The goal keeper strikes the ball with his right foot sending it high… the players are converging as the ball comes down… oh, it’s Mbf who has got to the ball first… receives it on his chest softly so that the ball loses it’s momentum and drops dead near his feet, which take control of the ball as two opponents move towards him menacingly trying to cut him off. But, Mbf is upto the task dodging one and out-dribbling the other. He moves with the ball quickly reaching the 25-yard circle. There is no support for him as his teammates are way behind. The defence is falling back trying to look for reinforcements. There’s just under a minute of time left… can Mbf do it? He has slowed down trying to figure out how to break through the defence with no support forthcoming from his teammates. Moves towards the right flank… I am not sure if that’s the right thing to do… under 40 seconds left… can he do it… already three players are closing on him trying to narrow the angle… time is running out. Mbf is still in control of the ball as he now decides to do a U-turn in the hope of shaking off his opponents. Succeeds in losing one but the other two are on his heels. Again changes direction, Mbf is moving relentlessly and reaches the top of the D…and suddenly turns towards the goal trying to create an opening. The goalkeeper sensing the danger rushes towards him arms flailing… 2 seconds to go… Mbf shows intentions of going for a lusty kick but halfway through just holds back a little and pushes the ball with his foot through the narrow gap between the keeper’s legs. The keeper is taken by surprise but his right foot moves inwards in a reflex action in trying to block the ball. The ball scrapes his right leg changing direction a little but still moving ever so slowly towards the goal. Time is up and we’re now into injury time, the hooter may go off any time now. In a moment of panic the keeper dives backwards to stop the ball… but the ball tantalisingly eludes the grasp of the keeper and rolls over the goal line… it’s a GOAL! There goes the hooter! India has won the World Cup!!!
I know summer heat does crazy things to people but I didn’t know that it would affect me so badly that I would start dreaming of India winning the World Cup. The dream was good while it lasted but more importantly, one must dare to dream.
Keeping aside my goal, which I consider the greatest ever in the history of soccer (so what if it’s just in my dreams?) I present before you the next best ten goals and please don’t expect them to be as great as mine… after all these players are mere mortals.
I am too lazy to sift through thousands of goals to select just ten out of the whole lot so I had left it to my well-wishers to perform this cumbersome task.
My well-wishers at https://planetworldcup.com/TOP10/top10.html have done an excellent job and I see no reason to argue with them. However, they pointed out that it’s not enough to just agree with their list and that I should give my expert opinion (having scored the greatest goal) on each of the ten goals selected by them. So, here I am:
10. Manuel Negrete (MEX)
Mexico vs Bulgaria (1-0) in 1986
Who can forget the 1986 World Cup in which Maradona was the star attraction? Apart from some breathtaking goals from the top stars there were a few other magnificent goals. Manuel Negrete’s was one of them.
He collected the ball close to the penalty area and in one smooth acrobatic tumble executed a shot at the goal before he hit the ground taking the Bulgarian goalkeeper by surprise. Before the Bulgarian defence knew what was happening the ball sailed into the net.
9. Carlos Alberto (BRA)
Brazil vs Italy (4-1) in 1970
I haven’t watched this one but I learned later that this goal was worthy of being in the top ten. Both the legendary Pele and Jairzinho worked in tandem to pierce the strong Italian defence and then passed the ball to Carlos who was keeping a low profile and went unnoticed by the defence. A rasping shot by Carlos before the defence could get wise to the occasion drove the final nail in Italy’s coffin.
8. Archie Gemmill (SCO)
Scotland vs Holland (3-1) in 1978
I didn’t watch this one either. But this was the tournament in which Mario Kempes was enjoying a super run.
Archie, the slightly built Scott showcased his excellent dribbling skills while scoring this goal. He collected the ball from the flank and dribbled his way to the penalty area drawing the hapless goalkeeper forward only to deceive him by deftly tapping the ball with his foot over the goalkeeper’s head. Difficult to keep his head and not panic with the onrushing goalkeeper and the defenders narrowing from behind.
Diego Maradona (ARG)
Argentina vs Belgium (2-0) in 1986
Who could have missed this one after Maradona’s performance against England?
Maradona was in fine form fresh from his success against mighty England. As is his wont, Maradona collected the ball close to the centre line and dribbled his way past four Belgian defenders leaving them clueless and scratching their heads as he headed towards the goal. A deft push with his foot was all that was needed to beat an apprehensive goalkeeper who had no answer to Maradona’s quicksilver reflexes.
6. Dennis Bergkamp (HOL)
Holland vs Argentina (2-1) in 1998
Bergkamp, the prolific goal scorer from Holland, was in his elements as he netted what was according to many the best goal of the tournament. Bergkamp collected a 50-yard kick from his teammate De Boer beautifully under pressure and a first time kick put the ball in the net much to the surprise of a strong Argentinean side.
5. Roberto Baggio (ITA)
Italy vs Czechoslovakia (2-0) in 1990
Ah! What a great player Baggio was. He was a delight every time he caressed the ball and did a fast run down the flanks with his long flowing mane like some Greek God. The crowd would go ooohhh!
This was another marvellous run by him, receiving the ball close to the half line and almost enacting a repeat of Maradona’s stupendous goal run of 1986. The result was as good as the run.
4. Pelé (BRA)
Brazil vs Sweden (3-1) in 1958
Ah! The legend, also known as the Black Pearl. Too bad I couldn’t watch him play live. How can you have ten best goals without the great Brazilian figuring in the list?
Pele was just seventeen at the time he scored this goal against a strong defence oriented Swedish team. His great ball skills were fully on show as he took on a defender juggling and dribbling past him before he finally put the ball across.
3. Arie Haan (HOL)
Holland vs Italy (2-1) in 1978
No dribbling or juggling here! Arie had already scored a 30-yard blinder against Germany to raise many eyebrows. But what happened next against Italy must have surely left the Italian team and it’s fan thunderstruck. Another blinder, this time all of 40 yards, caught the Italians napping. It is even now considered to be the best long-range goal in World Cup history. But Holland met its match against the rampaging Argentines in the final with Mario Kempes doing most of the damage.
Continued in the comments section...