Wonder strike. Amazing. The greatest goal ever. Fluke. The half-way line volley from Dejan Stankovic, the Inter Milan midfielder, against Schalke in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday has been been called many things.
Whether it is the finest in history or just a casual swing of a chancer’s right peg is open to debate. So a debate we must have. We have compiled a list of some of the finest individual goals and whether you agree, disagree or are vehemently opposed, post your comments below and offer alternatives.
But first check out the Stankovic strike. Then consider that at 25 seconds it was the fifth quickest goal in the competition’s illustrious history and Inter didn’t even win the game, going down 5-2 at home. Or is that all irrelevant?
Matthew Burrows, Glentoran v Portadown, 2010
Matthew who? Exactly. He may not be a household name, perhaps in his own household, but Burrows produced a goal of extraordinary quality in stoppage time to win the Carling Premiership contest. The reliable Jonny Black swung it into the mixer and Burrows, with his back to goal, backheeled the ball over the goalkeeper into the top corner. You have to see it to believe it. Burrows’ effort was shortlisted for the Fifa goal of the year but, amazingly, didn’t win. This did from Hamit Altintop, the Turkey midfielder. How unlike Fifa to make an odd decision.
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George Weah, AC Milan v Verona, 1996
Pass it! He’s unmarked! You’re gonna lose it! Go on, square it! You selfish...oh ... fair enough.
Dennis Bergkamp, Arsenal v Newcastle United, 2002
Granted the fact that this goal came against a Newcastle United defence which had more gaps than the Bakerloo line is not a great start. But try watching it and not end up doing your best Barry Davies impression. “Urrrgh! You have to say that’s magnificent,” I think was how he used to put it. Bergkamp is a kitten. The ball is not made of leather but of wool. He is toying with it. The Dutch international didn’t score a bad one against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, either.
Roberto Carlos, Brazil v France 1997
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Football can be all things to all men. The purist who loves talking tactics and technqiue will get into a lather about a goal like Bergkamp’s. Those who like to watch a game in the pub while shouting about ‘playing for the shirt’ will probably prefer this effort. Carlos hits the ball so hard it changes direction. He scored another impossible goal for Real Madrid against Tenerife. And yes, we think he meant it.
Diego Maradona, Barcelona v Red Star, 1983
We could have included Maradona’s solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup but we’re still sore so we found this gem instead. So impressive was this lob, which appeared to defy the laws of physics, that the Red Star fans, not renowned as the most rational, gave it a standing ovation.