There have been some outstanding goals throughout the history of the Champions League, including these beauties from the last 12 years of the competition.
Before you tuck in, check out the cream of the competition from the first decade, 1992-2002 right here.
2002/03 – Winners: AC Milan
One of the best matches of the tournament produced one of the best goals when Real Madrid came to Old Trafford in the quarter-final second leg leading 3-1 from the first leg. United won the match 4-3 but bowed out 6-5 on aggregate. The Brazilian Ronaldo scored an incredible hat-trick at Old Trafford and the goal to complete the hat-trick was the pick of the bunch.
2003/04 – Winners: Porto
AC Milan met Deportivo La Coruna in the quarter-final first leg at the San Siro and Kaka scored this beautiful effort in a comfortable 4-1 win for the home side. Little did they know that Deportivo would stage one of the all-time great comebacks in the second leg to win 4-0 and 5-4 on aggregate. Here is Kaka’s goal from the first leg and it’s a goal of breathtaking technique.
2004/05 – Winners: Liverpool
In one of the most dramatic finals of all time, Liverpool came from three goals down to beat AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul. However, it could have been all so different as Liverpool were on the brink of elimination to Olympiacos in the group stage. Olympiacos were trailing 2-1 at Anfield and would have gone through and eliminated Liverpool if the score stayed that way. The home side needed a goal and up stepped Steven Gerrard in the 86th minute to hit this howitzer.
2005/06 – Winners: Barcelona
Barcelona beat Arsenal in the final in Paris in 2006, but once again, AC Milan’s Kaka scored one of the most memorable goals in the competition that season against Fenerbahce in the group stages. There are few better sights in world football than Kaka running at full speed with the ball. He seems to glide over the grass and shows unbelievable balance and technique for this cracker.
http://youtu.be/loBYxA8QL0U
2006/07 – Winners: AC Milan
In 2007, Milan beat Liverpool in the final in Athens to avenge their Istanbul defeat two seasons earlier. In the quarter-final, meanwhile, Chelsea were up against Valencia and the first leg was played at Stamford Bridge. It finished 1-1, but this goal from a young David Silva for Valencia will live long in the memory.
2007/08 – Winners: Manchester United
Manchester United won their third European Cup title after beating Chelsea in the final in Moscow on penalties, with Edwin Van Der Sar the hero after saving Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick. United beat Barcelona in the semi-final with just a single goal over the two legs; the decisive goal was scored by Paul Scholes and what a goal it was. A goal befitting of the occasion and an absolute joy to behold.
2008/09 – Winners: Barcelona
Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the final in Rome as Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo was at the height of his powers during that season and his goal for Manchester United against Porto in the quarter-final second leg, the goal that won the tie, was a phenomenal strike.
2009/10 – Winners: Inter Milan
Inter beat Bayern Munich in the final in Madrid with two goals from Diego Milito. The German side were helped to the final by some telling contributions from Arjen Robben and this goal against Fiorentina in the last 16 was out of this world.
2010/11 – Winners: Barcelona
Barcelona and Manchester United contested the final again and again the Spanish side won, this time on a 3-1 scoreline. Inter Milan were given a bit of a hiding in their quarter-final against Schalke, but Inter’s Dejan Stankovic scored this outrageous volley from about 50 metres out to secure his place in goal compilation videos till the end of time. It’s a stunning piece of opportunism and technique.
2011/12 – Winners: Chelsea
Chelsea won the trophy for the first time in their history with a victory over Bayern Munich on penalties. Barcelona were reigning champions, but they were knocked out by eventual winners Chelsea in the semi-finals. However, they did score the best goal of the tournament with this effort from Anders Iniesta against Viktoria Plzen in the group stage:
2012/13 – Winners: Bayern Munich
Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund in an all-German final at Wembley, with the winning goal coming from Arjen Robben. You don’t normally associate central defenders with great technique and execution, but this goal from Philippe Mexes for Milan away to Anderlecht is all of those things. A fantastic effort from the Frenchman.
2013/14 – Winners: Real Madrid
Real Madrid beat cross city rivals Atletico in the final after extra-time to win their tenth European Cup. The best goal of the whole tournament, however, was scored by a man who we are used to seeing scoring screamers. Step forward Zlatan Ibrahmovic. What. A. Strike.
