Since 2009 FIFA have decided to give an award to the most beautiful goal of the year, their efforts so far have been satisfactory but they continue to choose goals based on how famous the player who scored it is. But for Football: The Global Games first Friday top ten I thought I'd choose what FIFA deem to be the ten most aesthetically beautiful goal of the year (click on the link to watch the goals) the winner is voted by us, the public. So the top ten goals of 2011 are:
Benjamin De Cuelaer vs Club Brugge Belgian League
In my opinion the most skilful of the ten, he receives a low cross from the wing and first time flicks it over his marker before stabbing home the volley giving both the defender and keeper no chance. to quote Clive Tyldesley "And what a goal that is, what a goal that is!"
Giovani Dos Santos vs USA CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
A lovely goal, a defence splitting pass to the former Barcelona and now Tottenham star, who weaves past fives players before sending the most delicate of chips about as close to the top corner as you can get. You have to take into account the fact it's scored in such an important match. Mexico have been two down and this goal sealed a 4-2 victory.
Julio Gomez vs Germany U-17 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Neymar Jr. vs Flamengo 2011Brazilian Serie A
Heather O'Reilly vs Columbia 2011 FIFA Woman's World Cup
Benjamin De Cuelaer vs Club Brugge Belgian League
In my opinion the most skilful of the ten, he receives a low cross from the wing and first time flicks it over his marker before stabbing home the volley giving both the defender and keeper no chance. to quote Clive Tyldesley "And what a goal that is, what a goal that is!"
Giovani Dos Santos vs USA CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
A lovely goal, a defence splitting pass to the former Barcelona and now Tottenham star, who weaves past fives players before sending the most delicate of chips about as close to the top corner as you can get. You have to take into account the fact it's scored in such an important match. Mexico have been two down and this goal sealed a 4-2 victory.
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| She fell over... |
Of the three bicycle kicks this is the worst however you have to take into account he is 16, it is in the dying moments of an already thrilling semi-final (it was 2-2 at this point) and it was against the Germans (who'd already knocked us out of this tournament) which does make it a bit more special. but a bicycle kick is a bicycle kick and you can't score a more special type of goal. Voted goal of the tournament.
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| Almost looks like he meant it... |
The player with the huge ego, but an equally large reputation. This absolute belter took Milan one step closer to clinching the Serie A title and Ibra's 8th league winners medal in a row. He receives a long punt ball designed to start a counter-attack. He takes the ball on his chest, lets it bounce then somehow manages to twist his body to send a lovely dipping volley into the opposite top corner, leaving Lecce's keeper flapping. A lovely goal.
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| He was aiming for the other top corner... |
Of the three bicycle kicks, this is most skilful, scored from a corner. Lopez is sprinting back to acrobatically fire the ball into the top corner from the corner that would otherwise miss all his team mates. The young Argentine scored a truly beautiful goal. As I said the best of the bicycle kicks, but not necessarily the best over all (see page bottom)
There would have been riots in the streets of Catalonia is the midgety Argentine hadn't been chosen at some point in this top 10. He could probably fill the top ten all by himself. Iniesta collects the ball from a poor Fabregas back heel (if you can't beat them, join them) squirms away from a defender and plays a ball that splits the advancing arsenal back line like a knife through warm cheese. Before the best player in the world (read tomorrows post) delicately clips the ball over the advancing Almunia before volleying home. It was a goal of supreme skill and talent worthy of the greatest club competition there is. Is it goal of the year though? No.
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| She fell over (again)... |
My personnel favourite, Neymar scores a goal worthy of Lionel Messi. With Pele and Maradona batteling who of their chosen successors is better. Neymar really threw down the gauntlet with this effort in a mouth watering 5-4 loss to Ronaldinho's Flamengo (this put them 3-0 up) He skips past two challenges plays a lovely one two before rolling the ball under his foot and knocking it round the hapless defender and goes round the other side, before stabbing it into the bottom corner. A goal of real quality that truly annouced Neymar on the world stage.
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| Messi eat your heart out. |
A true "pick that out moment", but certainly not goal of the year. Last years female offering was much better. This is just included for diplomatic reasons. Not that I'm taking anything away from the goal the ball bounces of a Columbia defender and O'Reilly send a pile driver into the far top corner with enough power to break the sound barrier. A truly average great goal.
The only dead certain candidate. Rooney's overhead shin that somehow found the top corner. You all know how it happened so I won't bore you. I may hate Manchester United but you can't take anything away from last seasons goal of the season (I bet they spent loads of time choosing). A bicycle kick so good it was almost as good as Lopez's.
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| If he tried again 1000 times he wouldn't be able to replicate it (damn him!) |
Once called the greatest scorer of wonder goals ever (I don't know who said it) the final goal of the top ten was one to remember even by Stankovic's standards. Similar to an effort he scored against Genoa but coming just 20 seconds into their quarter-final tie against Schalke (not that it helped them, the lost 5-2) A great headed clearance by goalie Manuel Neuer who can't get back to goal fast enough as Stankovic power in the volley from the half way line. A truly amazing bit of play by Stankovic, like something you might do on the PlayStation. Absolute stunner.
So you've seen the goals now we've got to rank them. 10 amazing goals, ten slots to fill. The ten goals of the year in order are:
10. Heather O'Reilly vs Columbia (and no mum I didn't put this goal at the bottom just because she's a girl)
9. Julio Gomez vs Germany U-17
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Lecce
7. Dejan Stankovic vs Schalke 04
6. Lionel Messi vs Arsenal FC
5. Giovani dos Santos vs USA
4. Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City
3. Lisandro Lopez vs Olimpia
2. Neymar Jr. vs Flamengo
1. Benjamin De Ceulaer vs Club Brugge
So their you have it, the top ten goals of 2011, if you don't agree with the ranking comment how you'd put it. 2012 promises to be a year of great goals and I for one can't wait. Read next week for top 10 goals of World Cup 2010!!!
Thankyou for showing me some extraordinarily good goals. Will show the lads too!!
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