Goals of the decade
As 2019 has come to a close, the contributors here at musicfootballfatherhood.com, have picked their favourite goals of the decade. Let us take a look at which goals made it.
Part 1
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6u3f2sgmnh/
Olivier Giroud v Crystal Palace, 1st January 2017
This fine strike was the winner of the 2017 Puskas Award. This accolade is given for the goal that is seen as the most aesthetically brilliant goal of the year, and this goal was more than worthy. Giroud, rounded off a flowing Arsenal move with a sublime scorpion kick that went in off the underside of the bar.
Jamie Vardy v Liverpool, 2nd February 2016
In a game Liverpool were dominating possession in, Leicester however broke down an attack, and a smart ball over the top by Riyad Mahrez quickly found Vardy. Before Dejan Lovren could close him down, he fired a volley from almost 25 yards over Simon Mignolet who was off his line to give the Foxes the lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo v Juventus, 3rd April 2018
A goal that was the catalyst for his move from Real Madrid to the Turin giants later on in 2018, Cristiano scored a dream goal that drew mass applause from the Juventus faithful. From a Dani Carvajal cross, he seemed to be in the air for an age, before an amazing overhead kick in the first leg of the Champions League Quarter-final.
Saul Niguez v Bayern Munich, 27th April 2016
Spanish international Niguez lit up the Vicente Calderon with a goal that Lionel Messi would have been proud of. Early on in the Champions League semi-final first leg, he waltz past four Bayern players, before coolly finishing in off the post before another tackle almost came in to give Atletico a 1-0 win.
Papiss Cisse v Chelsea, 2nd May 2012
When he joined Newcastle, Cisse started Premier League life by scoring some great goals, but this particular one was something extremely exceptional. Once the ball dropped, Cisse beat a scrambling Petr Cech with an audacious volley with the outside of his right foot from well outside the corner of the 16-yard box. This finish looked impossible from the angle he received the ball.
Robin van Persie v Spain, 13th June 2014
We thought the idea of humans having the ability to fly was a myth, until van Persie showed us different in the 2014 World Cup. Holland stretched the defending champions Spain, and Daley Blind played a smart ball into van Persie’s direction. The Dutchman glided through the air to score a superb header that looped over Iker Casillas.
Luis Suarez v Paris Saint Germain, 15th April 2015
Everyone expected a close Quarter-final between PSG and Barcelona in 2015, but Barca were rampant, and blew the Parisians away. The performance was capped by a sweeping team move which saw Suarez gather the ball, he cheekily nutmugged David Luiz, and he then curled the ball expertly into the top corner.
Part 2
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ybjq3A9Xr/
Zlatan Ibrahimovic v England, 14th November 2012
A man who does not lack self-confidence, the Swede showed another example of his brilliance here. Joe Hart came off of his line to try and alleviate danger with a header, but Ibrahimovic scored his fourth goal of the game with an outrageous bicycle kick from well outside the box that went over everyone and humbled Joe Hart. Truly stunning!
Dejan Stankovic v Schalke, 5th April 2011
Stankovic is known for scoring some great long range efforts, but what he did here was insane. Not even 30 seconds were on the clock, when Manuel Neuer came off of his line to head the ball away, the Serbian then hit a first time volley into the unguarded goal from inside the centre circle straight into the net, the technique was truly a joy to behold.
Lionel Messi v Real Betis, 17th March 2019
The Argentine magician was up to his usual artistry, as he completed his hat-trick with another special goal. He drove forward into the box, before passing to Ivan Rakitic, who gave the ball back to him, Messi then produced a deft chip on the run that went in off the bar, genius and brazen at the same time.
Carlos Tevez v Mexico, 27th June 2010
Argentina had set the 2010 World Cup alight with some great play and lovely goals, and Tevez’ strike complemented this. Some had expected a tight last 16 game, but Argentina took no prisoners here, Tevez scored the third, after initially losing the ball, he fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Jack Wilshere v Norwich, 19th October 2013
Intricate and incisive passing football became a stamp of Arsene Wenger’s tenure at Arsenal, and this was another defining moment. Wilshere finished off a spellbinding team move with a calm finish after exchanging passes with Olivier Giroud.
Sergio Aguero v QPR, 13th May 2012
Let alone being the most important goal in English football in the decade, this was also the most iconic moment since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992. With Manchester United seconds away from winning the league, Aguero jinked through and then smashed in the winning goal in the fourth minute of injury time for Manchester City to hijack the title.
Kieran Trippier v Croatia, 11th July 2018
England had been in euphoria throughout the summer of 2018, as the national team got through into an unexpected World Cup semi-final. Trippier curled a great early free kick high into the net to send everyone into ecstasy and had us believing football was actually ‘coming home’ until Croatia later equalised.
Part 3
https://www.instagram.com/p/B63pTWOgxZV/
Gareth Bale v Liverpool, 26th May 2018
Liverpool had worked their way back into the 2018 Champions League final, only for Bale to nip any momentum they had in the bud with a truly distinctive goal. The Welshman produced a stunning scissor kick out of nowhere, which flew past Loris Karius, from Marcelo’s right foot cross.
Andros Townsend v Manchester City, 22nd December 2018
Manchester City do not lose very much, but then they ran into a clinical Crystal Palace side here. Bernardo Silva headed the ball away, only for Townsend to strike one of the best volleys you will ever see, and that is an understatement. The ball rocketed off his left foot into the roof of the goal from his first time effort. Immense!
Lionel Messi v Athletic Bilbao, 30th May 2015
Messi scores a savage amount of individual goals. But this one was in the Copa Dey Rel final, and though it is expected of him, we were still to be left in awe. The little Argentine effortlessly dribbled past five Bilbao men before finishing well at the near post. This was a goal worthy of winning any trophy.
Neymar v Villarreal, 1st February 2015
Regardless of what you think of his mannerisms, Neymar’s talent is undeniable and this goal was an embodiment. He took a pass Luis Suarez on his chest, flicked the ball over the oncoming defender’s head, and then volleyed it in before it touched the ground past Sergio Asenjo. Complex Simplicity.
Tim Cahill v Holland, 18th June 2014
Hitting a controlled volley first-time when the ball comes across you, is one of the hardest things to do in football, and Cahill made it look elementary. With what was one of the best goals of the 2014 World Cup; he watched the ball over his shoulder and hit a left footed effort that crashed in off the bar.
Harry Kane v Arsenal, 5th March 2016
In a derby game, you sometimes do not see the quality you would like, but Kane scored one of his better if not his best Spurs goal in this one. Dele Alli did very well to do a back flick when it looked like he had chased down a lost cause near the corner flag. The England striker then picked up the ball, and from an acute angle on the edge of box his shot flew in off the post past a hapless David Ospina
Oscar v Juventus, 19th October 2012
Oscar’s move to Chelsea was scrutinised, but he answered many questions with his goal against Juventus. He received the ball with his back to goal, and did an intelligent flick between two men before curling a shot that the keeper had no chance with into the top corner. It was purely poetry in motion.
Bobby Zamora v Derby, 24th May 2014
The last goal was a very good goal, but its huge sentimental value for the editor of MFF, is what makes it so significant. Zamora sent QPR back into the Premier League with the winner in the 2014 Playoff final. He seized on some questionable defending to fire the ball in on his left foot and send the QPR faithful into rapture.