Manchester City may have enjoyed a memorable victory over Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium, last night but the moment from the latest round of Champions League games that seems destined to live longest in the memory happened in front of roughly 8,000 people in Bulgaria.
While a narrow comeback victory over Ludogorets is hardly something Arsenal fans will be eager to boast about, the mesmeric effort from Mesut Ozil that handed the Gunners victory in the dying minutes of the game will be something that will be replayed for years to come.
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An impudent flick of the foot was enough to leave an onrushing goalkeeper stranded on the edge of the 18-yard-box and two Ludogorets defenders were then sent to the corner shop as the German playmaker danced past them before rolling the ball into an empty net:
The finish was akin to George Best in his prime, with immense pride being taken in the way both goalkeeper and defenders were embarrassed. But where does Ozil's genius rank among other moments of genius produced in Europe's elite club competition?
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Thanks to the Gunners' assist king, we've allowed ourselves a reason to delve into the seemingly bottomless vault of great goals that have graced the Champions League since the revamped tournament replaced the old European Cup format in 1992. Somehow, we managed to whittle a list down to just 20 goals but is Ozil's trickery worthy of replacing any of these classics?
Before anyone loses their mind, this list is not ranked in any particular order:
20. Dejan Savicevic
AC MILAN vs Barcelona
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Champions League Final 1994
Gif via Complex
Because, if you've got to score in a Champions League final and you can't be arsed running the ball into the box, what better way to stick the ball in the back of the net?
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19. Thierry Henry
Sparta Prague vs ARSENAL
2005/2006 Group Stage
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Gif via Complex
Because using the inside of your foot is overrated.
18. Cristiano Ronaldo
Arsenal vs MANCHESTER UNITED
2008/09 Semi Final
While Manuel Almunia could have arguably done a better job of keeping Ronaldo's first half free kick out, there was nothing any Gunners player could have done to prevent the counter attack that put the final nail in Arsenal's coffin during this 2009 semi-final at the Emirates stadium. If only Jose Mourinho could get United's current team playing at a rate anywhere close to Sir Alex Ferguson's team of seven years ago.
17. Andres Iniesta
Chelsea vs BARCELONA
2008/09 Semi Final
Chelsea may have had a lot of complaints about a series of suspect refereeing decisions during their 2008/09 semi-final against eventual champions Barcelona, but there was nothing anyone could do except appreciate the way in which Andres Iniesta sent Pep Guardiola's men to the final with almost the last, magnificent kick of the game.
16. Michael Essien
CHELSEA vs Barcelona
2008/09 Semi Final
We're not sure what it was about the second leg of the 2008/09 semi finals but they seemed to bring out the spectacular side of everyone involved, including Michael Essien, who channeled his inner Tony Yeboah with this effort against Barcelona. Then Andres Iniesta went and ruined everything for the Blues. Sorry, Michael.
15. Mauro Bressan
FIORENTINA vs Barcelona
1999/00 Group Stage
We've got a lot of time for any player who decides to deal with a scrappy, bouncing ball by just leathering it 30 yard into the net, via the crossbar (always the best way to score) with a scissor kick.
14. Charles-Edouard Coridon
PSG vs Porto
2004/05 Group Stage
Paris Saint-Germain would only win one of their six group games in the 2004/05 campaign, but at least Charles-Edouard Coridon decided to mark that sole victory with a scorpion kick that knocks Rene Higuita's into a cocked hat.
13. Steve McManaman
REAL MADRID vs Valencia
Champions League final 2000
This goal seems to have, tragically, been completely forgotten about but for fuck sake, it's Steve McManaman, Spice Boy curls and all, in an absolute monster of a Real Madrid away kit, whacking home a volley in a Champions League final. What's not to love?
12. Hernan Crespo
AC MILAN vs Liverpool
Champions League Final 2005
THAT Kaka turn and through ball alone is worthy of a place on this list, before it even reaches the outstretched toes of Hernan Crespo, who delightfully does the rest. Sorry Liverpool, but this goal was the real winner of the 2005 Champions League final.
