While America has its “Red Sox,” “Shaq Attacks,” and “Super Bowls,” the rest of the world quietly engages in some fancy footwork with a quadrennial tournament to decide the best football team in the universe.
To celebrate the 2010 World Cup(), due to kick off on June 11th in South Africa (which, incidentally, America is also taking part in, so feel free to start getting very excited), we’ve scoured YouTube() for the very best World Cup goals ever caught on film (think “touchdown,” but with no hands).
See below for our picks, arranged in date order, as deciding between these beauties would be impossible. Be sure to voice your opinions, cheers, and trash talk in the comments!
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1. Carlos Alberto, Brazil vs Italy, 1970
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Italy looks out-played here as the Brazilians knock it around like a kick-about in the park, but it’s Pele’s class pass to Alberto that sets up the fab finale.
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2. Diego Maradona, Argentina vs England, 1986
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In a match tainted by Maradona’s “Hand of God” moment, the Argentinean football genius also squeezed out this little beauty, which made his earlier cheating all the more absurd.
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3. Roberto Baggio, Czechoslovakia vs Italy, 1990
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This elegant goal from Il Divin Codino is widely regarded as his finest, and one of the best of the 1990 World Cup, which was held in Italy — hence the explosive crowd.
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4. Saeed Al-Owairan, Belgium vs Saudi Arabia, 1994
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Al-Owairan appears to be channeling Maradona with this run, and subsequent goal, apparently earning him the nickname “The Maradona of the Arabs,” which isn’t as catchy as some, but presumably pleased TMOTA, as we’ll be calling him from now on.
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5. Michael Owen, Argentina vs England, 1998
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Then 18-year-old Michael Owen kicked his way into English hearts in his World Cup debut with this fantastic dash down the pitch against England’s arch (football) enemy, making him a national hero.
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6. Dennis Bergkamp, Argentina vs Holland, 1998
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The goal that knocked the Argies out of the 1998 World Cup from Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp was a corker, although you’d never know it from the commentator’s calm, understated delivery.
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7. Jared Borgetti, Italy vs Mexico, 2002
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A Borgetti header ends some sweet Mexican team play with a goal that the keeper barely manages to move for, let alone has a hope of saving.
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8. Ronaldo, Brazil vs Germany, 2002
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Notching up a record-breaking 15 goals in World Cup play, Ronaldo is an especially dangerous man in the six-yard box as his first goal against Germany in the 2002 final shows. But it’s his second goal in this clip, a melter from a little further out, that warrants inclusion in this list.
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9. Joe Cole, England vs Sweden, 2006
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Joe Cole got the “Man of the Match” accolade for this lob from 35 yards out that seems to bend into the goal like it was meant to be. Not bad for the young player’s first goal of a major tournament.
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10. Esteban Cambiasso, Argentina vs Serbia Montenegro, 2006
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Over 20 touches from Argentina precede this goal (said by some to be the ultimate example of football as a team game) before it’s finished off by Cambiasso, who was actually brought in as a sub for this match. He certainly earned his place on the bench with this effort.
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BONUS: Jeff Agoos, Portugal vs USA, 2002
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U.S. player Agoos scores! It’s just a shame it’s in the wrong goal. Better luck this time time around, guys.
