How many do you remember?
Messi, Ronaldo, Pele, Zidane, Maradona and co may all be world famous goalscorers and entertainers, but it’s extremely hard to pick just one memorable moment to define their incredible careers.
These players have all hit the back of the net with such regularity that it’s practically impossible to choose just one unique moment to define their goalscoring greatness but this task is a lot easier with some other footballers.
With this in mind, I’ve decided to draw up a list of some players who might not have scored as frequently as those mentioned above, but whose goals were just as memorable for different reasons.
Saeed Al-Owairan
The stakes: The final group game of Group F at USA ’94 between Belgium and Saudi Arabia was settled by a goal of absolute brilliance by Saeed Al-Owairan.
I know that there are still football fans who remember his name.
Clip via – womfalcs7
Phillipe Albert
The stakes: The Belgian chipped in with the odd goal on Tyneside, he managed 8 in 96 appearances, but his most memorable one came in the grudge match against Manchester United at St James’ Park.
It’s Phillipe Allllllberrrrrrrrt!
Clip via – eljaygee82
Juliano Belletti
The stakes: Barcelona are struggling to breakdown the 10-men of Arsenal in the ’06 Champions League final but the introduction of Henrik Larsson swung the match.
Cue the former Celtic man setting up the most unlikely of goalscorers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YMwWufdaZA
Clip via – albertcampru
Stephen Carr
The stakes: Alex Ferguson blamed the rain for disrupting the passing rythym of his treble winning side when they lost 3-1 to Spurs at White Hart Lane in October ’99.
I wonder who he blamed for this rocket from the Irish right-back?
Clip via – like2smile
Antonín Panenka
The stakes: It’s the final of Euro ’76 between Germany and Czechoslovakia but after extra-time, the result is 2-2.
Germany’s Uli Hoeness has just ballooned his penalty over the bar and with the score at 4–3, Panenka steps up to take the fifth and potentially deciding penalty.
What happened next was the biggest display of balls in footballing history.
Clip via – Mark Jan
Alan McLoughlin
The stakes: Have rarely been this high for the Republic of Ireland because qualification for USA ’94 was on the line at Windsor Park.
Clip via – Harry316
Marco Tardelli
The stakes: He may have scored 43 goals during his club career in Italy but Ireland’s former assistant manager will forever be remembered for one goal…and one celebration.
Clip via – miarchius
Federico Macheda
The stakes: Having clawed their way back from a 2-1 deficit, United are now drawing with Aston Villa at Old Trafford but three points are an absolute must, especially with bitter rivals Liverpool breathing down their neck in an extremely close title race.
The Italian would score with a backheel a week later at Sunderland but this was truly wonderful.
Valeri Qazaishvili
The stakes: Never forget that Ireland needed some help from elsewhere on the road to Euro ’16. Enter the new Gary MacKay.
Clip via – ACCEPT Inc
Basile Boli
The stakes: Can you remember why his name is important without being told? Ok then, he netted the winner in the ’93 European Cup final between Marseille and AC Milan.
Football anoraks might also remember his spell with Rangers.
Karel Poborsky
The stakes: Man Utd , Lazio and Benfica fans might be able to recall a few more strikes from the winger but he made the world take notice with this impudent finish at Euro ’96 during the Czech Republic’s 1-0 quarter-final win against Portugal.
Clip via – Kluna Channel
Tony Adams
The stakes: That sums it all up. Arsenal’s famous 97-98 double winning season that is. The Gunners talisman only scored 32 goals in over 500 appearances at Highbury very few have been as memorable as this.
What a pass from Steve Bould.
Esteban Cambiasso
The stakes: It’s the second round of matches during World Cup ’06 and the stage has been set for Argentina to score (for my money) the greatest goal in the history of football.
The only surprise is that it wasn’t Crespo, Saviola, Riquelme, Tevez or Messi that hit the back of the net. Kudos to Martin Tyler for a truly wonderful piece of commentary also.
Clip via – shabbyalonso
Nayim
The stakes: It’s the ’95 UEFA Cup Winners Cup final and David Seaman decides to wander off his line. Cue former Spurs player Nayim, from the halfway line! (Not exactly but you get the picture)
Clip via – serbiaroxbasketball
David O’Leary
The stakes: We all held our breath and the Arsenal man delivered. He only hit the back of the net 12 times in his career but no other goal mattered as much as this.
This whole story is great.
Clip via – RTÉ Sport
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