12 Best Goal Ever in Soccer History!! Soccer is one of the most-enjoyed sports worldwide. The sport is also one of the oldest; thus, many magical moments have been captured during the matches.
Today, we are looking at some of the most incredible goals among those many brilliant moments. If this interests you, then stick with us as we present you with twelve of the most amazing goals in soccer.
You might also have a question about what makes a great goal. Well, it is a tricky one.
And the answer is simply the skills and tricks of the players. While sometimes, it is luck that makes up some of the most unbelieve goals.
Whether it be the player’s skills or just lucky moments, we have compiled a list of some of the best goals in soccer history. Now, without further delay, let’s get on the list right away!
Quick Overview
Before we get into the list, let us look at the summary of the moments below first.
| Name Of The Player | Year |
| 12. George Weah | 1996 |
| 11. Geoff Hurst | 1966 |
| 10. Zinedine Zidane | 2002 |
| 9. Eric Cantona | 1996 |
| 8. Trevor Sinclair | 1997 |
| 7. Carlos Alberto | 1970 |
| 6. Marco Van Basten | 1988 |
| 5. Dennis Bergkamp | 2002 |
| 4. Lionel Messi | 2007 |
| 3. Zlatan Ibrahimović | 2004 |
| 2. Roberto Carlos | 1997 |
| 1. Diego Maradona | 1986 |
Best Goal Ever in Soccer History
We have prepared this list with the help of trusted internet sources such as BleacherReport and HowTheyPlay.
12. George Weah
The first goal in our list of the best goal ever in soccer history was scored by George Weah in 1996. He scored an incredible goal for AC Milan in a game against Verona.
The Liberian player ran the length of the pitch to slot past the opposition goalkeeper and managed to pick up the ball in his penalty area.
He skillfully made it past three defenders to make the memorable goal.
Weah made the goal look effortlessly flawless. No wonder he was named the African Player of the Century in 1996.
11. Geoff Hurst
For our number 11 of the best goal ever in soccer history, we are going back to 1966. It can be considered one of the classic moments for English soccer.
The English were playing against Germany, and Geoff Hurst made his senior debut for his home country England.
As the full-time whistle approached, Hurst had reached the penalty box and fired a powerful shot that struck a divot as it bounced in front of him.
The shot connected and hit the net, ending the game at 4-2 and England winning the Cup.
Hurst’s goal was immortalized by the unforgettable commentary by BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme.
After the feat, Hurst became the first and only man to score a hat trick in a World Cup final.
10. Zinedine Zidane
In 2002, Zinedine Zidane scored a goal that many consider the greatest goal in Champions League history. Zidane performed a perfect volley to make the memorable goal.
Zidane played for Real Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final at Scotland’s Hampden Park. The Leverkusen had young Iker Casillas as their goalkeeper.
Casillas had already made two excellent saves, but Zidane pulled off one of the most challenging skills and scored “that” volley on the stroke of half-time.
He pulled off the move with power and accuracy on his weaker foot.
Thus, the goal is one of the best goals in soccer history and proves what a skillful player Zidane is.
9. Eric Cantona
On our number 9 of the best goal in soccer history, we have a goal by Eric Cantona at the 1996 FA Cup final. The goal is one of the finest moments of Cantona’s playing career.
Manchester United faced off their fiercest rival, Liverpool, for the Cup at Wembley. The Frenchman passed two players before exchanging passes with his teammates.
Then Cantona performed an exquisite volley against the rivals. His goal won the Cup for the Red Devils.
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8. Trevor Sinclair
We have one of the classic moments with a beautiful overhead bicycle kick goal in our number 8 best goal in soccer history. Trevor Sinclair executed the goal in the 1997 FA Cup.
The English player played for the Queens Park Rangers against the Barnsley at Loftus Road. Sinclar executed the overhead kick with flawless technique.
The overhead kick is one of the most challenging skills that a player can pull off.
As a result, the goal by Sinclair is considered one of the best goals ever scored in soccer history.
7. Carlos Alberto
In the 1970 World Cup, the world witnessed one of the most beautiful goals ever scored in soccer history. The goal belongs to Brazil’s captain Carlos Alberto Torres.
The game itself was a historic one where the Brazilin team featured prominent players like Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, and Gerson, led by Alberto.
The ball bounced on the pitch before Alberto hit it. With a perfect stride, he scored a beautiful goal just before the final whistle, scoring 4-1 against Italy. The Brazilian team won the World Cup final.
