Football lovers all around the world have witnessed some insane goals. Goals are beautiful regardless of the way they are scored simply because there aren’t many over a 90-minute game. But they become even more impressive when they are unexpected.
While there are players who struggle to score straightforward goals, some have managed to find the net from an improbable angle.
Here we have selected the top 5 goals from insane angles.
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#5 Maicon (FIFA World Cup 2002, vs North Korea)
It was a group stage match between Brazil and North Korea. It was chilling as the temperature dropped below zero in Johannesburg. The five-time World Champions were in need of something special to break the deadlock. And they got just that.
In the 55th minute, Elano slipped a ball down the right to full-back Maicon. He was preparing for a shot, but the angle seemed very tight. He produced a swerving shot which caught the North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk by surprise.
The goalie looked bamboozled as he stood, awestruck, with the ball just rocketing inside the near post.
Brazil went on to win the match 2-1, but the goal from the right-back stole the show.
#4 Edinson Cavani (Ligue 1 2013-14, vs SC Bastia)
Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance was at its peak with Zlatan Ibrahimovic banging in most of the goals. They were at the top of the league and were hosting SC Bastia. They were cruising, having taken a 2-0 lead. Zlatan had already registered a brace, which included a fantastic karate-kick back-heel goal.
At half-time, Edinson Cavani came in for Ibrahimovic. In the 62nd minute, Jeremy Menez passed the ball to Cavani at the edge of Bastia’s box. The Uruguayan striker did a couple of tricks and wrongfooted the defence. He then subtly went past the advancing goalkeeper before rolling it gently into the net.
As easy as it seemed, it required a lot of composure to dribble and score from such an angle. The goal displayed the sensation that is Edinson Cavani.
#3 Peter Ankersen (Danish Superliga 2013-14, vs Aarhus GF)
Danish side Esbjerg played Aarhus GF in the Danish Superliga. The hosts were rampant, leading by four goals to Aarhus’s one. But in the 86th minute, right-back Peter Ankersen produced a moment of pure magic.
Ankersen received the ball off a throw-in on the right side of Aarhus’s box. He controlled the ball incredibly with his chest and lashed a powerful shot from a seemingly impossible angle. The ball went over the goalkeeper and dipped just under the bar, reminding each and everyone at the stadium, of Marco van Basten’s masterpiece.
The goal was so incredible that it was nominated for the 2013 FIFA Puskas Award.
#2 Marco van Basten (UEFA Euro 1988, vs USSR)
One of the most legendary goals in the history of the beautiful game, Marco van Basten’s goal was a work of art.
In 1988, Netherlands were thriving in the UEFA European Championship, and van Basten was pivotal in their victorious campaign. The Dutch faced the Soviet Union in the final of the tournament.
With a 1-0 lead, Netherlands kicked off the second half in great fashion. Nine minutes into the restart, Arnold Muhren whipped in a cross towards van Basten. He took a first-time shot, a volley from a very tight angle, and it resulted in a spectacular goal. The goalkeeper was dumbfounded as the ball went inside the net with incredible ferocity.
Van Basten was named the player of the tournament, but the goal remained as one of the greatest sporting moments.
#1 Roberto Carlos (Copa del Rey 1997-98, vs Tenerife)
This strike has to be the greatest goal from a tight angle. The scorer was none other the legendary Brazilian, Roberto Carlos.
Real Madrid were playing Tenerife in the Copa del Rey. Carlos was chasing the ball that almost crossed the line for a goal kick. The Brazilian left-back accelerated to full speed and decided to swing his foot and strike the ball at the goal from an impossible angle. The ball somehow ended at the back of the net, leaving the keeper and everyone else on the pitch speechless.
The goal was scored from an improbable 0.82 degrees, with Roberto Carlos proving the laws of physics wrong once again. It was probably the most memorable goal of the legend’s Galactico career.
