The 20 greatest goals of all time

18. Maxi Rodriguez volley vs Mexico (2006 World Cup)

On the world’s biggest stage, Maxi Rodriguez scored one of football’s greatest goals against Mexico in the Round of 16 match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

The Argentine gained his 15 minutes of fame with this audacious attempt on goal, that happened to be the winner in extra time, to help Argentina advance into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Mexico. Rodriguez chested the ball, and then volleyed it from long range into the top corner.

17. Lionel Messi vs Getafe

Lionel Messi is arguably the best player in the game today. He strikes fear in the opposing defense’s eyes, his dribbling skills are second to none and he is one of the most efficient goal scorers in football. The little Argentine man is on his way to becoming perhaps the greatest footballer in history.

But before he earned all the accolades and was touted by many as the world’s best player, Messi was just another gifted youngster trying to prove himself. In 2007, he put on a dribbling display against Spanish side Getafe, and showed the whole world that he had arrived.

Many years from now, when Messi’s career is over, we will look back at this goal as the starting point for the beginning of the era of Lionel Messi.