Alberto thought he would never score in the World Cup. However, his luck said otherwise as the former Brazil captain not only scored a goal but it is forever immortalized as one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history.
6. Marco Van Basten
We have another “that volley” masterpiece on our number 6 of the best goal ever in soccer history. It was 1988, and the Netherlands came face to face with the Soviet Union for the UEFA European Championship semi-final.
Back then, Marco Van Basten was 23 years old and considered one of the most promising talents. He had already scored a hat trick against England in the first round.
Then during the game, Basten hit a volley goal from an unbelievable acute angle. The ball hit the net, making the score 2-0. Furthermore, he also assisted fellow Rudd Gullit’s opening goal.
Basten’s volley was ranked number 21 in a 2002 UK poll for the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.
He was also the top scorer and named Player of the Tournament at the end of the match.
5. Dennis Bergkamp
On our number 5 of the best goal ever in soccer history, we have Dennis Bergkamp’s 2002 goal against Newcastle. It was the 2001-02 Premier League season, and his goal was one of the iconic goals of the league.
The Dutchman was playing for Arsenal. He received a pass from fellow Robert Pires while standing on the edge of the box. Bergkamp then flicked the ball, swiveled it, and scored the goal.
The goal can only be described as remarkable. Bergkamp’s goal was voted the best solo goal by an Arsenal player in the league. The creativity and flair of Bergkamp’s goal are yet to be performed by any other players.
The goal is one of the best displays of skills in soccer history. It gave Arsenal fans something to remember for a very long time.
4. Lionel Messi
There is no doubt that 37 year-old Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players ever. This iconic goal of his back in the 2007 Copa del Rey semi-finals is proof of why!
The Argentinian player was 19 years old, playing for Barcelona against the Getafe. Just 28 minutes into the game, Messi scored one of the most iconic goals in soccer history, reminiscent of Diego Maradona.
He dribbled past four players before reaching the goalkeeper. Messi went past the goalie and then rolled the ball to the net. It resembled the one that Maradona had pulled off 20 years earlier.
Barcelona beat Getafe with a 5-2 score. The incredible goal furthered Messi’s reputation as one of the best soccer players while furthering his comparison with Maradona.
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3. Zlatan Ibrahimović
The Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimović, is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time. Among the many goals of his career, non can beat the most remarkable solo goal he pulled off in 2004 against NAC Breda.
Ibrahimović was playing for Ajax back then. When he received the ball, the defenders were pushing from all sides. There was no opening for a pass as he dribbled the ball.
Then, he fooled the goalkeeper and scored the goal with his left foot. The moment is pure classic gold. The stadium erupted with the goal, and later, Ajax won the game with a 6-2 victory.
Ibrahimović made two goals during the game while assisting the other four.
The goal is one of the best displays of his excellent dribbling, intelligence, and ball-control skills.
2. Roberto Carlos
Our number 2 best goal ever in soccer history goes to Roberto Carlos. The Brazilian player’s free-kick against the French team in 1997 is considered one of the most spectacular free-kicks in the sport’s history.
The game was held at the Gerland stadium, Lyon; both teams were playing in the first match of the Tournoi de France. It was a warm-up game before the following year’s World Cup.
The ball was heading wide of the target and into the crowd. However, a spectacular long-range free-kick from the left-back Carlos swerved it back and into the net.
Thanks to the goal, Brazil, and France finished the game in a 1-1 draw. Carlos’s free kick looks unreal even today when you play the game’s video. It indeed is one of the best displays of jaw-dropping skill by Carlos.
1. Diego Maradona
When we talk about the 1986 FIFA World Cup between Argentina VS England, you might think about Diego Maradona‘s famous “Hand of God goal.” But no, we are not talking about that.
Maradona’s second goal after his first famous goal takes our number 1 spot of the best goal in soccer history. He calmly dribbled past five English players before reaching goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
He shot the ball that went past Shilton and into the net. There could be no other goal as perfect as this. So much so that Maradona’s goal became known as the “Goal of the Century.”
Argentina won the game by 2-1. Furthermore, Argentina also destroyed West Germany in the final and won the 1986 World Cup.
Conclusion
With this, we complete our list of the best goals ever in soccer history. The moments are still remembered, and they still mesmerize soccer fans. The goals are also a compilation of the player’s extraordinary skills and abilities.
So what do you think about our list? Thank you for sticking to the end of the list.
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