Soccer, or football as it is known in some parts of the world, has always been about more than playing a sport. It is an international language that unites billions of people from cultures, continents, and generations. Among the many flashes of brilliance the game has given, few have been as seared into memory as the goals that stopped time — those exceptional, dreamlike ones that defied the prosaic and entered football legend. They were not just goals on the score sheet; they were imagination and decided eras. So, let’s take a trip through some of the most amazing goals ever scored, and if you’re up for more or want to share your favorites, you can always join in the discussion on the Offshore Sportsbooks forum!
#1 Diego Maradona vs. England (1986 World Cup)
There have been fewer goals in history that more clearly exhibit sheer genius than Diego Maradona’s second goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. Just moments after his infamous “Hand of God” goal, Maradona took a ball in his half and embarked upon a twisting run that would be mythic. Weaving and dodging around five English defenders with balletic speed, balance, and close control, he slipped the ball past Peter Shilton to give Argentina a 2-0 lead. The goal, later voted Goal of the Century by FIFA, showcased Maradona’s unique blend of skill, audacity, and determination.
#2 Zinedine Zidane vs. Bayer Leverkusen (2002 UEFA Champions League Final)
On Europe’s largest stage, Zinedine Zidane played a moment of sheer magic that sealed Real Madrid’s ninth European crown. In the 45th minute of Glasgow’s European final, Roberto Carlos floated in a desperate cross into the penalty area. Zidane, wide on the right on the area’s edge, used his body to hold off a defender and struck a superb left-footed volley, which arrowed into the top corner. The technique, the style, and implementation of that ambition astounded players and fans alike — a masterclass by one of the sport’s greatest masters.
#3 Marco van Basten vs. Soviet Union (1988 European Championship Final)
When perfect volleys are being debated, Marco van Basten’s 1988 Euro final goal always comes up. When the Netherlands were ahead 1-0 against the Soviet Union, Van Basten was supplied with a high, looping cross by Arnold Mühren along the right touchline of the penalty area. From the almost impossible position, he struck a powerful volley that curved over the goalkeeper and found its way into the far corner. That strike not only sealed the Dutch victory but also summarized the beauty and precision of Van Basten’s playing.
#4 Lionel Messi vs. Getafe (2007 Copa del Rey)
At the tender age of 19, Lionel Messi made a goal so reminiscent of Maradona’s 1986 tour-de-force that comparisons were inevitable. Having received the ball on the halfway line, Messi outpaced five Getafe defenders with blistering acceleration and mesmerizing close control before dispatching the keeper with all the ease in the world. It was a moment that made Messi an up-and-coming superstar and an early exhibition of his ability to make the ridiculous seem ordinary.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Juventus (2018 UEFA Champions League)
Cristiano Ronaldo has earned his living through netting stunning goals, but the bicycle kick for Juventus in the 2018 Champions League quarterfinals is routinely referred to as the greatest of his career. Siding past defenders, Ronaldo hit a beautifully timed overhead kick which left Gianluigi Buffon frozen. Even the Juventus supporters rose to applaud the Portuguese hero’s daring strike, one of the few moments of universal appreciation in the fiercely partisan football universe.
#6 Dennis Bergkamp vs. Argentina (1998 World Cup)
Few shots blend technique, serenity, and drama to the extent that Dennis Bergkamp’s glorious shot in the dying seconds of the 1998 World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina does. Down 1-1, Frank de Boer initiated a 60-yard pass down the field to Bergkamp. The Dutch striker touched it first with elegance, used his second touch to chip it over a defender, and his third to power it in. In fewer than three seconds, Bergkamp scored one of the finest and most decisive World Cup goals in history.
#7 Roberto Carlos vs. France (1997 Tournoi de France)
Roberto Carlos transformed what was possible from a set piece when he took his ridiculous free-kick against France in 1997. Positioned more than 30 meters from goal and at an effectively impossible angle, Carlos kicked a storm with the outside of his left boot. The ball seemed to break the laws of physics as it curved around the wall and back inside the post, leaving goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in awe. Decades later, the goal remains one of the most incredible displays of power and swerve ever witnessed.
#8 George Weah vs. Verona (1996 Serie A)
When George Weah got hold of the ball in his own penalty box during an AC Milan match with Verona, few could have anticipated what was about to happen. Weah tore up the pitch, speeding past and pushing off defenders along the length of the field before slotting the ball into the net with ease. The goal encapsulated Weah’s unusual combination of strength, speed, and flair, and is one of the great solo goals of Serie A.
#9 David Beckham vs. Wimbledon (1996 Premier League)
Before he became an international phenomenon, teenage David Beckham impressed with a ballsy strike from halfway. Laying the Wimbledon keeper off his line, Beckham let fly a perfectly judged shot that sailed over the keeper and into the net. It was the goal that won the game and introduced a player who would go on to achieve greatness.
#10 Andrés Iniesta vs. Netherlands (2010 World Cup Final)
While not the most technically dramatic goal, Andrés Iniesta’s shot in the 2010 World Cup final has enormous historical significance. In the 116th minute of a tense, scoreless final, Iniesta pounced on a pass in the box and drilled past the Dutch goalkeeper to deliver Spain its first World Cup ever. As he wheeled off in victory, millions of Spaniards lost their minds — a goal that rallied a nation and completed an era of Spanish dominance.
