Football is a sport that delivers some of the most unexpected yet memorable, unbelievable yet possible, and improbable yet astonishing moments. That said, one of the truly breathtaking instances that one can witness, is undoubtedly a bicycle kick in football, a moment that is quite literally one in a million. Owing to the incredible difficulty required to set up and execute a bicycle kick, it is said to be one of the rarest yet biggest show-off pieces of skill that a player can pull off.
To fully put things into context, a bicycle kick is when a player, with both feet off the ground, is able to jump and kick the ball into the goal. The name comes from the way the feet of the player move, resembling a pedalling motion, as required to ride a bicycle. Thus, such an action has been referred to as a bicycle kick in football. In most instances that one witnesses a bicycle kick in football, the player executing the manoeuvre is attempting to score a goal. However, on occasion, a player may attempt a bicycle kick in football in a defensive way, to clear the ball as well.
That said, it is considered one of the most difficult and skilful moves as it requires precise timing, technique, and awareness to pull off, the kind that only a select few players possess. Thus, a bicycle kick in football is an extremely rare phenomenon, and a goal scored with it is even rarer. That is why today we have a list of the top 10 bicycle kicks in football history.
Rankings Factors
Before we get into the list, let’s discuss some of the criteria involved in the ranking of bicycle kicks. Here, we will be taking into account, the situation, the difficulty, the execution, the likeliness of scoring, and lastly, the occasion or the match where the goal in question was scored. Seeing that bicycle kicks in football is in itself something unexpected and special, simply rating them on their own will be a little difficult. However, the criteria mentioned by us allow us to place each goal within a certain category and score, making it easier to rank.
- Situation
- Difficulty
- Execution
- Likelihood
- Occasion
10. Marco van Basten vs Den Bosch (1986)
To kickstart the list, we have one of the earliest examples of a bicycle kick in football. Marco Van Basten, perhaps one of the greatest Dutch forwards that ever lived, has always had a reputation for being a bit of a ‘fox in the box’, disposing of chance after chance with extreme prejudice. That said, even the most prolific goal poachers have at times required a bit of acrobatics to score and his goal against Den Bosch in 1986 was a perfect example of that.
Rounding off what was a slick team move, Van Basten dispatched a well-placed cross with a sublime overhead kick that left the opposing goalkeeper rooted to the spot as the ball flashed into the side of the upright and into the goal. A moment of pure brilliance and skill, it showed the world exactly what the young Dutchman was capable of.
9. Emre Can vs Watford (2017)
In 2017, Liverpool made a resurgence towards the top half of the table under manager Jurgen Klopp. Whilst wanting to compete for a Champions League spot contending team, Klopp assembled an array of prolific attackers. That said, Emre Can was a player that was neither prolific nor an attacker, but rather a combative midfielder, plying his trade in the middle of the park. That said, during a game against Watford, the German found himself marauding forward, with Lucas Leiva spotting his run and floating a ball in.
In what was a shocking moment for all parties involved, the sizeable midfielder expertly angled himself to catch a clean connection on the ball with an overhead kick, sending it rifling into the top corner. Safe to say, Jurgen Klopp was pretty impressed with his player.
8. Trevor Sinclair vs Barnsley (1997)
Trevor Sinclair is someone that Premier League fans would put in the category of a ‘Barclaysman’, a player who was in the English Premier League between 2001 and 2016 when Barclays Bank was the league’s title sponsor. Notably, a Barclaysman refers to those players in particular, who made a name for themselves and left a lasting impression in the Barclays Era. However, for this one, we are taking a look at Sinclair’s miraculous bicycle kick in the FA Cup Fourth Round match against Barnsley in 1997.
In what was a tense encounter, Sinclair threw all caution to the wind and left the voice of reason behind as he rose up to meet a hopeful cross that in all honestly, was probably not going to drop into the box. However, it was not an issue for the winger who expertly dispatched the cross from the edge of the box, past an outstretched and bewildered Barnsley goalkeeper.
7. Alejandro Garnacho vs Everton (2023)
Whilst 2023 was not the best year for Manchester United, all things considered, it led to the introduction of some of the club’s youth into the first team. Among them were the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Whilst the latter established himself as a mainstay in the United midfield, Garnacho injected some much-needed life and pace into the team’s attack. One such stunning example was when the young Argentinian set the scene at Merseyside against Everton, scoring an incredible bicycle kick in the 3rd minute of the game.
