#10 The infamous tap-ins
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Tap ins are something that people dont consider a beautiful way of scoring a goal, but its an indicator of a players ability to anticipate, be at the right position and at the right time. The easiest way to score a goal, tap ins generally involves hitting the ball into an empty net. However, as easy as it sounds , the biggest blunders also arise from such situations as there have been a number of players who have passed up such aneasy opportunity.
Borussia Dortmund Jakub Blaszczykowski'smissed an open goal after being through with only the empty net at his mercy.
#9 Hiding behind the \'keeper
A deceptive act that is practiced right from the playground to the playing field, scoring a goal by coming from behind a keeper and slotting it into the empty net is another of the cheeky versions of scoring. Considered by some critics as an unsportsmanlike, it is still a legitimate way of scoring as the player is attentive enough to wait for the keeper to drop the ball and then steal it to score.
One of the biggest exponents of this art was Robbie Keane who used to time and again wait for the keeper to commit a schoolboy error of dropping the ball without glancing behind him. This would allow to him to steal the ball and roll it into goal.
#8 The backheel goal
One of the cheekiest way to score a goal, the back heel strike is elegant and at the same time a sign of ingenuity when it is executed. The back heel is an art that every kid wants to master when playing the game either on the ground or the streets. Be it a pass or a goal , back heel is used extensively in modern football.
One of the biggest exponents of the back heel in open play as well as for scoring goals is Cristiano Ronaldo. In this video he illustrates the sheer audacity of his strike as he sent ball trickling past a handful of frozen defenders, teammates and the goalkeeper.
#7 Outside of the boot
A goal scored from the outside of the boot if correctly done makes it one of the most appealing and stylish ways of scoring a goal. Getting the technique right is the most difficult thing to master and only a handful of players have been able to get it spot on. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale are all exponents of using the outside of the boot to create as well as convert chances.
However, if anyone had the audacity and skill to use it, it was Thierry Henry. A master technician and one of the most skillful players of this generation ,Henry use the outside of the boot to great effect to tear opposition apart in the Premier league.
#6 The chip or lob
Perhaps the cheekiest and the coolest way of scoring a goal is to chip or lob either from inside or outside the penalty area. A magnificent and brilliant piece of skill was seen in the Premier league last season when Daniel Sturridge chipped the West Bromich Albion goalkeeper from 20 yards out.
#5 The volley or half volley
One of the toughest yet the volley remains one of the most classy ways of scoring a goal. It requires brilliant technique, timing and accuracy much like the bicycle and the scissor kick. A volley if executed well sends the supporters as well as the pundits into raptures. However, the conversion rate of a volley is really low and like other goal scoring techniques, the volley has a higher chance of ending up into the upper echelons of the stands.
Steven Gerrard one of the greats when converting the volley, definitely treated the world with a sumptuous scorcher in a huge Champions league match against Olympiakos. It still remains one of the most important goals of his career as Liverpool ended up winning the champions league that year.
#4 The scissor kick
Like the bicycle kick, the scissor kick is one of the most difficult skills to be employed on a football field. To ensure that the trick comes off requires high amount of concentration, technique, athleticism and panache. Its a risky skill to pull off but when its done with perfection most often than not it results in one of the most impressive goals scored.
Peter Crouch, yes the tall lanky guy with the Robotic celebrations and yes one who seems to be highly uncoordinated has actually pulled off the best scissor kicks till date.
#3 The diving header
A technique that is not easily mastered in the playground, a diving header is unique and is different than a normal header requires. It requires practice, precision most important of all the timing to ensure that the ball goes into the back of the net.
Diving headers when executed with perfection have the potential of lifting a player into superhero folklore. Just ask Robin Van Persie who has become a global phenomenon and who sparked crazy internet trends with an exquisite diving header in the 2014 World Cup match against Spain.
#2 The free kick
Dead ball situations in football is one of the potent ways of inflicting damage to an opponent. Free kick specialists, as they are called ,develop this skill of lifting the ball over a wall of defenders and also beating a goalkeeper. Over the years free kick has developed into an art where it no longer involves curling the ball into the net. Modern day free kick involves the traditional curlers like Suarez and Messi, curve less technique mastered by Cristiano Ronaldo and then there are the power hits specialized by Dani Alves and Roberto Carlos.
There have been plenty of set pieces takers all over the globe. However, no one has shown the consistency that the Brazilian Juninho showed over number of years .Considered by many as the best free kick specialist of all time, he could convert a dead ball situation into a goal as he could score with any technique and any distance.
#1 The Zlatan way
Surely the overhead kick or the bicycle kick is the most difficult technique to master. The technique involves by weighing the height of the ball and at the precise moment jumping backwards and swinging the leg to hit the ball at the right time mid air. The bicycle kick has caused a fair share of injuries and most of the times the strikes are not converted. However, times when it is pulled it is one of the sublime ways a goal can be scored.
Wayne Rooney probably scored one of the best bicycle kicks when he scored against Manchester City. However, the best bicycle kick seen in this generation belongs to Zlatan Ibramovic who pulled off an audacious effort against England from 35 yards out.
A word of caution: Do not Try this at Home!
