Football is no mere sport; it is a canvas upon which ingenious moments are engraved forever. We at The Football Yeller are here to provide you with the 10 Best Goals in Football History. From the deafening noise of fans seeing the impossible to thousands glued to television screens in disbelief, the game has been lit up by goals that will live through the ages.
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In this piece, we take you through the 10 greatest goals in football history, from number 10 all the way down to the best one. These are not just strikes; these are moments that shaped careers, tournaments and the soul of football. One of the countless works of art on display was this collection of goals — audacious solo runs, headers, stunning volleys — each a painting, a note of music or a sculpture in its own right.
10. George Weah vs Verona (1996)
One-man counter-attack George Weah gathered the ball in his own box, outstripped defenders the length of the pitch and rounded the keeper to finish coolly. A goal befitting of his strength, speed and desire. Watch The Goal Over Here.
9. Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle United (2002)
Next goal on the list is the Dennis Bergkamp goal against Newcastle United in 2002. In a moment of silk, Bergkamp nipped the ball around the defender and spun the other way, slotting in one of the Premier League’s great technical goals. Watch The Goal Over Here.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs England (2012)
Zlatan Ibrahimović netted an absurd bicycle kick from 40 yards in a friendly against England—a brash moment, even by his standards. The unpredictable striker was found to have been 32.45 yards out, or 29.53 metres, when he looped a shot over the head of a helpless Joe Hart and past a last-ditch clearance attempt by rookie Shawcross. Watch The Goal Over Here.
7. Ronaldinho vs Chelsea (2005)
With defenders closing him down, Ronaldinho toe-punted the ball from outside the penalty area in a bizarre, yet genius, show that would define much of his unpredictable flair. Ronaldinho strolled into Stamford Bridge and made it his personal playground with a phenomenal goal for Barcelona. Watch The Goal Over Here.
6. Roberto Carlos vs France (1997)
Roberto Carlos shot A free kick that appeared to defy gravity, Roberto Carlos bent a shot around the wall from miles out — a goal that has been studied by rocket scientists for decades. Watch The Goal Over Here.
5. Gareth Bale vs Liverpool (2018)
An outrageous bicycle kick from Gareth Bale sealed Real Madrid’s dominance in Kyiv—a goal scored on the biggest stage. Watch The Goal Over Here.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Juventus (2018)
With a stunning bicycle kick, Ronaldo’s eagle-like goal left the Juventus fans applauding his sheer audacity. Pure athleticism and technique combined. Watch The Goal Over Here.
3. Zinedine Zidane vs Bayer Leverkusen (2002)
The maestro that was Zinedine Zidane lived up to his star billing by conjuring up a truly extraordinary goal for Real Madrid in the final of the 2002 UEFA Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. A career-defining goal. Watch The Goal Over Here.
2. Lionel Messi vs Getafe (2007)
A solo goal that was pure Maradona esque, where Messi danced his way through six defenders from just past midfield to score, should have been an athletic feat not to be duplicated, but Messi’s uncanny dribbling ability and composure made it so. Watch The Goal Over Here.
1. Diego Maradona vs England (1986)
The “Goal of the Century”. Diego Maradona danced from his own half, past five English players, then gently put the ball into the net. The genius, finally, at the heart of the World Cup under pressure. Watch The Goal Over Here.
Top 5 Honorable Mentions
1. Marco van Basten vs USSR (1988): Marco Van Basten stretched back with impossible balance and kicked a looping goal that led the Netherlands to claim the Euro 1988 final. Watch The Goal Over Here.
2. James Rodríguez vs Uruguay (2014 World Cup): A to-the-chest control and an even more stunning volley from the top of the box, Rodríguez’s ’14 goal was his coming-out moment on the world stage. Watch The Goal Over Here.
3. David Beckham vs Wimbledon (1996): Beckham simply thumped the ball into the corner from the halfway line, lobbing the goalkeeper in a goal that made him an instant superstar. Watch The Goal Over Here.
4. Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City (2011): A stunning overhead bicycle kick in the Manchester Derby, awarded the best Premier League goal of 20 years. Watch The Goal Over Here.
5. Erling Haaland vs Borussia Dortmund (2022): One kung-fu volley for Manchester City, demonstrating Haaland’s combination of physicality and instinct for finishing in his inaugural Champions League campaign in the club’s colours. Watch The Goal Over Here. Watch The Goal Over Here.
Conclusion: Football’s Iconic Goals
Each of these goals has a story to tell. From Maradona’s unrivalled artistry to Zlatan’s miraculous acrobatics, these are the moments that remind us why football is about so much more than just a game. They’re life moments, glimpsed anew with each rewatch.
Whether you’re a new fan or old hand, these are goals worth watching over and over.
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