While we all know that a bicycle kick in football is no easy feat, Garnacho’s execution and sheer audacity to pull off such a stunt were what left many shocked. In fact, barring Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper, no other defender even made an attempt to stop the shot, deeming it inconceivable to begin with.
6. Philippe Mexes vs Anderlecht (2012)
Philippe Mexes was always known as a rowdy yet eccentric center-half, who made a name for himself playing for AS Roma and AC Milan in Serie A. Seeing that the team was full of budding talents and veteran players, most of whom had a goal in them, it will be quite surprising for you to know that Mexes actually ended up scoring a much better goal than most of them did in their entire career.
During a Champions League match against Anderlecht, Mexes scored one of the most breathtaking bicycle kicks in football, meeting a free kick at the edge of the box, before chesting it in the air and going for the spectacular. With his back to the goal, Mexes delivered one of the most unlikely yet magical moments in UCL history, firing his team to the Round of 16.
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5. Rivaldo vs Valencia (2001)
Rivaldo is hailed by the Barca players as one of the best players to have come through their ranks. A Balon d’Or winner, and World Cup winner, the Brazilian was a winner in every sense of the word. That said, great players deliver in great moments, and that is exactly what Barca’s talisman did when his team faced an early Champions League exit at the hands of Rafa Benitez’s Valencia in 2001.
Having received the ball on his chest, Rivaldo, with his back to goal, jumped up and scored an amazing bicycle kick and completed a hat-trick for the ages that sent the entirety of the Nou Camp scrambling. This is how legends are made and immortalized.
4. Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City (2011)
Looking back, this is quite possibly one of the most iconic goals of the Premier League. Wayne Rooney had made a name for himself and was well on his way to being a Manchester United legend. That said, one of the moments that solidified his legacy was when he scored a bicycle kick at the height of Man United’s rivalry with Manchester City. Following a deflected cross from Nani, Rooney rose up and scored a bicycle kick that took people’s breath away.
To even attempt let alone score such a goal was audacious and bold, to say the least. Moreover, the wherewithal to flawlessly execute said goal was in itself a tall task as well. However, if there was one person up to that task it would be the man that had made a name for himself coming through as a youngster at the club. That too in a derby as serious as the Manchester derby as it was back in the day, will forever remain in the hearts of Man United fans.
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs England (2012)
Whilst our next entry comes during an international friendly between Sweden and England, it is still quite possibly one of the craziest ones on this list. Following a scuffed header by Joe Hart, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scrambled back and jumped in the air, attempting a bicycle kick that seemed to be closer to the center circle than the England goal. Unlikely as it may be, the undaunted Swede went for it regardless and delivered one of the most insane goals in the history of the sport.
For Zlatan to even attempt such a thing, when any other player would have tried to set the ball down first, shows why he was one of a kind. Whilst the England defenders gave chase, the ball gladly bopped into the net, and Zlatan basked in all his glory. While it wasn’t Ibra’s first goal of the night, it was certainly the one that stood out the most, especially considering that it came at the very end of added time.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Juventus (2018)
The 2018 Real Madrid side was one of the most dangerous in Champions League history. During a run where they dismantled some of the best teams in the world, Real came up against Juventus in the quarter-finals. During a Madrid offensive, Ronaldo, having drawn out Gianluigi Buffon out of his goal, elected to not shoot and instead played the ball to a teammate.
Moments later, the ball arrived into the box and Cristiano Ronaldo executed the most perfect bicycle kick in football history. Be it the stance, the movement, or the execution, every bit of it was as flawless as could be. Naturally, it was no surprise either when the Juve fans stood up and applauded what was simply put, an unstoppable goal.
1. Gareth Bale vs Liverpool (2018)
Whilst Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal in the quarter-finals was a major talking point, to do it in the Champions League finals was a different feat entirely and one that was taken on by Madrid’s star signing Gareth Bale. Whilst Liverpool had managed to draw level, Marcelo, on his weaker foot, delivered a ball into the box, which was met by Gareth Bale, who expertly dispatched the ball past a starstruck Liverpool defense and the helpless Lloris Karius, who’d already had a torrid start to the game.
All things considered, the goal, the context, and the occasion are what lend this entry to our top spot on the list. While it may not be the best bicycle kick in football, it was certainly the most important one.
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