We have witnessed some amazing goals which will forever be etched in our memories, such as Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s spectacular 30-yard bicycle-kick strike against England or Cristiano Ronaldo’s astonishing overhead kick goal versus Juventus.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are goals which are extremely weird and wacky. These goals often bring laughter, shock and even a sense of amazement.
Without further ado, we present you some of the most bizarre goals scored in football at both international and club level.
Darren Bent vs Liverpool
In the 2009-10 Premier League season, Sunderland’s Darren Bent scored a bizarre goal against Liverpool at the Stadium of Light. The striker’s attempt wasn’t the most dangerous and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina looked to have it covered.
However, as he went to make the routine save, the ball deflected into the goal off a rogue inflatable beach ball that had found its way onto the pitch, remarkably from the Reds fans behind Reina’s goal.
Dion Dublin vs Newcastle United
In 1997, Coventry City’s Dion Dublin took full advantage of Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given’s momentary lapse in concentration. Given got his hands on a high ball before putting it on the ground to redistribute.
He looked around 180 degrees before taking the usual couple of steps back to get a run-up. Sadly for him, he had failed to notice Dublin just off the pitch behind him, with the striker taking full advantage and putting the ball into the back of the net. A very bizarre goal indeed.
M’Baye Niang against Poland
During the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, Senegal were playing Poland. The African nation’s M’Baye Niang was out on the sidelines, being treated for an injury. After the referee’s permission, he came back to the ground, but Polish players failed to notice him as a back-pass to their goalkeeper was intercepted by him, who duly scored.
Peter Enckelman vs Birmingham
In 2002, Aston Villa were up against city rivals Birmingham City in the Premier League. Villa defender Olof Mellberg’s throw-in was aimed at his goalkeeper but the ball found its way into the net. But Peter Enckelman’s lack of touch on the ball means it shouldn’t have counted as a goal, given one can’t score directly from a throw. Enckelman later stated:
“I’m 90 per cent sure I didn’t touch the ball, but I couldn’t swear I did.”
Javier Hernandez vs Chelsea
Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernández has scored goals with his right foot, left foot and head during a productive career, but most can be – at the very least – classified as ‘deliberate’. Kicking the ball into his own face and it rolling over the line probably doesn’t quite fall into that category. Hernandez received a cross from Antonio Valencia, he slipped, the ball hit his right foot and then his face before going in. This bizarre goal came in the Community Shield against Chelsea.
Dovock Origi vs Everton
Liverpool striker Divock Origi’s last-minute winner in the Merseyside derby during the 2018-19 campaign was really weird. The Belgian headed (well, shouldered) the ball in from a yard out after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a real hash of a Virgil van Dijk volley which looked like it was floating over the bar. Origi kept himself in position and made a mockery of the mess by Pickford.
Karim Benzema vs Liverpool
In the 2017-18 Champions League final, Karim Benzema’s opening goal wasn’t a story of skill or beautiful football, but of a truly bizarre decision by Liverpool’s Loris Karius. The German goalkeeper gifted the goal to Los Blancos by attempting a throw out after catching an innocuous ball. Karius gathered a lofted ball over the top from Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos then attempted to throw it out to the flank to begin a build-up. Instead, his throw went right to Benzema, who easily tapped into the open net. After some confusion, the goal was deemed legal.
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