Top 10 World Cup goals
Diego Maradona arguably scored the greatest World Cup goal ever, but who else makes the Top 10? Steve Wilson reveals his picks
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1: Diego Maradona, ARGENTINA v England, 1986
Quite possibly the best goal of all-time, the Napoli legend’s mazy dribble to take the ball from inside his own half to the back of the England net is memorable for so many reasons. The spider-like shadow of the floodlight menacing over the centre of the Azteca Stadium pitch as ‘El Pibe de Oro’ embarked on his dazzling dance, the hapless efforts of several England players to steal the ball from the master pick-pocket himself – it is what World Cup memories are made of. So often over-shadowed by the controversy surrounding his ‘Hand of God’ goal, the diminutive No 10’s one-man show stands head and shoulders above all other World Cup Finals strikes.
2: Roberto Baggio, ITALY v Czechoslovakia, 1990
More famous for his exploits in the USA four years later, but it was 1990 – and this goal – that brought ‘Il Divin Codino’ to the attention of the world. Although without his trademark long locks at this stage, the sublime close control, balance and deft finishing are trademark Baggio. Picking up the ball in his own half the then Fiorentina man, who had already agreed to join Juventus, played a one-two with Giuseppe Giannini before making a beeline straight for goal. Several Czech defenders attempted to intervene but there was to be no stopping the 23-year-old as he embarked upon a run that would see him score the goal of the tournament.
3: Manuel Negrete, MEXICO v Bulgaria, 1986
On home soil in 1986 Mexico were desperate to put in a memorable performance. Their journey ended at the quarter-finals with a defeat on penalties to West Germany, but the goal that put them on their way to the final eight will long live in the memory of those who witnessed it. Receiving a lofted pass on the edge of the area, Negrete controlled the ball in the air before allowing it to bounce in front of him – the next-time it would touch the grass would be when it landed in the corner of the net. Playing a volleyed one-two with a teammate he connected to the return with a breathtaking sideways scissor kick that left Bulgarian ‘keeper Bobby Mikhailov with no chance.
4: Jairzinho, BRAZIL v England, 1970
Carlos Alberto’s strike in the Final against Italy may well be the best-remembered goal from Brazil’s 1970 campaign, but the superb build up play that led to Jairzinho’s thunderbolt strike past Gordon Banks edges this one into the elite. Tostao’s twists and turns down the left-hand side of the pitch eventually allowed him to get a cross into the box. Pele received the ball almost on the penalty-spot, and as the England defence prepared to deal with his shot he calmly laid the ball into the path of the onrushing Jairzinho who, benefiting from Pele’s exceptional vision, unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
5: Pele, BRAZIL v Sweden, 1958
What better way to introduce yourself to the international stage than by scoring one of the best goals in a World Cup Final while aged just 17? Showing the kind of trickery and skills that we are used to in the modern game, the young phenomenon flicked the ball over the head of the Swedish defender in the area before striking his shot low into the corner of the goal. Aside from being a sublime strike it also helped the Brazilians to their first ever World Cup triumph, and the image of the young Pele crying in the arms of goalkeeper Gilmar after the final whistle is one of the enduring images of the World Cup’s long and illustrious history.
6: Diego Maradona, ARGENTINA v Belgium, 1986
It is some achievement to score one superb solo goal at a World Cup Finals, it is surely greedy to score two in the space of two matches. The diminutive Argentine’s second gem of the 1986 World Cup Finals came in the semi-final against Belgium. Similar to his strike against England, in that he sliced his way through the Belgian defence as if they weren’t there, this one started off much closer to goal with three Belgians closing in fast. Somehow he manages to find a path through them and past another defender before placing the ball in the opposite corner to the ‘keeper and reeling away in celebration. A stunning reminder of just how good Maradona really was.
7: Saeed Owairan, SAUDI ARABIA v Belgium, 1994
Undoubtedly the greatest goal scored by a player from one of the Asian nations, this wonderful solo effort also deserves a place in the all-time list. As well as being a superb dribble that the likes of Maradona or Baggio would be proud of, this goal crucially gave the Middle Eastern nation a win over a Belgium side that had won its first two group matches. Remarkably it sent ‘The Sons of the Desert’ through to the second round at the first attempt as winners of Group F. Given that memories of their 8-0 humbling to Germany in 2002 are still fresh, it would be fair to assume that the Saudi’s could do with a spark of magnificence like that which Owairan showed back in ’94 when the action kicks off this summer.
8: Archie Gemmill, SCOTLAND v Holland, 1978
It is a sad summation of the impact of Scotland at the World Cup that their proudest moment is a goal in a game they won against that year’s eventual Finalists, but which still saw them eliminated. After embarrassing results against Peru and Iran, the Tartan Army needed to beat 1974’s runners-up by three clear goals to progress. With a 2-1 lead already earned, Gemmill’s jinking dance through the Dutch defence followed by his cheeky chip over ‘keeper Jan Jongbloed put Scotland one goal away from the next phase. But, as usual, heartbreak wasn’t far away as the Dutch pulled one back and ended Scottish dreams. The goal has since been immortalised in the 1996 film ‘Trainspotting’.
9: Dennis Bergkamp, HOLLAND v Argentina, 1998
A superb finish from the former Inter striker, similar to several memorable efforts that he has scored for Arsenal, but it was the timing that made this one so special. With the scores level after Claudio Lopez’s 17th minute equaliser the enthralling quarter-final between Holland and Argentina looked set to be heading into extra-time when the ball was lofted into the box for an onrushing Bergkamp to take over. Collecting the ball with the greatest of touches to wrong foot Roberto Ayala, the Dutch maestro then struck the bouncing ball with the outside of his right foot into the top corner to send Holland into a semi-final with Brazil.
10: Michael Owen, ENGLAND v Argentina, 1998
If there is ever any doubt in the mind of an international Coach whether he should take a youngster to the World Cup Finals, then the footage of Michael Owen’s goal against Argentina in 1998 should be enough to sway his decision. The 18-year-old striker’s raw pace allowed him to pick up the ball and set off on a blistering run down the middle of the pitch that left the Argentine defenders shell-shocked. Reaching the edge of the area his shot back into the opposite corner sealed his place as the new Golden Boy of international football. Maybe not the greatest display of trickery, or the most spectacular long-range strike but in the context of the match, and its importance, Owen’s goal ranks as one of the best.
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