My Top 10 Stunners in the Sand

It was Goals galore at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar,  showcasing the skill and  brilliance of  the players. It was  tough to pick the best 10. So I decided to frame a set of parameters to help me judge in a more objective manner.

The situation of the game, the criticality of the match, the level of difficulty and to top it all, the skill on display and the Wow factor.

Listed below are the best 10 goals in my opinion which are a mix of the parameters set by me. These were real stunners and created a storm in the Arabian desert.

10. Vincent Aboubakar for Cameroon against Brazil : Group Stage

Vincent Aboubakar : photo courtesy India Today

Cameroon became the first African Nation to beat Brazil in a World Cup, when they stunned the South American Giants by a solitary goal. It was an effort worth all the praise and that too in stoppage time in the dying minutes of the game. Vincent Aboubakar, the veteran striker had shown his prowess in their match against Serbia and here too, his ability to be at the right place at the right time came to the  fore. In a quick move from the right flank, Vincent Aboubakar lined himself ever so perfectly for the upcoming pass and with his first touch headed  the ball into the goal with deadly accuracy. The goalkeeper had just no chance. In that split second he was aware of the position of the goalkeeper so precisely, like a skilled hunter, sums up the quality of the header. The pass too was great coming from almost the centre of the pitch, and Vincent Aboubakar created history.

9. Rouzbeh Cheshmi for Iran against Wales : Group Stage 

Rouzbeh Cheshmi : photo courtesy Getty Images

Iran vs Wales was an important fixture in the Group stages, a victory was critical to stay afloat in the tournament . Iran was slated to meet the USA next while Wales had a tougher ask of facing England. The match was heading towards a goalless draw, when it suddenly came alive 8 minutes into stoppage time, simply due to the sheer brilliance of Rouzbeh Cheshmi. A poor clearance from Wales went straight to Cheshmi who controlled the ball and unleashed a right footer from way outside the box. Such was the power behind it and so precise was the placement of the ball, that it just escaped the outstretched left hand of the goalkeeper, who had a good look at it, but the ball came rather quickly. What a strike it was. Wales were down and before they could  react, Iran scored another to make it 2-0 and were worthy winners.


8. Luis Chavez for Mexico  against Saudi Arabia : Group Stage 

Luis Chavez : photo courtesy ESPN

It was a do or die encounter for Mexico and Saudi Arabia. A win was a must. Luis Chavez scored the second goal for Mexico with a free kick of the highest quality. Without doubt it was the best free kick of the tournament. From a good 25-30 yards from the goal, a thunderous left footer curling away from Mohammed Al Owais (  Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper who had been in fine form ), and beating him to his left. The strike was simply exemplary. The power, the movement of the ball and its accuracy made it a Wow moment. Saudi Arabia scored late and denied Mexico the next stage of the Tournament. However the free kick from Luis Chavez was a one to savour.


7. Lionel Messi for Argentina against Mexico : Group Stage 

Messi : photo courtesy TSN

This is the Goal which turned  Argentina’s fortunes for the better, coming from the great man himself, Lionel Messi. After their loss to Saudi Arabia in the previous match, Argentina had to win this one and with Mexico not easy opponents, it was a tensed match. But Messi showed the way with a great  left footer. Angel Di Maria passed from the right flank to Messi waiting in the centre unmarked. He did not waste a second and struck with his famous left foot from outside the box, through a number of bodies. The ball sped off the turf curling ever so slightly to beat the Goalkeeper. It was an inspirational hit which sent the Argentinians on their way. They never looked back after that. The young Enzo Fernandes too scored a stunner in the game, but the importance of the Messi strike was critical and therefore his goal was the one for me.


6. Tchouameni for France against England : Quarter Finals

Tchouameni : photo courtesy Sports Star

France vs England in the Quarters was one of the best matches of the World Cup. Two teams in brilliant form slugged it out. A shame that only one could progress. It was a tense match, but a young Frenchman stole the glimmer with a goal to remember. Aurelien Tchouameni, the young midfielder, came of age and scored a sensational goal with a powerful right footed strike. Griezmann set him up beautifully and though Tchouameni was a good 25 yards away, he belted the ball with such power that Pickford, England’s experienced Goalkeeper was well and truly beaten, as the ball galloped across the turf to his right. A big goal in a very big match. Had all the boxes ticked for me. What a strike.


