NationStates Jolt Archive

The Goal of the Century, also known as "Greatest Goal in FIFA World Cup History", was an award given for the greatest goal ever scored in a FIFA World Cup finals. It was decided by a poll on the FIFA website, as part of the coverage of the 2002 World Cup tournament.

The winning goal was the second goal by Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match, for Argentina against England on June 22, 1986, at the Azteca stadium, Mexico City; it came shortly after Maradona's infamous Hand of God goal. Nine minutes into the second half, Héctor Enrique passed the ball to Maradona some ten meters inside his own half. Maradona then began his 60 meter, 10 second dash towards the English goal, dodging five English outfield players ( Hoddle, Reid, Sansom, Butcher and Fenwick) as well as goalkeeper Peter Shilton to make the score 2-0 to Argentina. Gary Lineker scored a goal for England 25 minutes later, but England were unable to equalise and Argentina won 2-1.

About the goal, Maradona said, "I made the play to give it to Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no space. Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself." A statue of Maradona immortalizing the moment has been erected outside the stadium.

Recently, Maradona said he couldn't have scored such a beautiful goal if it hadn't been against the honest English team, who didn't knock him down as most defenses used to do. "They are probably the noblest in the world," he added.

The top 10 goals, as decided by the poll, were:

1. Diego Maradona (Argentina), 1986 World Cup vs England 18,062 votes
2. Michael Owen (England), 1998 World Cup vs Argentina 10,631 votes
3. Pelé (Brazil), 1958 World Cup vs Sweden 9,880 votes
4. Diego Maradona (Argentina), 1986 World Cup vs Belgium 9,642 votes
5. Gheorghe Hagi (Romania), 1994 World Cup vs Colombia 9,297 votes
6. Saeed Owairan (Saudi Arabia), 1994 World Cup vs Belgium 6,756 votes
7. Roberto Baggio (Italy), 1990 World Cup vs Czechoslovakia 6,694 votes
8. Carlos Alberto (Brazil), 1970 World Cup vs Italy 5,388 votes
9. Lothar Matthäus (Germany), 1990 World Cup vs Yugoslavia 4,191 votes
10. Enzo Scifo (Belgium), 1990 World Cup vs Uruguay 2,935 votes
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Comments?

Couple of questions...

1. Why do you always put a couple of symbols in front of your threads?

2. Why do you always just transplant stories from somewhere else (and not even provide a link) instead of starting threads based off of some sort of discussion point or something?

i probably would have chosen that goal as well, but it is spoilt by him cheating beforehand (no pun intended).

Nah, the goal of the century was George Best on Gordon Banks when NI were playing England.

Banks throws it up for a goal kick, and Best runs in and heads it over him and into the net before Banks can kick it.

Unbelievable.

Nah, the goal of the century was George Best on Gordon Banks when NI were playing England.

Banks throws it up for a goal kick, and Best runs in and heads it over him and into the net before Banks can kick it.

Unbelievable.Im thinking about posting a poll...

If I do shall I include that one?

do you remember the year?

Couple of questions...

1. Why do you always put a couple of symbols in front of your threads?

2. Why do you always just transplant stories from somewhere else (and not even provide a link) instead of starting threads based off of some sort of discussion point or something?1# its like a tab.

2# why not?

Im thinking about posting a poll...

If I do shall I include that one?

do you remember the year?
'71 or '72 I think.

'71 or '72 I think.cool.

Couple of questions...

1. Why do you always put a couple of symbols in front of your threads?

2. Why do you always just transplant stories from somewhere else (and not even provide a link) instead of starting threads based off of some sort of discussion point or something?
I find it annoying too

Because he doesn't have an original or insightful thought of his own to bestow upon us, and would rather thrust partisan information in your face and lamely pretend that he knows something about world politics.

I find it annoying too.cry me a river.