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The ball game, invented in England over a century ago, is now the most popular sport in the world. Most of all, the individual skill of football players who are able to make an extraordinary game is valued. Today we will remember the ten most beautiful goals in the history of football and the circumstances under which they were scored. This is not an official rating, but just a subjective selection, and every fan can easily remember a lot of no less cool moments.
10 George Weah
Many will remember George Weah as the 25th president of Liberia, but Milan fans will forever remember him for the incredible goal he scored for the club in 1996.
He managed to pick up the ball in his penalty area and run across the entire field to shoot past the opponent’s goalkeeper. Along the way, he dodged three Verona defenders with unrivaled ease.
George was recognized as the best African footballer of the 20th century, and also became the first and so far the only African to receive the Golden Ball.
9. Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp was known for his skill and ball control, but his goal for Arsenal against Newcastle in 2002 left everyone stunned, as no one expected even from him.
It’s hard to describe exactly what he did because no one else seems to have done it before. You could say that he threw the ball around the defender, turned and hit it right into the far corner, but it will be too dry, so you better see for yourself.
8. Roberto Carlos
https://youtu.be/E62yP9fMet0
This left-footed, undersized Brazilian has been hailed as one of the best left-backs in history, and his ability to shoot free kicks is considered a benchmark. He scored many goals, but the most famous was 22 years ago against France.
With the score 0:0, the French fouled on Romario and approached the ball for a set piece Carlos. It was 35 meters to the goal, which is far for a strike, but this did not stop Roberto and he took the run right from the center circle. Signature run, hit, and the ball flies past, but suddenly changes its trajectory and flies near the bar. Fabien Barthez looks after him helplessly.
This goal was later called “naked against the laws of physics”, since when shooting from behind the Brazilian, it is clearly visible that the ball initially flew past the goal. It was even studied by French scientists in 2010, who came to the conclusion that it is almost impossible to repeat this.
7. Manuel Negrete
Last spring, FIFA conducted a poll among fans to determine the best goal in the history of the World Cup and in front of you is the winner.
In the summer of 1986, Mexico played with the Bulgarian national team and the main character of that meeting was Manuel Negrete, who scored a stunning goal with side scissors. First, he threw the ball to a partner near someone else’s penalty area, he returned the ball in touch and the Mexican managed to hit in the fall.
At the Azteca stadium, where that match was played, they even erected a monument in honor of this goal, which does not happen all that often.
6. Graffiti
10 years ago, Bayern Munich was not yet the hegemon of the German Bundesliga, and Wolfsburg in 2009 easily carried out the metropolitan grand with a score of 5:1.
The match was bright, but the goal was the icing on the cake Graffiti, which was scored with mocking ease. Having bypassed two defenders in their penalty area, the player also beat the goalkeeper, after which, being with his back to the goal, he hit with his heel, hitting exactly in the corner.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovich
The odious Swedish striker scored more than a dozen acrobatic goals during his career, each of which is extraordinary and unique, like himself Zlatan Ibrahimovich, but his shot against England is something out of the ordinary even by his standards.
Joe Hart, the goalkeeper of the Three Lions, came out of the net trying to get ahead and headed the ball in front of Ibra, and anyone else in his place would have tried to receive and handle the ball, but the Swede did otherwise. Without hesitation, he hit through himself in the fall, despite the fact that it was 25 meters from the gate. Of particular piquancy is the fact that it was Zlatan’s 4th goal in that meeting (final score 4:2) and thus he put an end to the defeat of England.
Not surprisingly, at the end of the year, Ibra received the Ferenc Puskas Award, which is awarded to the author of the most beautiful goal.
4. Lionel Messi
The ingenious Argentinean, who has 5 Golden Balls to his credit, scored so many beautiful goals that even a dozen ratings are not enough, but the ball against Getafe scored in 2007 can be called the most spectacular. Even then, no one doubted Leo’s talent, but this solo passage of his still amazed the entire football world.
Having received a round in his half of the field, Lionel Messi easily left four (!) rival players, burst into the penalty area, beat the goalkeeper and scored.
In fact, he repeated the legendary goal of Diego Maradona (we will return to him later), only made it even more elegant. No wonder many believe that Messi is much more talented than Diego Armando was in his best years. Although, if not for the drug addiction of the latter, the history of football could have gone a different way.
3. Cristianu Ronaldo
https://youtu.be/vn-Q4Bto3pQ
Another great player of our time with five Golden Balls also scored many masterpieces in his career (remember at least his goal through himself in the final Champions League against Juventus), so choosing one is not an easy task.
But we still decided to include in our top his goal in a Manchester United shirt, when Cristiano Ronaldo “shot” almost from the center of the field, creating an opportunity from literally nothing.
Then Criro was not yet such a significant figure as he is now, and the biggest victories and achievements were waiting for him ahead, but it is thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United that we are now watching the talent of the Portuguese. If not for Ferguson, then the career of the “seven” could not have been so successful.
2. Diego Maradona
The greatest individual goal of all time, scored in front of 114 fans on the poor uneven ground of the Azteca Stadium during the World Cup quarter-finals.
Diego Maradona held the ball for 10,8 seconds, took 44 steps and touched the ball 12 times before scoring against England, and he started a solo pass in his own half of the field.
Maradona is certainly a player who has a controversial reputation, but there is no denying his ability to score great goals when it matters most.
If ever a tournament is associated with the greatness of a single player, it was the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
It is noteworthy that in the same match, the Argentinean scored a goal with his hand (that same “hand of God”), but by running across the entire field, he managed to rehabilitate himself, at least partially.
1. Zinedine Zidane
Every professional footballer is capable of scoring a beautiful goal, but not everyone can score like that in the final match of the Champions League. Zinedine Zidane – that’s not all, so he managed to hit the goal of the Liverpool “Bayer” with a spectacular volley after a Roberto Carlos cross from the flank.
Real Madrid deservedly won the big-eared cup that evening, and Zizou’s goal was the highlight of the match.