Hello friends, good vibes to all.
Choosing the best goal of the year is a complicated task because there are hundreds that deserve at least a mention, but for obvious reasons, it's impossible. So, knowing this, what I'll try to do is put together a top 5 list of what I think are the most spectacular, important, relevant, and best-executed goals I can remember. Doing this towards the end of the year is a lot of fun because it's like reliving great moments from the different leagues or the Champions League. Here's my list; if you remember any others, feel free to leave them in the comments.
- Declan Rice, segundo gol vs Real Madrid
This is the best goal of the year, no question about it. Beyond its sheer beauty, the ball's trajectory, and the angle at which it entered the game, you have to consider the other factors involved. Scoring a goal of this magnitude in the Champions League quarterfinals against the reigning champions and a goalkeeper like Courtois makes it all the more remarkable. What happened that day was incredible because Rice had just scored another stunning free kick; scoring two, each one better than the last, is simply insane. A match that Arsenal ended up winning 3-0, completely dominating Real Madrid, I believe deserves to have the best goal of the year.
- Kvicha Kvaratskhelia Vs Aston Villa
I like goals that, besides being highly technical, have a significant impact on the matches or knockout rounds being played. This goal by the Georgian was key to PSG's comeback in the Champions League quarterfinals. Kvicha is inherently very agile and skillful with the ball, he's a great dribbler, but what he does here, the way he leaves two players in his wake before finishing into a spot where few goalkeepers can reach, is extraordinary. I think the goal perfectly reflects PSG's year. It might not be that flashy for many, but for me it's incredible; you have to be a true star to score a goal like this.
- Mexx Meerdink vs Vaduz
The first goal is completely unknown to everyone, and to see it, go to minute 2:50. This goal could have been scored by Ibrahimović, Giroud, or any player known for scoring spectacular goals, but no, it was scored by a Dutchman playing for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league, a team that ended up winning by a landslide. I'm including it on the list because the technical skill required to control and finish the ball the way he does is insane. It's one of those goals that nobody knows about and deserves more exposure; I think it could easily be a contender for next year's Puskás Award. Goals like this, I assure you, are not something you see every day.
- Kieron Bowie vs Partizan
Another completely unknown goal, but that's the magic of these roundups: discovering goals from leagues that very few people watch. This happened in the Serbian league and was scored by a Scotsman who pulled off a goal from over 30 meters out of thin air, emulating the great goal Luis Suárez once scored for Liverpool. Discussing the context of the match is pointless, but we can talk about the goal itself. It's clearly a shot he wanted to take because he noticed the goalkeeper was slightly off his line and decided to do something like that. I'm sure goals like this only happen once in a lifetime; it's not the same as a free kick or a well-worked move. Pulling off this kind of shot is incredibly difficult, which makes the goal a true beauty.
- Santiago Montiel vs Independiente Rivadavia
Of course, we couldn't leave out the one that won the Puskás Award this year, a true work of art. If scoring a bicycle kick is difficult enough, imagine doing it from outside the box. What's truly impressive is what Montiel does to shake off his marker and position himself perfectly to execute the shot, practically with his back to the goal. An absolutely insane goal. We always remember Cristiano Ronaldo's bicycle kicks, which are very flashy, but I think from now on we should take this one as the benchmark because I believe it's one of the best I've ever seen, especially considering the distance and where the ball ends up in the net.
Si crees que falta un gol, cosa que es muy probable, házmelo saber en los comentarios, estos debates siempre son bienvenidos.
If you think a goal is missing, which is very likely, let me know in the comments; these discussions are always welcome.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos vemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!