Football is one of the most beloved sports in the world, and its fans love to reminisce about the greatest goals ever scored. However, there are some truly incredible goals that often get overlooked or forgotten. In this blog article, we’ll take a look back at some of these gems and try to determine why they don’t get the attention they deserve!
Diego Maradona’s Hand of God Goal
Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal is one of the most controversial and underrated goals in football history. The Argentine striker used his hand to score the opening goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, before going on to score a second, legitimate goal to seal a 2-1 victory.
The “Hand of God” goal sparked outrage among England fans and players, but it was later revealed that Maradona had apologized to England goalkeeper Peter Shilton after the game. In an interview with FIFA in 2005, Maradona admitted that the “Hand of God” goal was “unfair,” but said he would “do it again to win.”
Despite its controversial nature, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal is widely regarded as one of the greatest goals in football history.
Robin van Persie’s Flying Dutchman
In 2012, Robin van Persie scored one of the most underrated goals in football history. Against Aston Villa, van Persie found himself in space on the left wing and delivered a perfect cross to teammate Theo Walcott, who was able to finish it off with a diving header.
While this goal may not have been as flashy as some of Van Persie’s other ones, it was a perfect demonstration of his vision and passing ability. It also showed that he was capable of playing a more unselfish game when needed.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Bicycle Kick
In 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one of the most acrobatic and impressive goals in recent memory. The Swedish striker was playing for Paris Saint-Germain against the English side, Arsenal, when he unleashed an unbelievable bicycle kick from well outside the box that flew into the top corner of the net.
It was a goal that stunned viewers around the world and cemented Ibrahimovic’s reputation as one of the greatest strikers of his generation. However, despite its obvious brilliance, Zlatan’s wonder strike didn’t even make ESPN’s Top 10 Most Underrated Goals list.
This is a travesty.
Zlatan’s bicycle kick was not only one of the best goals ever scored, but it was also a perfectly executed piece of skill that showed off his incredible athleticism and technique. For a goal to be underrated, it doesn’t just have to be good, it has to be underappreciated or overshadowed by other goals. And in this case, there is no doubt that Zlatan’s goal deserves far more credit than it has been given.
Lionel Messi’s Goal from his own half against Athletic Bilbao
In the 87th minute of a La Liga matches against Athletic Bilbao, Lionel Messi picked up the ball near midfield and ran at the Bilbao goal. Instead of passing to a teammate or shooting from distance, Messi kept running, dribbling past two defenders before finally shooting from inside his own half. The ball flew over the head of stranded goalkeeper Iago Herrerín and into the net, giving Barcelona a 2-0 lead.
It was an incredible individual goal, one that showcased Messi’s speed, skill, and finishing ability. Unfortunately, it was also a relatively rare occurrence; in almost 15 years as a professional, Messi has only scored 10 goals from outside the box. In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 33 such goals.
Still, Messi’s goal against Bilbao was special and deserves to be remembered as one of the great underrated goals in football history.