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It turns out former Newcastle United, Rangers and Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Gascoigne is responsible for scoring one of the first 'rabona penalties' in football history.
Back in 1990, 'Gazza' was playing for Spurs in Danny Blanchflower's testimonial against a Northern Ireland XI when the Lilywhites were awarded a penalty after Paul Allen was hacked down.
Gascoigne, who was only 23-years-old at the time, grabbed the ball and proceeded to fool Ireland's shot-stopper with an unstoppable rabona; a skill move that was almost unheard of back in the early 90's.
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Judging by the reaction from social media, a fair few people have only just discovered the clip.
As you can see in the above video, those inside White Hart Lane voiced their appreciation in unison, with cheers of "OOOOH" ringing around the 36,000 capacity stadium.
It was a moment of genius that sums up the supremely talented Gascoigne, who will go down as one of the greatest players in England's history.
🗣 "Every time we play him we need two balls - one for him, and one for the team!"
— GOAL (@goal) May 27, 2020
Happy birthday to one of England's greatest, Paul Gascoigne 🏴pic.twitter.com/KUC8GQbfOy
Six years after that testimonial goal, Gascoigne would produce some sublime performances at Euro 96. In fact, a compilation of his performances at the tournament have gone viral of late.
The former Spurs midfielder scored that wondergoal against Scotland and then performed the now-iconic dentist's chair celebration.
England made it all the way to the semi-finals that summer while Gascoigne made everything look way too easy. Just take a look at the below.
Phil Foden brought me here...
— Ben Haines (@benhainess) June 8, 2021
(Also really appreciate that UEFA gave this the pounding Euro dance a ‘Gazza goals, skills, assists 96’ vid deserves.) pic.twitter.com/Y011S9v4Vp
Gascoigne was also a character off the pitch and a story involving Diego Maradona sums him up to a tee.
He signed for Lazio in 1992, a year after Argentine genius Maradona had left Napoli, but they met later without Gazza even realising it at first.
"At a charity game, I remember I wanted a lighter and I'd seen a little fella outside with a hat on and a big long cigar," Gascoigne said on Good Morning Britain.
"I just went up from behind him and said: 'Can I borrow your lighter please?' And he turned round, it was Diego - so I started laughing. I shared a bit of cigar with him and we clicked then, you know?"
Lovely tribute paid by Gazza to Maradona
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) November 26, 2020
“Obviously I spoke to him to in Italian because he didn’t speak English and neither do I” 😄pic.twitter.com/97w6UtSmwr
What's your favourite Gascoigne moment?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Football, Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham Hotspur, England