Top 5: Football Goals

Due to a lack of interesting stuff going on in my life, I'm going to mix this blog up a bit by doing my a 'Top 5' of various things.

The first one is my top 5 favourite football goals. A recent Twitter discussion had me thinking whether I could filter through all the thousands of goals I have seen in my lifetime into a top 5. To be fair it was extremely difficult, and you will see the list below, with the relevant video so you can see it for yourself. The list is not in any particular order...

Please comment my choices below, and feel free mention any goals you think should have been included.

Lionel Messi  vs Getafe

In my opinion, of all Lionel Messi's 263 goals for Barcelona and Argentina (at time of writing), this is his greatest. Set against a backdrop of 100,000 catalan supporters at Camp Nou, the 19 year old Lionel Messi truly announced himself to the global stage. At the time, Deco, his team mate, said the goal was the greatest he had ever seen in his life. What makes this goal all the more special is that we now know this wasn't a fluke. It was born out of pure instinctive genius which only Messi possesses. Watch in awe at the 19 year old, who will surely go on to become the greatest player of all time.

Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City

Old Trafford, February 2011 and Manchester City are proving to be an extremely stubborn opponents in this Manchester Derby. At the time of this game, the two teams had never been as closely matched, thanks to the foreign investment into Man City. Wayne Rooney, arguably the Premier League's best player, was desperately struggling for form at the time of this game, and produced a moment which will live long in the memory of football fans around the world. To attempt a bicycle kick against your local rivals, with the scores locked at 1-1 demonstrates that Rooney, no matter how out-of-form, never lacks confidence and to put it in the top corner shows that he is undeniably a genuine world class striker. For me, this is the best goal Rooney has ever scored. 

Trevor Sinclair vs Barnsley


In keeping with the overhead kick theme, this one from Trevor Sinclair is darn right ridiculous. As you watch the video, put yourself in Sinclair's position... A high, floated cross is approaching you and you're 20 yards out with your back to goal. What do you do... Try and win a flick on? Seems reasonable. Try and hold up the ball to bring other players into the game? Advisable. But what does Trevor Sinclair do? He decides "I'm gonna hit this!" and connects with the most perfect overhead kick you would ever dream to see. I would say it's textbook technique, but I think they had to re-write the textbooks after this one. There was only one outcome in which this decision to go for the overhead would be considered correct; if he scores. If he misses the ball, hit's it off-target or even if the keeper saves it, he would have made a stupid decision. But luckily, he hit an unbelievable shot that flew straight into the onion bag. Unstoppable.



David Beckham vs Greece

Shock. I'm an Englishman and I've put this free kick in my top 5. I was 12 when this went in, and I still remember it as though it was yesterday. It was the crunch game of the World Cup 2002 qualification, at Old Trafford and we needed at least a draw to qualify. For one reason or another, the team performed terribly, except for one man, David Beckham. This game is unarguably Beckham's greatest ever performance, and probably the best individual performance of any England Player since Geoff Hurst in '66. Beckham ran the show - left wing, right wing, centre mid; he was there. After Greece conceded a weak free kick in the 93rd minute, Beckham stepped up to take it. With the hopes of the nation literally resting on his right foot, Beckham unleashed an unstoppable strike, which curled majestically into the top left hand corner to send England to World Cup 2002. Cue wild celebrations around the country. Everyone remembers where they were when they saw this go in. It was just one of those moments.




Steven Gerrard vs Olympiakos

 Probably just as much for commentary as anything else, this classic from Stevie G will live long in the memory. At the time, Liverpool were on the verge of exit from the Champions League group stages, an up against an Olympiakos team that had only lost two games all season. Due to the complex nature of the group, Liverpool needed to win by 2 clear goals to secure progression and were stunned early on as they fell  behind to a superb free kick from the genius that is; Rivaldo. Now Liverpool need 3 goals to qualify, and 2 goals from also-rans Sinama-Pongole and Neil Mellor give the fans something to hope for as the game approaches the final five minutes. Step up Captain Fanstastic to deliver an unstoppable half-volley into the to corner of goal at the Kop end to send the fans into delirium. This was the goal that enabled Liverpool to go on and win the Champions League. Regardless of who you support, there is no denying that Steven Gerrard is a legend.

So there it is! Hope you enjoyed the list, get in touch with me on Twitter  here to let me know which ones you don't agree with (and what you'd replace them with). 





Sam