Lionel Messi’s sublime lob in Argentina’s 3-0 Copa America defeat of Mexico got us thinking. There’s something special about lobs. Perhaps it’s their measured execution, or the impudence behind their making, or maybe just the way, during even the most frenetic of games, a really good one makes time stand still. They are the closest football gets to ‘Hollywood moments’.
Feeling inspired, we’ve picked our best ten, including Messi’s, and ask you to decide the best.
1. Eric Cantona, Manchester United v Sunderland - 1996
With Andrei Kanchelskis making a decoy run on the right, Cantona veered inside and played a wall-pass with Brian McClair. This took out the centre back, and McClair’s return pass left Cantona with another defender and the keeper to beat. On the edge of the area and with the centre back closing in, he seemed to pause momentarily before sending the most elegant of lobs over the goalkeeper’s head, bouncing off the angle of right-hand post and cross bar and into the net. In typical Cantona style, he simply remained standing, chest puffed, and turned slowly to survey the ground as he lifted his arms in salute.
2. Philipe Albert, Newcastle United v Manchester United - 1996
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The final goal in Newcastle’s much-celebrated 5-0 annihilation of Manchester United. What was he doing? He couldn’t defend, but he looked like Magnum PI and thought he was Zico. The look on Schmeichel’s face is priceless - getting lobbed from 40 yards by a centre half. Brilliant!
3. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United v Portsmouth - 2007
Gary Neville’s pass is cushioned expertly by Rooney who finds space and sends a sublime disguised lob beyond David James with Sol Campbell backing off, expecting the England player to drop his shoulder and run past him. Coming as it did at the end of a period of Rooney criticism, the goal reaffirmed a nation’s belief in its most gifted player.
4. Matthew Le Tissier, Southampton v Manchester United - 1996
In the game of United’s ‘wrong shirts’, Southampton, inspired by Eyal Berkovic, take United to the cleaners. The highlight of the 6-3 mauling was Le Tissier’s inch-perfect lob over Peter Schmeichel from the edge of the penalty area. Not his first wonder goal for the Saints, but surely one of the most satisfying.
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5. Karel Poborsky, Czech Republic v Portugal - Euro 96
Poborský’ had a wonderful Euro 96, capped by the moment during the Czech Republic’s quarter-final against Portugal, that he cool-headedly lobbed the ball over the advancing Vitor Baia. The style of this goal became a Poborský trademark, and the ridiculous trajectory of such a shot was thereafter attributed to him - “He’s done a Poborský”, as Ron Atkinson has more than likely said.
6. Dejan Savicevic, AC Milan v Barcelona - 1994
Milan were 2-0 ahead in the Champions League final in Athens, comfortably assured of victory, but capable of totally humiliating pre-match favourites Barcelona. Savicevic, “the genius”, found himself alone on the right edge of the penalty area and fired a preposterous lob to beat the towering, reliable Zubizarreta. The words “icing” and “cake” come to mind.
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden v Italy - Euro 2004
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Sweden needed a goal to avoid elimination from Euro 2004, with just minutes remaining in their final group game against Italy. Under siege, the Azzurri cleared towards the centre of a penalty area empty of Swedes, but Zlatan rushed in with his back to goal and somehow jumped to flick the ball backwards with the outside of his right foot, sending a perfect lob over Gigi Buffon.
8. Glen Little, Reading v Plymouth Argyle - 2005
Little weaves and bobs past a host of hapless Plymouth challenges before sending a wonderfully flighted lob into the far corner. His goal was the catalyst for a 2-0 victory that took Reading to the top of the Championship.
9. Glenn Hoddle, Tottenham Hotspur v Watford - 1983
Before he took over as England manager and began spouting utter nonsense, Hoddle had a previous career as a genius. Here, against Watford, he receives a pass, executes a first-time Cruyff-turn and dinks a magical lob into the far corner.
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10. Lionel Messi, Argentina vs Mexico - Copa America - 2007
The goal everyone’s talking about. The next George Best/Diego Maradona (delete as appropriate) drifts in from the right flank and opens his body to fly one into the opposite corner with his wand of a left foot, before being swamped by delirious Argentinian team-mates. The 20-year-old already had quite a collection of wonder goals , but this could be his best yet.