Best ever Champions League goals

The Champions League returns in February and now the draw has been made for the second round, fans can start to look forward to their respected ties. The last 16 will pit some of Europe’s heavyweight against each other and the crop of stars on display are expected to light up the competition, with their dazzling skills and breath taking goals.

Since its reform in 1992, the Champions League has played host to some of the most iconic goals in world football. This season’s edition has already provided some crackers already, and many more will be expected as we enter the business end of the Champions League. Here, we take a look at some of the best strikes in the competitions history.

Cristiano Ronaldo v Porto

The Manchester United star really came into his own during the 2008/09 campaign. The Portuguese winger scored the game’s only goal when the Red Devils visited Porto in 2009 quarter-final. The first-leg was 2-2 so United needed a win in normal time to progress, and it certainly wasn’t a normal goal that won it. From fully 40 yards, Ronaldo collected a pass from Anderson and sent a thunderbolt straight into the corner of the Porto goal. A simply stunning strike.

Lionel Messi v Real Madrid

The Argentine star has been guilty of scoring some of the most outrageous goals the Champions League has ever seen, but maybe none more so than this strike against Real in the 2011 semi-final. Messi had already put Barca a goal up before he decided to waltz into Real territory. Skipping past Lassana Diarra, Messi evaded both Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol and Marcelo before cooly slotting the ball into the back of the net. Amazing finish.

Mario Mandzukic v Real Madrid

Juventus squared off with Real in the 2017 final at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and were comprehensively beaten 4-1. That wasn’t before Croatian hitman Mandzukic scored arguably the best goal of his career to level the game at 1-1. The Italians tore through Real with a slick team move that saw Alex Sandro’s volleyed crest brilliantly cushioned by Gonzalo Higuain, Mandzukic positioned himself and sent an audacious overhead volley beyond the reach of Keylor Navas.

Zinedine Zidane v Bayer Leverkusen

One of the many highs of the French legends career, Zidane’s volley in the 2001 final is still debated as the best ever in the competition. Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen were on the receiving end of Zidane’s exquisite volley, and the goal gets better the more you watch it. Left-back Roberto Carlos hooked in a looping cross and Zidane waited just inside the penalty are for the ball to drop, before unleashing an unstoppable volley to light up Hampden Park. 

Gareth Bale v Liverpool

If Mandzukic’s effort in the 2017 final was breath taking, then Bale’s in the 2018 final was truly stunning. The Welsh wizard came on as a substitute as Madrid were looking for their third successive Champions League title against Liverpool. Marcelo found himself in position on the left-hand side and sent an out swinger towards Bale. The former Tottenham Hotspur star sent a thunderbolt of a bicycle kick beyond Lorius Karius, much to the sheer delight of Bale.

Cristiano Ronaldo v Juventus

The Champions League all-time record scorer scored perhaps his best in the competitions history in last season’s quarter-final. Similarly to Bale’s stunner, Ronaldo scored a sublime overhead kick to give Madrid the incentive in their last eight encounter. Dani Carvajal’s cross was meet with aplomb from Ronaldo, who arrowed his effort past the despairing Gianluigi Buffon. Although with not seen any goals of the magnitude of Bale and Ronaldo this season, the Champions League on Betfair markets are taking shape as the competition advances to the knockout stages.

What Arsenal goals do you think deserve to be on this list?

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