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The Top 20 Most Amazing Goals of the Last 50 Years

Ozren Podnar reports on the best 20 goals in football...

Van Basten's volley above all!

Phenomenal goals no doubt get scored at lower league games or even in schoolyards, but we have taken into account only goals achieved on the big stage. In important competitions the scorers compete with the best of defences, making their goals the most valuable. For us, the goal of the highest combined quality and importance was that of Marco van Basten against the Soviet keeper Rinat Dasayev in the European championship finals of 1988 in Munich.

Top 20 Greatest Goals

1. Marco van Basten (Holland) Holland - USSR 2-0 (Euro 1988)

Veteran Arnold Mühren launches a long cross from the left flank. The ball flies for 40 meters towards Marco van Basten at the opposite end of the area, almost at a dead angle to the goal. The Swan from Utrecht hits the ball with the top of his right foot and sends it with terrific force and accuracy to the only undefended spot above the world's best keeper, Rinat Dasayev. The goal of goals for the only Dutch international crown.

2. Diego Maradona (Argentina) Argentina - England 2-1 ( World Cup 1986)

The only way to apologize for the "Hand of God", an illegal handball which duped the referee, was with a fabulous goal. And Maradona delivered just that, at the end of a 60-meter slalom around six England defenders.

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Sweden - Italy 1-1 (Euro 2004)

Draw or elimination was Sweden's dilemma five minutes from the end of the game against Italy. The Azzurri kicked the ball away from the goal-line towards the center of the box, empty of Swedes. But, Zlatan rushes with his back to the goal towards the ball, jumps and flicks it backward with the outside of his right foot, sending a perfect lob over and beyond Buffon.

4. Ryan Giggs (Wales) Manchester Utd - Arsenal 2-1 (FA Cup 1999)

FA Cup semifinal. A weary Giggs with a groin injury receives the ball in his own half, then launches a run towards Seaman, dribbles past four members of the best English defence, approaches the goal from the left and unleashes a cannonball just under the bar. A goal that equals Maradona's against England in Mexico.

5. Roberto Mancini (Italy) Parma - Lazio 1-3 (Italian League 1999)

Present Inter coach decides a big match at Parma. A corner kick to the near edge of Parma's area, towards Mancini positioned at 14 meters with his right flank to the goal. Without looking at the goal, the number 10 strikes the ball semi-backwards with the outside of his right foot, sending it right under the crossbar.

6. Zinedine Zidane (France) Real Madrid - Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 (Champions League 2002)

Champions League final at Hampden Park. At 1-1, a cross from the left wing falls at the edge of the penalty box before Zidane, level with his chin. The Franco-Algerian fires a geometrically perfect volley stretching the net under the bar and winning the ninth European title for Real Madrid.

7. Rabah Madjer (Algeria) Porto - Bayern 2-1 (European Cup 1987)

In Vienna, before a partisan crowd, Bayern lead by 1-0 with 13 minutes to go. The Algerian virtuoso Madjer found himself with the ball right before him, only he was turned with his back to the goal. Without the time to turn, Madjer flicks it backwards with his heel, knowing by the reactions of his mates he had sent it home. Two minutes later, Madjer crosses for Juary and there was the first European Cup for Porto.

8. Pele (Brazil) Brazil - Sweden 5-2 (World Cup 1958)

Just inside the penalty box, Pele flicks the ball over one Swede, then over another and then calmly sends it to the opposite corner of the net. An amazing display of calm and skill for a 17 year-old, starting the greatest career of them all.

9. Roberto Carlos (Brazil) France - Brazil 0-1 (Tournoi de France 1997)

A free kick from 20 meters out, directly in front of Barthez's goal. Roberto Carlos takes a run and hits it with the outside of his left cannon, er, foot. Initially, it seems the ball flies towards the corner flag. Then it takes a shape turn towards Barthez's left post and goes in between the post and the astonished keeper. The greatest free-kick ever!

10. Rafael van der Vaart (Holland) Ajax - Feyenoord 2-0 (Dutch League 2004)

A deep pass towards Van der Vaart turned with his back to the goal. He lets the ball pass, moves away from its path, then recoils his left heel and with perfect coordination scores the best goal ever in the Dutch League.

11. Gheorghe Hagi (Romania) Romania - Colombia 3-1 (World Cup 1994)

In the USA Romania played prettier football than Brazil themselves, and Hagi was their inspiration. From 40 meters out, he unleashed a lob that beat the keeper. How do we know he aimed? Well, because he is Hagi.

12. Ronaldo (Brazil) Compostela - Barcelona 1-5 (Spanish League 1997)

Eight Compostela players tried to stop Ronaldo during his 55 meter-long run initiated in Barca's half by the touchline. But, Ronaldo was then at the peak of his physical strength and the rule of thumb was: bring him down, or he will score. And they could not bring him down.

13. Diego Maradona (Argentina) Red Star - Barcelona 2-4 (Cup Winners' Cup 1983)

Diego had only arrived in Catalonia, but his fans were already crazy about him. In the Cup Winners' Cup second round at Belgrade's Marakana, he advanced to the edge of the area, but Aleksandar Stojanovic had all paths to the net covered. All? No, the air was undefended. Maradona's solution? A lob, from the ground, without a run, that defied the laws of physics.

14. Carlos Alberto (Brazil) Brazil - Italy 4-1 (World Cup 1970)

The final match of the first Mexican World Cup. Clodoaldo beat two Italians and started a play which will go on for 15 consecutive passes and culminates with Carlos Alberto's tremendous strike from the right side, past Milan's Albertosi. The best combination in World Cup history.

15. Manuel Negrete (Mexico) Mexico - Bulgaria 2-0 (World Cup 1986)

World Cup second round. A sharp cross from the right at chest level. Negrete pounces on the ball and with his body in a horizontal position hits a dream volley from about 14 meters.

16. Nelinho (Brazil) Brazil - Italy 2-1 (World Cup 1978)

Third place playoff. Italy lead by 1-0, but Brazil had a grandmaster in Nelinho. From the right flank, 25 meters wide, he launched a smart bomb. At first, it headed towards the opposite touch line, but in front of Dino Zoff's goal, it swerved and entered the far upper corner of the net. A touch of genius.

17. George Weah (Liberia) Milan - Verona 4-1 (Italian League 1997)

The African player of the century in his best shape. Running 80 meters from Milan's to Verona's goal, he left seven players behind before nailing it home.

18. Rivaldo (Brazil) Barcelona - Valencia 3-2 (Spanish League 2003)

Last day of the Spanish championship. Barcelona was out of the Champions' League, Valencia was in. In the last minute, Frank de Boer crosses a high, useless ball to the edge of the area. Useless? Rivaldo jumps, bends backwards and performs a sensational scissor kick which gave Barca the win and a place in the Champions' League. "I had to strike it hard since I was so far from the goal," said the scorer of one of the most beautiful goals in Barcelona's history.

19. Gianluca Vialli (Italy) Juventus - Parma 1-1 (UEFA Cup 1995)

A high ball travelled from afar from the centre, slightly towards the left of the goal. Vialli followed its flight like a hawk, never losing it from sight, and struck it with a high volley, sending it where it is sweetest: under the bar. The Cup went to Parma, but the medal for skill was for Vialli.

20. Dejan Savicevic (Yugoslavia) Milan - Barcelona 4-0 (Champions' League 1994)

Milan was 2-0 ahead in the final in Athens, but capable of totally humiliating a fancied Barcelona. Savicevic, "the Genius", alone on the right edge of the penalty area, fires a preposterous lob which beats the towering, reliable Zubizarreta.

Ozren Podnar

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