The best goal I’ve ever seen (Video)

Much was made of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s quartet of goals on Wednesday night as Sweden comfortably dispatched Sweden 4-2 in Stockholm. His fourth goal – a 30-yard overhead kick – was truly a spectacle to admire.

Yes, it was aesthetically pleasing, but while plenty have dubbed it the greatest goal ever, it is anything but. Heck, it wasn’t even Ibrahimovic’s best goal to date, but that’s in another post altogether.

With numerous great goals grasping the attention of fans across the world, there is one that will forever live in my memory. I can still remember where I was when I saw this goal and the wave of happiness that overcame me when I saw it live.

I’m talking, of course, about Zinedine Zidane’s volley in the 2001 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. I’ve seen some great goals in my life – David Beckham’s 50 yard strike against Wimbledon, Maxi Rodriguez’s chest down and volley against Mexico and *that* free-kick from Roberto Carlos against France.

But they all pale in comparison in relation to the Frenchman’s sublime finish. With the ball in the air for that long following Roberto Carlos’ cross and to make such a technically perfect connection – it simply took my breath away.

So while some will mention Ibrahimovic’s overhead kick from Wednesday as the greatest ever, it won’t even come close to that volley from Zidane 11 years ago. 

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