5. Al Dawsari for Saudi Arabia  against Argentina : Group Stage 

Dawsari Somersault : photo courtesy Sports Illustrated

The Argentinians were on a 36 game undefeated streak. No one had given the Saudis a chance and after getting ahead by a goal in the first half, it was expected to be a routine affair for the South Americans. However what followed in the second half was out of the blue. The Saudis equalised and then five minutes later Salem Al Dawsari scored a true stunner. On the move with the ball outside the box, holding on to his balance and looking for the slightest of gaps , Al Dawsari struck a true cracker with his right foot. The powerful kick had the ball swirling in the air just enough to beat  the keeper’s finger tips. It was a big moment in the World Cup and Al Dawsari’s effort would be remembered for years to come including his somersault celebration. The goal had skill and class written all over it and deserved to be ranked in the top 5.

4. Neymar for Brazil against Croatia : Quarter Finals

Neymar : photo courtesy Draft Kings Nation

Brazil  had promised a lot with a highly skillful set of players, proven performers and a good mix of youth and experience. Neymar was expected to be their guiding light, but unfortunately he had a quiet World Cup barring one moment of absolute brilliance to break the deadlock in extra time in the Quarter Final against Croatia. The move started with Neymar outside the box  and ended with him with  a sublime goal. Neymar passed to Pedro and made a move into the box. He  received  the ball again from Pedro and passed it  to Rodrygo who made the final pass to  Neymar bisecting two defenders in the box. Neymar with amazing control took the ball from Rodrygo, dribbled a bit to get clear of the goalkeeper and shot into the net. It was pure Brazilian sensational football. Big game, big instance  and a Wow moment.



3. Julian Alvarez for Argentina against Croatia : Semi Finals

Messi and Josko Gvardiol : photo courtesy Sports Tiger

This goal by Julian Alvarez is in the top 3 due to an insane assist from Lionel Messi, who actually created the goal in the all important Semi Final against Croatia. This was Argentina’s third goal of the match which sealed it for the South Americans and put the game well and truly beyond Croatia. Josko Gvardiol, the big 20 year old highly rated  defender for Croatia was closely marking Messi when he received the ball on the right flank close to the box. Such was the skill on display that inspite of all the efforts by Gvardiol to push Messi off balance and secure the ball, neither the ball left Messi’s grasp nor did he lose his balance. He went back and forth and eventually found that little space to make a telling pass to a waiting Alvarez who knocked the ball home. It was simply astounding from Messi who deserved all the credit for this fabulous goal. A Wow moment indeed.


2. Richarlison for Brazil against Serbia : Group Stage

Richarlison : Agencia Brasil EBC

Richarlison’s goal against Serbia in their first match of the World Cup had the world celebrating. Control, skill, accuracy, power, the goal had it all and for many it could well be the Goal of the World Cup. Vinicius Jr coming from the left flank, played a centre to  a waiting Richarlison, who with his first touch controlled the ball ( at that moment his back was facing the goal ), swivelled on his left foot, in a bicycle kick style and hit the ball with great power and deadly accuracy with his right foot to beat the goal keeper. The stadium just erupted. Even Richarlison appeared stunned by what he had just achieved.  It took some time for the euphoria to settle down. The goal became a talking point and was analysed across the World from various angles. It was an amazingly  Wow moment.

1. Kylian Mbappe for France against Argentina : The Final

Kylian Mbappe : photo courtesy The Peninsula Qatar

There cannot be a bigger stage than a World Cup Final and there cannot be a situation more critical than your team trailing with just 10 minutes to go for the final whistle. To push yourself to the limit and have the temperament and the gumption to pull back your team from the brink into serious reckoning, deserves huge praise. After the lead was reduced by  half, Kylian Mbappe produced, for me the goal of the World Cup, just a minute later. The move began when Kingsley Coman got the better of Messi in the midfield. Ironically it was Messi who lost possession which created the opening. Coman moved the ball ahead and in a few moments Marcus Thuram passed over to a rampaging Mbappe coming swiftly from the left. The ball was going away from Mbappe and Emiliano Martinez was moving forward closing out the angle. In a fraction of a  second Mbappe pounced on the ball and stretched his right foot to strike  with amazing ferocity, almost slipping in the process. The power behind the ball and the precise direction beat Emiliano Martinez to his left with the narrowest of margins,  with him getting his finger tips to it. It was pure skill and power from Mbappe. The strike got France back into the match. It was one heck of a goal in the toughest of moments. Truly awe inspiring and the best for me.

The above 10 goals gave goosebumps to the ones watching them unfold. They were a real treat to behold and shall be remembered for years to come.

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Featured Image : The Japan Times