Kind of like Sir Mixalot we like big goals and we cannot lie. We normaly do Top fives but with so many belters in 2011 here’s JOE’s biggest (and best) of the year.
Neymar vs Flamengo
The Brazilian wunderkind is a one-man highlight reel but this goal against Flamengo was simply stunning. He may be staying in Brazil for a while yet but if and when he does move the boy will be expensive.
Leo Messi v Arsenal
We could easily do this list and include nobody else but the little Argentinean. But we have just gone for one and rather than any of the countless runs he made against La Liga teams, his flick over Manuel Almunia before slipping it home against Arsenal wins out. Sheer class.
Wayne Rooney v Manchester City
By the end of the year the title of best team in England may have slipped from the red to the blue half of Manchester, but back in February United were still top dogs and Wayne Rooney produced one his best ever goals, a perfectly executed overhead volley to win the game.
Sergio Aguero vs Bolivia
The Copa America was largely forgettable but Manchester City fans got a glimpse of how good Sergio Aguero would be with this finish against Bolivia. It gets extra marks for the quality of the cross and the chest pass. Beautiful.
Pat Sullivan v Patrtizan Belgrade
The volley of the year, certainly from an Irish perspective, and in such an important game too. Sullivan has never struck a ball as sweet in his life. Unstoppable and unforgettable.
Falcao v Braga
Headed goals often get overlooked but Falcao’s winner in the Europa League final was a perfect header, as he twisted his body to get the ball to zip into the top corner. If we tried it, we would have dislocated our neck and broken our collarbone when we hit the ground. The ball wouldn’t have gone in either. Falcao is considerably better than us at football. Fast forward to 1.10 in the clip to see the good stuff.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic v Lecce
You can’t have a run down of the year’s best without one from Sweden’s finest export since reindeer balls. Ibra kept up his frankly ridiculous run of league titles at AC Milan this year – he now has eight in a row – and he helped them on their way with this stunner against Lecce.
Deja Stankovic v Schalke 04
A sublime finish from the gifted Serbian.
Eren Derdiyok v Wolfsburg
Rooney’s goal was good but he didn’t tee himself up like this one from the Bundesliga.
Inigo Martinez v Athletic Bilbao
This kid got two from the halfway line in 2011. His other one is here but we prefer this one. Stunning.
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