Andrea Pirlo and David Villa are coming to be a pair of human highlight reels. On Sunday afternoon around the 66th minute, Pirlo played a miraculous ball from just over half that led to a brilliant finish from Villa. David Villa made this finish look easy but it is far from that. Hats off to these two for providing us with yet another WOW moment.
Do you remember the first time soccer blew your mind? For me, it was Ronaldinho. Not even a specific clip, just Ronaldinho in general. The more and more I watched of him the more I realized that my understanding of soccer was so timidly different than what was really possible that it practically hurt; I needed to watch more highlights, and I swear I got high from them.
I thought the days of Ronaldinho blowing my mind were done, but this one goal, this legendary goal that many of you have already seen before, has come back to do it again:
As Ian Darke would say: "Goal Goal USA!" The USA utilized their substitute Darlington Nagbe to the best of scenarios. Nagbe scoring his first goal for the United States, clinched the victory for the Americans in the 90th minute to beat Ecuador in an international friendly. An exciting moment for him and the USA as they prepare for Copa America.
As the moments of desperation evolved, goalkeeper Jamie Butler scored an incredible full field laser to even the game at two goals a piece. Following a favorable skip from right outside the 18 yardbox, the ball found it's way into the upper left corner out of reach from the opposing goalie. Crazy moments like these are why we love the game!
As the final whistle of the game approached, a moment of creativity developed as Kaka maneuvered his way through the box to hit a well timed cross to Cyle Larin. The Canadian then shook the net with the game winning goal against the Montreal Impact in the 87th minute. It was a much needed three points for Orlando City who are trying to keep pace with the top of the table in the Eastern Conference.
(Screenshot from ESPNFC)
After Barcelona battled with 10 men for all but 36 minutes, two moments of brilliance from Lionel Messi led to two goals. The second coming from a through ball from Messi that Neymar calmly slotted into the opposite side netting to seal the deal at Vincente Calderon Stadium.
Neymar celebrating his goal which afterwards he said: "Se acabo!" (It's over!) #fcblive [efe] pic.twitter.com/IAsMqJ2mDH
When I found out that Claudio Ranieri and Leicester City had brought out Andrea Bocelli to serenade the King Power Stadium before Leicester City’s first match as Premier League champions, I got really excited. Not only because Nessum Dorma is one of my favorite songs, or that only a few days prior we at The18 had used it as the soundtrack to a reaction video for Eden Hazard’s goal that won Leicester the title, but because I knew that it would be one of the greatest scenes I would see all year.
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic capitalized on an error by Joe Heart with an amazing 30-yard bicycle kick goal back in 2013, we thought it was a feat of singular athleticism and genius that could never be replicated. However, Javi Gomez, a 33-year-old striker in the Spanish Segunda Division B, has created that outlandish goal’s spirit double.
PSG is not just Zlatan. Maxwell scored an incredible goal today in a 4 - 0 rout of Rennes at the Parc de Princes. His 50th minute goal included a nutmeg to beat one defender and a powerful right footed shot to the top corner. While you see Zlatan scoring powerful goals for PSG, Maxwell is equally as good. Maxwell has great skills for a defender and has a nose for the ball. Some amazing stuff here.
Maxwell just scored the nastiest goal I've seen in awhile