Goals are the moments we all live for in football. Be it the roar of the crowd, the sheer artistry on display, or the instant joy of seeing the ball ripple the net, goals are why the beautiful game captivates billions.
Over the last half-century, we’ve witnessed some truly sensational strikes, scored by the legends who define the sport.
From audacious long-range rockets to intricate team moves, from gravity-defying acrobatics to hilariously memorable own goals, there is something to fit every taste when it comes to styles of goals.
To name the greatest of all time-what a task: as intimidating as it might be, it remains exhilarating, nonetheless. Because everybody has his favorites, no list will ever please all.
Still, we’ve taken the plunge. Fueled by the thrill of revisiting football’s most magical moments, we’ve assembled our definitive list of the 10 greatest goals ever scored.
Some are breathtakingly skillful, others culturally iconic—all of them unforgettable. If your favorite goals or cheeky lob didn’t make it, take solace in the fact that these 10 are truly the best of the best.
- 1. Diego Maradona vs. England (1986)
- 2. Lionel Messi vs. Getafe (2007)
- 3. Zlatan Ibrahimović vs. England (2012)
- 4. Marco van Basten vs. Soviet Union (1988)
- 5. Gareth Bale vs. Liverpool (2018)
- 6. Dennis Bergkamp vs. Newcastle (2002)
- 7. Roberto Carlos vs. France (1997)
- 8. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Juventus (2018)
- 9. Zinedine Zidane vs. Bayer Leverkusen (2002)
- 10. Carlos Alberto vs. Italy (1970)
1. Diego Maradona vs. England (1986)
It is only befitting that Maradona heads this list with a goal described many a times as the Goal of the Century.
This goal showcased him picking the ball in his half and embarking upon an unbelievable run during the quarterfinal in 1986 between Argentina and England.
The great balance, incredible close control, and guile of Maradona evaded no fewer than five England defenders before he rounded goalkeeper Peter Shilton to slot coolly into the net.
This extraordinary goal had everything that made Maradona one of football’s greatest magicians: vision, skill, and the ability to function on the grandest stage.
2. Lionel Messi vs. Getafe (2007)
Before Lionel Messi became the eight-time Ballon d’Or-winning icon we know today, he was a young prodigy turning heads with jaw-dropping moments of brilliance. His goal against Getafe in 2007 was one of his best.
Starting deep in his own half, Messi weaved through four defenders and the goalkeeper with his trademark close control and precision.
The similarities with Maradona’s 1986 wonder goal were impossible to ignore, drawing comparisons between the two Argentine geniuses. Even as Messi went on to score hundreds more stunning goals, this solo effort remains a defining moment in his career.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimović vs. England (2012)
When it comes to audacious strikes, few can match Zlatan Ibrahimović. A friendly in 2012 against England and Zlatan produced a slice of pure genius that left the fans and pundits aghast.
With England goalkeeper Joe Hart stranded having made a poor clearance, Zlatan took to the air, pulling off an outrageous overhead kick from 30 yards.
The ball sailed into the net, with athleticism, precision, and flair all wrapped up in a single movement of genius. Acrobatic goals can be rare; scoring one from such a distance merely elevated this strike into the realm of the legendary.
4. Marco van Basten vs. Soviet Union (1988)
Marco van Basten’s volley in the 1988 European Championship final was a lesson in technique and audacity. Coming in from an almost impossible angle on the right, Van Basten let loose a first-time volley that sailed over the Soviet goalkeeper into the far corner.
That strike sealed the Netherlands a 2-0 victory, which to this day won the country their first major honor on the biggest of stages. To date, this is among those considered among the best strikes scored in high-level games.
5. Gareth Bale vs. Liverpool (2018)
The Champions League final represents the pinnacle of club football, and Gareth Bale’s outrageous bicycle kick against Liverpool in 2018 will forever be remembered as one of its greatest moments.
With the game in the balance, Bale met Marcelo’s ungainly cross with an overhead kick that sailed past the helpless Loris Karius. The
sheer difficulty of the strike, combined with its importance in securing Real Madrid’s win, makes it truly iconic. Even Zinedine Zidane, no stranger to a truly iconic goal, looked stunned on the touchline.
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6. Dennis Bergkamp vs. Newcastle (2002)
This goal by Dennis Bergkamp against Newcastle in 2002 was an absolute beauty and ingenuity.
Getting the ball just outside the box, Bergkamp improvised with a delicate flick that spun him around his defender, leaving the Newcastle backline frozen in disbelief.
The cool Dutch maestro slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to complete one of the most inventive goals ever seen in the Premier League.
The artistry of Bergkamp made sure the sublime looked so effortless, and this strike is still a testament to his genius.
7. Roberto Carlos vs. France (1997)
The outrageous free kick by Roberto Carlos against France in 1997 defied the laws of physics. From 35 yards out, the Brazilian left-back unleashed a strike that swerved dramatically mid-air, bending around the wall and into the net.
To date, scientists have studied this goal in an attempt to explain the physics behind the ball’s incredible trajectory. For fans, though, it’s simpler: pure magic from one of the greatest left-footed players in history.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Juventus (2018)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s bicycle kick against Juventus during the 2018 Champions League quarterfinal is one of those goals that transcended club loyalties. Not even the crowd from Juventus could help but applaud such brilliance from the Portuguese superhero.
Meeting a cross with perfect form, Ronaldo leaped to a near superhuman height before connecting cleanly with the ball to send it past Gianluigi Buffon.
The athleticism, technique, and precision on that strike were absolutely sensational-a goal that measured up to his legend.
9. Zinedine Zidane vs. Bayer Leverkusen (2002)
One of the greatest volleys to ever be watched in football came at the final of the Champions League in 2002 courtesy of Zinedine Zidane: Roberto Carlos’s cross-looping over from the left-kept dropping until, first time and with his weaker foot, it was thrashed into the top corner by Zidane.
The precision, power, and timing for such a strike are out of this world. That Zidane did it on the biggest stage only cemented his legacy among football’s all-time greats.
10. Carlos Alberto vs. Italy (1970)
Their team is generally regarded as the best in history, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winners, and Carlos Alberto’s goal in the final was the perfect encapsulation of their brilliance.
One sweeping team move ended with Pele’s perfectly weighted pass into the path of Carlos Alberto, who hammered the ball into the far corner. The strike was as much a testament to Brazil’s collective genius as it was to Carlos Alberto’s finishing prowess.
It’s a goal that defines an era.
