The end of the football season means the start of the YouTube season. Don’t say you’ve never done it! You stockpile recommended clips from the last 10 months in your ‘Watch Later’ list and promise yourself that when the live stuff slows to a stop, you’ll get around to checking out all those great clips.
Well, research commissioned by LiveFootballTickets.com has found the 10 most-viewed goals that YouTube has to offer, so if you’ve got a football-sized hole in your schedule these lot would be a great place to start.
1. Lionel Messi vs Real Madrid (2017)
The Argentine maestro has scored plenty of goals in El Clasico across his career but this one appears to triumph above the rest having picked up 76,557,316 views on YouTube. If you needed reminding of this goal it was a silky move that was coolly finished by Messi, who then celebrated with the iconic shirt raise.
2. Diego Maradona vs England (1986)
Argentines make up the top two spots in this list, and this one from the late legend is a stunning strike. You may have thought it would have been the ‘Hand of God’ goal from the same game but it is not. This goal was not only far better but also legal as the magician danced his way through the England half before rounding the goalkeeper and firing the ball into the net. This goal has amassed 18,752,171 views on YouTube.
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3. David Beckham vs Greece (2001)
If you are an England football fan or just an English citizen, you will definitely be aware of this goal which fired England to the 2002 World Cup. Beckham stepped over a free-kick in injury time with the Three Lions needing to level the score to qualify and Beckham fired in stunningly to get the job done. This goal has been viewed 15,588,560 times.
4. Sergio Aguero vs QPR (2012)
This goal is forever etched into football legend because of all the drama that was involved. It was the goal that snatched Manchester City their first Premier League title away from rivals Manchester United. You can not think of this goal without hearing Martin Tyler’s ‘Agueroooooooooo’ playing in the back of your mind. This strike has been seen 10,367,112 times.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs LAFC (2018)
The Swedish superstar dominated MLS when he spent time in the United States with LA Galaxy, scoring some memorable goals. But the most popular one has been decided, with this stunning strike on his Galaxy debut seeing him lob the goalkeeper from distance in the local derby against Los Angeles FC. It has been watched 9,301,257 times on YouTube.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs England (2012)
Ibrahimovic has the honour of making this list twice, and for good reason. This incredible bicycle kick against England just summed up his brilliance. After goalkeeper Joe Hart came out of his area to head the ball clear, the striker sensed an opportunity he couldn’t pass up and lobbed the ball into the net with an acrobatic finish that has since been repeated at least 7,464,184 times.
7. Zinedine Zidane vs Bayer Leverkusen (2002)
This one from the Champions League final was simply sublime. The Frenchman struck one of the sweetest volleys you will see on the edge of the box to find the top-left corner. Zidane was a truly remarkable player and one who has motivated 5,042,148 extra visits to YouTube to witness his greatness again.
8. Roberto Carlos vs France (1997)
This free-kick by the Brazilian was absolutely stunning and it is not surprising that this has made the list. The way he was able to strike the ball away from the wall but a produce science-defying swerve back inside the near post was wonderful to watch over and over again. On YouTube, this goal has been seen 4,660,996 times.
9. Roberto Carlos vs Tenerife (1998)
Like Ibrahimovic, Roberto Carlos makes the cut twice and for good reason. You may think his goal against France was special, but this one against Tenerife was also mind-blowing. The left-back picks up the ball on the left side near the by-line and he somehow manages to fire a thunderbolt into the top corner from such a narrow angle. Roberto Carlos was a God amongst men for moments like this, as 3,503,119 YouTube viewers can attest.
10. Dennis Bergkamp vs Newcastle United (2002)
This goal is legendary in the Premier League era, although a debate still rages on as to whether Bergkamp meant the flick that took the ball around Nikos Dabizas which he spun onto before finding the back of the net. For the skill involved, we should give him the benefit of the doubt as it was as fine a goal as you will see. On YouTube, this has been watched 3,503,100 times.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
