What do you think was the best goal ever?

To start, I'd offer Ryan Giggs' goal in the semifinal FA cup vs. Arsenal...

Please try to refer mainly to tournament goals, important ones if possible...

Alex Del Piero when he scored against Monaco in the 1996 Champions League .

There can't be a definate 'best goal', can there?

All good goals have their strengths.

i like that Roberto Carlos free kick. Who doesn't?

I personally think that it was either;

Clarence Seedorf for Real Madrid where he battered it from the half way line and it curved in.

or

Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Argentina in the World cup as the timing, close control and finsh were amazing.

How about some history?
The Pele's goal from the centre of the field.

Stop repeating yourself please, Nick.
Anyway, David Beckham's halfway goal (against Wimbledon) was pretty special-anyone agree?

Oh, it is Roberto Carlos against Tenerife couple years ago in Spanish Primera .
He was about to cross, but it curved right it the goal from the tough angle. He shot it about 10 meters near the corner flag. Barca won it 5:3.

Also, it was Giovanni Elber scoring for Bayern Munich, against I think Hansa Rostock last season.
Pieckenhagen (the goalie) went for the ball near the corner flag. But Elber made him pay; he deked him and shot it right on the open goal from the tough angle. It was similar to Roberto Carlos's, but it was shot in the open goal.

From the classics, Maradina picked up the ball, went through the half field, passing about 5-6 players and scoring the goal for Argentina against England. The same game he scored the goal with his hand.

My personal favorite is Anatoly Byshovets scoring a beauty, passing about 4-5 defenders, and curving it in the upper 90 in the world cup in the middle 60's.

K i got three.

3] Giggsys fantastic run through the entire Arsenal squad to hammer home in the cup last season.

2] Bergkamps Emaculite control and finish to send Argentina home.

1] Yep, it`s him again. Bergkamps Control and clinical finish against Wednesday in the double winning season. It was one of his two highlight reel goals in that 3-0 win.

Maradona's goal against England was the greatest.It was in a worldcup and he took the ball from midfield left seven players eating his dust icluding the goalie and the he just kicked it in...not only that he made it seem so easy !!! and in the same game he scored a goal with his hand.talk about adding insult to injurie...

The funniest goal has to be morocco`s against scotland the one that had leighton running like a madman after his attempt to parry it fell short, he ended up tangled up in the net looking pissed and showing off his toothless smile.Who saw it?

Although i was gutted and it didn`t seem funny at the time when i play it over it cracks me up.

Leighton http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif I can't believe he's still playing and starting.

Nik - Pele never score a goal from the midfield...

Carlos Alberto goal againts Italy in 70.
Team work with skill.

Gazza'z goal against Scotland in the Euro 96?
Michael Owen against Argentina at the world cup?
Archie Gemmils against Holland in the 78 world cup?
there are thousands.

My personal favourite isnt that amazing a goal but in the context of the time it was special for me. Roberto Baggio's goal against Bulgaria in world cup 94. He carried Italy to the final that year and then sadly missed the vital penalty in the shootout in the final.

Russian- I remember that goal by Roberto Carlos that you mentioned, I think you mean it went about 30 meters, at least! He shot it from very near the left corner flag, maybe 1 meter from the touch line. It was good but loses some greatness because it was not scored in a very important match.

My favorite has to be Letchkov in Bulgaria vs Germany 94 WC, the flying header. I think when I saw that I jumped so high my head hit the ceiling and I think I screamed like madman for about 5 minutes...

Simple!

Gazzas big long run goal in a rome derby (I think it was), he past like 5 players on his own to score a magnificent goal!!!

This was in the early 90 when playing for LAZIO!!!

My personal Favorites are:
1.Maradonna vs England WC86
2.Roberto Carlos vs Tenerife(free kick v France maybe better 1n 97 french tournament
3.A Morrocan scoring against Belguim in WC94 started his run inside his own half.
4.Gascoigne(pick anyone really)freekick v Arsenal in 90/91 cup semi final at wembley is my personal favorite
5.Gemmill vs Holland WC78
6.Josimar vs Northern Ireland WC86
7.Dalglish vs England at wembley curled it past the keeper(the game where they wrecked the posts after. see the goal caused a riot)
8.Baggio(again pick anyone) but in Italy WC90
vs Czech(I think) he dribbled past 4 players before sliding it in. Magic
9.Fashanu vs Liverpool a turn and volley still great today maybe 77/78
10.Giggs vs Arsenal 98/99 cup semi final

Ofcourse there are millions of goals scored everyday that most of us will never see. thats why i believe the greatest goal was Maradonna's vs England
You see the hand of God, the Falklands war ,the sending off of Rattin in 66 all played a part in that game. wouldn't it be great if we settled all our international disputes on the Football field?

two best goals were:
the goal that Maradona score against England in WC86 & Beckham's 60m -goal in the game between MU & Wimbledon in 1996

Carlos Alberto agaisnt Italy in 70, but Pele's lost goal when he dribbled the goalie without toching the ball would be even better.

Did you guys all forgot that great goal in the EC final in 1988 by Marco van Basten!?!??!
Proffesionals all thought scoring from that angle was technechly IMPOSSIBLE.
Also, it was a very important goal.
But there are of course many goals that were great in football history.
How about Maradonna's hands goal in the World Cup, that wasn't very beautiful, but it was funny anyway!

3. Rivaldo's goal from mid-field in 97 vs Deprtivo.
2. Bergkamp's in World Cup 98 vs Argentina.
1. Anything Pele did. That guy was the best. Probably still could take half the teams today.

3. Rivaldo's goal from mid-field in 97 vs Deportivo.
2. Bergkamp's in World Cup 98 vs Argentina.
1. Anything Pele did. That guy was the best. Probably still could take half the teams today.

IF YOU HAVE MISSED M.VAN BASTEN'S VOLLEY
IN EURO 88 YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING.THAT GOAL IS FROM OUTER SPACE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK THAT DASAYEV WAS THE GOALKEEPER AND THAT IT WAS THE FINAL.SO:

1.VAN BASTEN VOLLEY 1988
2.VAN BASTEN BICICLE KICK AGAINST GOTEBORG
(?) FIRST YEAR IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1992
3.PROSINECKI FOR RED STAR 1991 ECC AGAINST
DYNAMO DRESDEN (FREE KICK)

I wanted to put Van Basten's one in my list but i couldn't remember who scored it against Russia in EC88 your right one of the best ever.

I think it was Rivaldo Bicycle Kick against Man Utd in the champions league when they drew 3-3 in Barcelona. He received a cross in between 2 defenders jumped up chested it, and then did the bicycle kick. Left everyone standing and watching in awe. Or how about his free kick in the same game in which he genuinely wrong footed Schmeichel who moved in the opposite direction the shot was going.

andy cole´s bicicle kick this year league .. the one that hitted the post and went in

Pele's lost goal was copied by Man U's Blomqvist in '95 when he played for IFK Gothenburg. The best goal ever must be Maradona's in WC86 with that wonderful solorun! But I could also be one of Pele and Jairzinho's great plays...

Maradona against England World Cup 86. I laughed my bollocks off!

Diego Maradonna(ARG) vs England WC 86
Michael Owen(ENG) vs Argentina WC 98

And of course Marco Van Basten's smasher against the Soviets in the European Championship Final 1988.

And Gheorghe Hagi I remember scored one fantastic goal against Colombia in the 1994 WC, anyone remember?.