In soccer, some goals are more than just a point on the board—they are moments of pure magic that stay etched in history forever. From solo slaloms to thunderous volleys, we’ve rounded up the 11 most iconic goals that every fan needs to see.
Diego Maradona vs. England (1986): The “Goal of the Century.” A 60-yard dash past five defenders that defined individual brilliance.
Lionel Messi vs. Getafe (2007): A carbon copy of Maradona’s masterpiece, proving the “flea” was from another planet.
Roberto Carlos vs. France (1997): The “Impossible” free kick. The ball curved so much it looked like a glitch in a video game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. England (2012): A 30-yard overhead bicycle kick. Only Zlatan could—or would—even attempt this.
Zinedine Zidane vs. Bayer Leverkusen (2002): The greatest Champions League final goal. A weak-foot volley that caught the top corner.
Marco van Basten vs. USSR (1988): A volley from an angle so tight it was mathematically improbable.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Juventus (2018): A bicycle kick so perfect the opposing fans stood up and cheered.
Dennis Bergkamp vs. Newcastle (2002): The most elegant “flick and spin” in history. Total composure.
George Weah vs. Verona (1996): The ultimate coast-to-coast goal, running the entire length of the pitch to score.
Gareth Bale vs. Liverpool (2018): Coming off the bench in a final to hit a bicycle kick that left the keeper rooted to the spot.
Carlos Alberto vs. Italy (1970): The perfect team goal. Nine passes, involving almost the whole team, finished with a thunderbolt.