Mario Mandzukic for Juventus v Real Madrid, 2017
This was an incredible effort, as much for the build-up as the strike: the Gonzalo Higuaín knock-off, the way the ball didn’t touch the ground after Leonardo Bonucci’s diagonal pass, almost like a training-ground move. From the moment Mandzukic received the ball, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. His chest control was perfect and his finish was wonderful. Some people blamed the goalkeeper but I thought he caught him by surprise.
Zinédine Zidane for Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen, 2002
This was a goal that typified what a great player he was. The ball was dropping out the air and he watched, swivelled perfectly and hit it into the top corner. I remember telling everybody about how brilliant he was when he was at Bordeaux, when he was relatively unknown, but at Euro ’96 he was a little bit disappointing. But this goal was right in the pomp of his career, the sort of strike that justified his status as the world’s most expensive player. The type of goal that only he could score.
Steven Gerrard for Liverpool v AC Milan, 2005
You have to put goals into context. Liverpool were 3-0 down, the ball came to Gerrard, and he wasn’t exactly known for heading it into the top corner from 15 yards. Great players have a way of picking their moments — you could see by the way that he ran back to the halfway line, waving to everybody, he knew that that was the lift they needed. He played right back, centre midfield and centre forward in that game: he might not have won the league title, but this was his legendary moment.
Lionel Messi v Manchester United, 2009
I loved this goal. Messi is 5ft 7in. United had Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at centre back. I just remember thinking: “Bloody hell, what did he just do there?” He’s renowned for dribbling past people but in a funny way this is the goal that I associate with his greatness. It wasn’t a powerful header, but it was perfectly directed one, looping the ball over Edwin van der Sar.
Frank Rijkaard v Benfica, 1990
This summed up what Rijkaard was all about: his athleticism to burst from midfield, his drive. Watching it now, he reminded me a bit of Frank Lampard, in the way he burst through the heart of the defence. It was a beautifully judged first-time pass by Marco van Basten, and a brilliant finish by Rijkaard.