The year 2016 is past us and brought us many moments of brilliance on the football field throughout. Every football fan loves goals and the moment when the ball hits the back of the net is as exhilarating as it can get. Not all goals are spectacular but there were plenty on offer in this calendar year in both club and national football. And here we take a look at ten of the best strikes from this year:
And here we take a look at ten of the best strikes from this year:
Welsh striker Hal Robson-Kanu was without a club during the Euro Championships in France. Playing against Belgium, Robson-Kanu collected Aaron Ramsey’s pass with a soft first touch and with no space to work with, the Welshman executed a brilliant turn to get past his man and beat Thibaut Courtois from close range to score an astonishing goal to give his team the lead.
Another stunning goal from the Euros came from Shaqiri against Poland. A poor clearance from a Polish defender looped in the air, and the Stoke City midfielder leaped up and hit a brilliant bicycle kick, with great power and pinpoint accuracy to bury the ball in the back of the net. The goal went on to be awarded as the Euro 2016 Goal of the Tournament.
Round-of-16 of the Champions League 2015-16. Barcelona taking on Arsenal in the second leg at the Camp Nou. The first leg had gone 2-0 to the Catalans and they had taken the lead in the second round of fixture at home. However, Arsenal managed to equalise and were left needing two goals to make it to the quarter-finals. Enter Luis Suarez and after some lovely interplay around the Gunners’ box, Dani Alves hit a ball in the air from the right for Suarez to hit home a volley into the top right corner. Brilliant strike by the Uruguayan.
This fantastic goal came in the ongoing season of the Premier League. Payet, receiving the ball out wide, made a jinking run into the box, going past the Middlesbrough defenders one by one with surprising ease and the Frenchman did not lose his cool in front of goal and calmly slotted the ball into the net with sheer arrogance. You will never get bored of watching this one.
The latest goal in this list, Mkhitaryan makes it here with a piece of magic at the Old Trafford against Sunderland on Boxing Day. Zlatan Ibrahimović sent in a cross from the right flank but the ball was slightly behind the Armenian. However, it did not seem to bother Mkhitaryan as he hit a stunning backheel flick over his head past the Sunderland goalkeeper. Despite a hint of offside in the goal, it was a piece of magnificent acrobatics combined with amazing skills that brought Old Trafford to a standstill.
Alli enjoyed a stellar first season at Tottenham last year. One of the most memorable moments he gave the fans was this strike against the Eagles. The English midfielder controlled the ball with a lovely cushioned first touch, then lobbed the ball over his head and in the process taking the onrushing Mile Jedinak completely out of the picture, before turning to hit a venomous volley into the back of the net.
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil saved the Gunners from another European embarrassment scoring a late winner against Ludogorets after they had fallen 2-0 behind. The German received a long ball from inside his own half and was through on goal. Ozil then dinked the ball over the onrushing keeper and showed excellent composure putting two defenders on the floor before netting the winner. Audacious and bold and just too good.
Not many people would have expected a goal of the year contender to emerge from a Spanish Segunda Division B. But Javi Gomez, a 33-year-old striker, playing for UD Socuellamos, jumped to control a long ball on his chest, 30-yards away from goal, before launching himself into the air and hitting a mind-blowing overhead kick that was absolutely unstoppable. A strike reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s goal against England.
South African international Kekana playing against Cameroon in March this year, won the ball in his own half and spotting the Cameroonian goalkeeper off the line, hit a powerful shot that ended up in the net. What a way to score your first goal for your country! David Beckham would have been proud.
There are some goals that just take your breath away. And this set-piece from Faiz Subri of Penang against Pahang FC was such a goal. 35-yards out, from a difficult angle, Subri hit the ball so sweetly it swerved, dipped and hit the back of the net leaving the opponent goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever. No wonder the goal ended up among the top three in the FIFA Puskas Goal of the Year award.
As the 2023-2024 football season draws to a close, so does the era of one…
In the celebrated history of Bayern Munich, their success and dominance is totally incomplete without…
The three Lions of England were drawn in Group C against Serbia, Slovenia, and Denmark…
If you're from a country where cricket is popular, you probably know the rules. If…
When the Ballon d'Or was first awarded in 1956, Stanley Matthews of Blackpool and England…
The current competition for the strongest football division in Spain started in the first half…