11. Mikael Nilsson
GOTHENBURG vs PSV Eindhoven
1992/93 Group Stage
Roberto Carlos wears Mikael Nilsson pyjamas. End of.
10. Lionel Messi
Real Madrid vs FC BARCELONA
2010/11 Semi Final
With Jose Mourinho deploying his 'Los Blancos' troops to boot Barca off the Bernabeu pitch, it was going to take something spectacular to light up a drab El Clasico. Fortunately, Leo Messi had had enough of Pepe and Sergio Ramos attempting to hoof him over the advertising hoardings and decided to take matters into his own hands (or feet), leaving Jose to get pissed off about Barca's affiliation with Unicef, or something equally as bizarre, at the final whistle.
9. Samuel Eto'o
BARCELONA vs Panathainakos
2005/06 Group Stage
As ridiculous as Pep Guardiola's Barcelona were, the 2005/06 vintage of Ronaldinho, an emerging Lionel Messi, Henrik Larsson and Samuel Eto'o were just as much, if not even more fun to watch, as this sublimely casual Samuel Eto'o lob at the end of a rapid fire series of passes proves.
8. Dejan Stankovic
INTER MILAN vs Schalke
2010/11 Quarter Finals
We're not sure what we enjoy more about this goal; The skill and technique Stankovic uses with which to volley the ball home from over 50 yard out, or Manuel Neuer making himself look like a complete knob with that attempt at a headed clearance. OK, Neuer looking like a knob is more enjoyable. Sorry, Manuel.
7. Steven Gerrard
LIVERPOOL vs Olympiakos
2004/05 Group Stage
"YAAAA BEEEEAAAUUUTTTYY! WHAT A HIT SON, WHAT A HIT!" Before he got outed as a massive sexist, Andy Gray could be spot on with his commentary, and his words accompany this iconic Gerrard strike better than anything else ever could.
6. Ronaldinho
BARCELONA vs AC Milan
2004/05 Group Stage
Who brushes off Alessandro Nesta like that? No one in the history of football should be able to treat a defender of Nesta's standing like that. 'Dinho simply glided past the Italian centre half as if he was big Dave from Sunday League before propelling a right footed rocket past Dida in the Milan goal. Unstoppable.
5. Ronaldinho
Chelsea vs BARCELONA
2004/05 Round of 16
Nope, watched it about a thousand times now and still no idea how he did it.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Porto vs MANCHESTER UNITED
2008/09 Quarter Finals
Given that no English team had ever won in the Dragao Stadium and Porto already had two away goals from the first leg at Old Trafford, not many people fancied a Manchester United victory during the 2008/09 quarter-final second leg. Six minutes into the match in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo took aim and soon silenced United's doubters.
3. Jean-Pierre Papin
Porto vs AC MILAN
1992/93 Group Stage
Stealing the limelight from the likes of Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Dejan Savicevic and Frank Rijkaard is no easy feat, but with this crashing volley from the bloke with the Frenchest name ever, Jean-Pierre Papin, did just that as Milan marched towards another early '90s final appearance.
2. Claudio Lopez
VALENCIA vs PSV Eindhoven
1999/00 Group Stage
We're not sure whether we believe in sorcery or not, but for Claudio Lopez to adjust his body and connect with a dropping, 40 yard, over the shoulder pass at precisely the perfect moment to thunder an unstoppable volley past a helpless PSV goalkeeper in such a manner, we're willing to believe in a lot of weird, otherworldly shit.
1. Zinedine Zidane
REAL MADRID vs Bayer Leverkusen
Champions League Final
Drink...it....in. It always goes down smooth. Despite having their bonfire pissed on with Zizou's magic, we doubt many of the Bayer Leverkusen players who were on the receiving end of it could be too disappointed to have lost to such an iconic moment in football history.
So, does Mesut Ozil's effort deserve a place on the list? Who would he replace? Have your say in the comments section, below.
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Topics: Football, Mesut Ozil, Champions League
