto and 2008 FIFA World Futsal Player of the Year Falcão, plus legendary New York breakdancer Crazy Legs.
On his way to the final, the Frenchman knocked out 17-year-old Brazilian Murilo Pitol in the semifinals.
"It was tough voting for a Frenchman against a Brazilian, but Séan was simply sensational," revealed Bebeto.
Known for his super-skillful moves on the futsal court, Falcão was impressed by the freestylers’ level: "I thought I had great skills, but after seeing these guys here I see I have plenty to learn."
Davids meanwhile summarized the historic night in one sentence: "I had never seen anything like this," the Dutchman confessed. "Brazil truly is a land of football passion, so there was no better choice to host this first World Championship. And what we saw here tonight confirmed that."
The world finalists made their way through 138 qualification tournaments in 44 countries judged by the criteria technical skill, ball control, and creativity the music.
The next world championship is scheduled for 2010 in South Africa, the same country that will host FIFA World Cup that year.
Also see:
Displaying a truly unique urban style Séan thrilled the crowd by mixing his skillful ball tricks with breakdance moves.
In the final against Japanese freestyler Yosuke Yokota, Sean pulled off difficult tricks including one which impressed the judges by sticking a pen on his teeth, then rolling the ball for several seconds on the pen’s tip.
Yokota's trademark somersaults brought loud cheers from the crowd but wasn't enough to convince the judges who announced Séan the champion.
A star-studded panel of judges chose each battle’s winner. Dutch football star Edgar Davids was joined by 1994 World Cup winner Bebeto and 2008 FIFA World Futsal Player of the Year Falcão, plus legendary New York breakdancer Crazy Legs.
On his way to the final, the Frenchman knocked out 17-year-old Brazilian Murilo Pitol in the semifinals.
"It was tough voting for a Frenchman against a Brazilian, but Séan was simply sensational," revealed Bebeto.
Known for his super-skillful moves on the futsal court, Falcão was impressed by the freestylers’ level: "I thought I had great skills, but after seeing these guys here I see I have plenty to learn."
Davids meanwhile summarized the historic night in one sentence: "I had never seen anything like this," the Dutchman confessed. "Brazil truly is a land of football passion, so there was no better choice to host this first World Championship. And what we saw here tonight confirmed that."
The world finalists made their way through 138 qualification tournaments in 44 countries judged by the criteria technical skill, ball control, and creativity the music.
The next world championship is scheduled for 2010 in South Africa, the same country that will host FIFA World Cup that year.
Also see:
