There is nothing like a dramatic winner or unfathomably skillful goal. Throughout soccer’s history, 10000’s of strikes have found the net with enough skill or drama to leave supporters’ jaws agape.
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While time is a one-way street, and sadly great players shine and fade from the public consciousness, I am here to remind you of those absolute classic howitzers that still leave your hair standing after 100th viewings.
5. The Hand Of God
It may quite literally be an illegal goal, and it may be the antithesis of the beautiful game, but Maradona’s infamous ‘hand of god goal’ can’t be overlooked.
A simple goal in principle, Diego simply ran onto a chipped through-ball, and in seeing the goalkeeper was going to get there before he could get his head on the ball, the diminutive Argentine stuck out a hand as he went to head the ball, punching it past Peter Shilton in net.
To knock England out of the 1986 World Cup in such a way, and for such a wonderful player to not only attempt such a move but get away with it… It’s utterly outrageous, but even with myself being an Englishman, I can’t help but admire it.
The goal received its iconic name after an interview with Maradona, in which he claimed the goal was “a little bit the head of Diego, a little bit the Hand of God.”
4. Encara Messi
From one Argentinian magician to the next, of course, it’s Lionel Messi, with his spellbinding solo run against Getafe for Barcelona. The best solo run I’ve ever seen, Messi beats 7 players including the goalkeeper in a run that starts inside his own half.
Often ignored is the fact that this goal came in the Semi-final of the Copa Del Rey. The then-19-year-old Messi scored a carbon copy of the greatest goal ever scored to give Barcelona a 2-0 lead going into halftime of the first leg.
The goal would later gain legendary status as it simply became known as the ‘Encara Messi goal’, named for the Catalan commentator who could do nothing but repeat ‘Encara Messi’ as he slalomed his way to a wonder goal.
3. Roberto Carlos and His Banana Free-Kick
A real simple one, we’ve all seen it I’m sure, it may have been in a glorified friendly competition, but no player has come close to hitting a free-kick s perfectly.
It’s Roberto Carlos’ Banana shot Free-kick.
The strike looks to be sailing miles wide before it bends into the top-right corner as if by magic…
Utterly sensational
2. DENNIS BERGKAMP DENNIS BERGKAMP DENNIS BERGKAMP!!!
A goal more famous for the commentary associated with it than the skill of the finish, although it is a great goal.
A last-minute winner in the 1998 World Cup quarter-final, Bergkamp pulls De Boer’s long ball out of the air, sending the Argentine defender, before sticking it into the top corner, sending both the English and Dutch commentary into a bewildered fervour.
Diego Maradona‘s Mazey Run to Break English Hearts
Maradona scored both goals in the 1986 World Cup Semi-final, the infamous Hand of god, and then the greatest goal ever scored.
Think Messi’s goal, but against a world-class England team, in the second biggest game of his life on a terrible pitch where dribbling was notoriously difficult.
It’s better you just watch it and see what I mean…
