Erick Hernández sets another world record, now with a Baseball Five ball

August 2, 2025

Cuban record holder Erick Hernández achieved four thousand 626 touches in 35 minutes, with a Baseball Five ball and using only his head, to set a world record in this difficult specialty.

At the event held at the Hotel Copacabana, "El Dominador" faced a unique challenge, since the ball used has a much smaller striking surface than a soccer ball, which significantly increases the technical difficulty and precision required.

It's a completely different experience; it demands absolute focus because any minimal deviation can make you lose control of the sphere, he declared to the Cuban News Agency after accomplishing the feat.

The event began at 10 in the morning with the presence of judges and a public that followed each touch closely at the tourist complex located on the Havana waterfront.

Hernández confessed that he felt great anticipation because it was a record so different from the usual ones.

"It commanded my respect from the first day of training; it's not the same to control a conventional ball as one of Baseball Five, which is smaller, faster and less predictable in its bounce. Plus the position of the neck is more inclined, which is more exhausting".

At 59 years old, a graduate in Physical Culture and former soccer player, Erick reaffirms his relevance by adding this mark to an extensive collection of more than 30 world records, many of them recognized by World Guinness Records.

Furthermore, he announced that soon he will seek to adapt this novel practice to the sitting position, a variant that he considers "extremely demanding due to strain in the lumbar area".

The most immediate goal will be to attempt again the greatest number of touches to a soccer ball during one minute, a test that he will repeat to compile the greatest amount of evidence with the aim of having the magazine of human achievements recognize it.

For the Havana native, this achievement, the third of the year, also has a symbolic component: "It is a tribute to Cuba's Baseball Five players, who have given us so much joy with their world titles. This sport has grown so much in our country and I wanted to recognize it with a record worthy of its stature".

With this new record, Hernández reaffirms his message of perseverance, willpower and discipline, values that —according to him— constitute the essence of each of his challenges.

On May 31, Erick controlled a soccer ball with only his head from a sitting position for one hour, 20 minutes and 36 seconds, with a weight of 1.5 kilograms on each ankle.

Last April, also at Hotel Copacabana, Hernández controlled the ball for 10 hours, 13 minutes and three seconds using only head and feet, without using his thighs.