As if I needed another reminder of why I was never going to make it as a professional footballer, US Youth Soccer has just released the best youth soccer goals of 2015. It features 8-year-olds dribbling past entire teams in ways I never could, and 15 year-olds slotting long shots as effortlessly as I would play a wall pass. Watching it is a humbling experience.
HE DID IT. HE DID IT. Wayne Rooney had been stumbling across the desert in dire need of a goal and he finally found the watering hole vs Swansea. The England man had not found the back of the net in a Premier League match since October 17th but that dreadful drought has ended, and he ended it in style with a filthy backheel. The peach of a goal was the 188th of his career in the EPL and the 238th of his Red Devil career. It moved him into second place in all time Premier League goals (Alan Shearer leads with 260) and second place in all time goals by a Manchestesr United player.
Lionel Messi apparently gets under his rivals' skin. I suppose being ridiculously good will do that.
Yesterday in the Copa del Rey against Espanyol, Messi scored an absolutely absurd free kick. Espanyol keeper Pau Lopez set up his wall perfectly, positioned himself perfectly, and reacted to it perfectly, but was still left grasping for air as the kick sailed through the air, off the crossbar, and down in the the goal.
Thierry Henry is Arsenal's all-time leading goal scorer with 228 goals in all competitions. Choosing the best one out of those 228 would seem like a tall order, but it really isn't. Henry's goal against Manchester United back in 2000 was simply the most genius goals scored by the Frenchman. The goal is classic Henry. Flair, creativity, and execution is all there. It happens so quick and so unexpectedly as he turns a simple pass that really meant no harm, into absolute glory. Out of nowhere he flicks the ball in the air, and before you know it, he sends a cracker into back of the net.
As perhaps the most famous face of the United States Women’s National Team today, Alex Morgan is one of the top forwards in the sport. Seeing the number 13 with the ponytail and pink headband couldn’t be more intimidating for opposing defenders – from the first time she announced her presence on the USWNT with a breakout goal versus Italy in 2010. She has an arsenal of skills to get past defenders, whether it being her speed, strength or touch.
We don't know what was crazier in today's match between Real Madrid and Sociedad. It was either this volley by Cristiano Ronaldo or the fact that CR7 missed the target for the first time in 55 La Liga attempts. Nonetheless, both feats involved the great Cristiano Ronaldo and both are equally impressive. Obviously it's not impressive that he missed a PK, but it's absurd that the 30-year-old megastar MISSED THE TARGET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LA LIGA IN 55 ATTEMPTS. DID YOU HEAR US? Death, taxes and CR7 putting PKs on frame. Now, back to CR7's volley.
Alessandro Rose Vieira, better known as Falcao, is Brazil’s futsal version of Pelé. For over 25 years, he’s been dazzling spectators with his improbable repertoire of tricks, skills and astounding goals. While the futsal legend may now be 38-years-old, age has done nothing to diminish the skills of Falcao. As evidenced by this saucy rainbow flick goal in a friendly charity match, the Brazilian has still got it.
Brazilian futsal legend Falcao's rainbow flick goal:
Is there a prettier goal than a rabona goal? The answer is no. The skillful move is one of beauty and nonchalantness. The pros make it look so easy but it isn't. Laurent Koscielny was just fooling around in Arsenal training at the Emirates and saw the camera was on him. What does a baller do when the lights are on him? He performs obviously. After a series of little tricks, Koscielny rips a rabona into the upper 90 from about 15-18 feet like it's nothing.
Khethokwakhe Masuku has 18 letters in his name. For this reason we are already fans of his. Another reason, is because he scores 30 yard screamers like it's nothing. The Orlando Pirates midfielder starts his run from the halfway line and bursts forward before cutting inside. The 29-year-old had a right winger streaking open which he easily could have played through, but Khethokwakhe Masuku doesn't pass up opportunities to score screamers. He selfishly holds on to the ball and rips off a cracking shot back to his left as he's running right.
Un amigo me preguntó una vez: "¿Por qué los jugadores de fútbol celebran tan ridículamente?" No tenía una respuesta para él en ese momento, pero, tras una reflexión más profunda, se me ocurre que cada celebración de un gol es una extensión del deporte - un mini-drama que captura la esencia del fútbol en un acto. Los goles son difíciles de conseguir en el fútbol. Cuando un jugador oye el zumbido del balón en el fondo de la red, los gritos de miles de aficionados frenéticos, evoca una emoción cruda sin igual en casi ningún otro deporte.