Strikers get on the pitch with the sole intent of putting the ball in the back of the net. Over the years, every part of the human body has been used to score goals, from the feet to the hands to chest pumps. However, it is the header that still is one of the most lethal weapons a striker can rely on. In this edition, we take a look at the Top 4 headed goals.
10. Robin van Persie vs Spain, 2014 FIFA World Cup
The goal earned him the Flying Dutchman tag and won him the 2014 Puskas Award for the best goal. Van Persie scored from a teasing Daley Blind cross from the left flank from an almost impossible position over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
9. Pele vs Italy, 1970 FIFA World Cup Final
Possibly the best player to have ever graced the game of football, Pele scored one of the most important goals of his career with a fantastic header against Italy in the Final of the 1970 World Cup, a goal that came from a throw from close range crossed for Pele to bang it home.
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8. Lionel Messi vs Deportivo la Coruna, 2016-17 La Liga
The Argentine genius, adept at scoring off both feet for his teams, Lionel Messi scored one with his head off a Ivan Rakitic cross against Deportivo, a wonderful goal with adept presence of mind that showed the world that he could make good use of his head too.
7. Luis Garcia vs Anderlecht, 2005-06 UEFA Champions League
Luis Garcia scored the Goal of his Life even without facing the goal, with a wonderfully timed header from just the edge of the box from a cross that came in from the right. The goal helped eventual champions Liverpool stay afloat in the tournament and be undefeated.
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6. Luis Suarez vs West Bromwich Albion, 2013-14 Premier League
In what was his first hattrick for the Reds at Anfield, Luis Suarez ripped apart West Brom with three stunning goals before the break. He started off with a mazy run to dribble past two defenders to make it 1-0 and then scored a crunching header that flew in off a cross from the left to make it 2-0.
5. Alan Shearer vs Bayer Leverkeusen, 2003-04 UEFA Champions League
The highest Premier League goal scorer of all time scored his first Champions League goal in open play in prime fashion playing for Newcastle United against Bayer Leverkeusen in the group stages with a diving header from range off a wonderfully placed Gary Speed cross.
4. Carles Puyol vs Germany, 2010 FIFA World Cup Semifinals
Probably the most ferocious header on this list, Barcelona legend Carles Puyol headed home with fizz from a Xavi corner in a deadlocked 0-0 game against Germany in the semis of the 2010 FIFA World Cup that Spain ultimately clinched in Johannesburg.
3. Miroslav Klose vs Australia, 2010 FIFA World Cup
Klose has scored uncountable goals with his head over the course of his playing time for Germany but this one against Australia in the Group stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is the ppick of them all. He scored from the goalkeeper’s grasp off a brilliant cross from Phillip Lahm from the right flank.
2. Zinedine Zidane vs Brazil, 1998 FIFA World Cup Final
Zizou was part of the Golden generation of French football that went onto clinch the World Cup on their own soil in 1998. The Real Madrid and Juventus ace scored two magnificent headers in the Final, the first of them the pick of the lot as France swept aside mighty Brazil 3-0.
1. Didier Drogba vs Bayern Munich, 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Final
Didier Drogba is a Chelsea legend by his own right, and one of his greatest goals came on the night of a Champions League Final against Bayern Munich who had taken a late 1-0 lead. Drogba made it 1-1 with a crispy header that the goalkeeper had no chance with and then went on to score in the shootout to give Chelsea their second Champions League crown.