Top 10 Most Beautiful Bicycle Kicks in Football History

It was the final match of La Liga 2000/01, and Barcelona needed a win over Valencia to secure a spot in the Champions League. Rivaldo had already scored twice to put Barcelona ahead, only for Valencia to equalize both times. With just one minute left in regulation, Frank de Boer delivered a long pass into the Valencia penalty box. Rivaldo displayed his superstar skill by controlling the ball with his chest before performing a flawless bicycle kick to score the match-winning goal, securing Barcelona's victory and their Champions League qualification.

In a 2013 match between AC Milan and Anderlecht, Riccardo Montolivo delivered a pass into the penalty area for Mexes. As a central defender, many thought there was little threat from Mexes. However, the French center-back controlled the ball expertly with his chest before launching himself into the air to perform a stunning bicycle kick into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Silvio Proto with no chance.

In the 1997 FA Cup match between QPR and Barnsley, Trevor Sinclair scored a goal that would become legendary. Receiving a lofted pass from his teammate, Sinclair launched himself into the air and executed a stunning bicycle kick that found the back of the net from just inside the 16-yard box. Barnsley’s goalkeeper stretched to his limit, but was unable to prevent the goal.

You may have heard of Mauro Bressan for one of two reasons: First, he was arrested in 2011 along with 15 others for allegedly orchestrating a match-fixing scandal in Italian football. Second, for one of the most breathtaking goals in Champions League history. In a 2001 3-3 draw between Fiorentina and Barcelona, Bressan scored an unforgettable bicycle kick from over 20 meters out, stunning fans and securing his place in football lore.

With his exceptional skill, Ronaldinho was known for producing incredible goals, and his strike against Villarreal was no exception. After receiving a long pass from Xavi, Ronaldinho controlled the ball with his chest before spinning 180 degrees and launching himself into the air to strike the ball with his left foot. Villarreal’s goalkeeper could only watch as the ball flew into the net.

On September 19, 2010, Manchester United hosted Liverpool in a Premier League match. Dimitar Berbatov delivered a brilliant hat-trick, including a masterful bicycle kick. In the 59th minute, Nani's cross went slightly off-target for Wayne Rooney and Berbatov, but the Bulgarian striker cleverly controlled the ball with his thigh, then spun around to execute a stunning bicycle kick. The ball struck the crossbar and went in, leaving Liverpool's goalkeeper Reina rooted to the spot, helpless as the ball found the net.

Rory Delap became famous for his long throw-ins that traveled with the power of free kicks, forcing teams in England to stay alert when defending against them. But Delap was also known for scoring beautiful goals. One of his most memorable strikes came in a match against Tottenham, where he stunned the 30,000 fans at St Mary's with a perfectly executed overhead kick while playing for Southampton.

It was truly unexpected when the most beautiful goal on the list came from a goalkeeper. In a match between Baroka and Orlando Pirates in the South African Premier Division, Orlando Pirates were leading 1-0 until the 96th minute. With nothing to lose, Baroka's goalkeeper, Masuluke, joined the final corner kick of the game. As the ball was cleared, Masuluke chased it down and executed an astonishing bicycle kick to score, leaving everyone in the stadium, including players and fans, in complete disbelief.

The second most beautiful goal on this list is also the second most iconic in the career of Dutch legend, Marco Van Basten. His most famous goal came in the final of Euro 1988, when he volleyed a spectacular goal past the Soviet Union. The second beauty was a bicycle kick against Den Bosch while playing for Ajax Amsterdam. Receiving a lofted pass from a teammate, Van Basten executed a stunning overhead kick, sending the ball into the top corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance to save.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is renowned for scoring stunning goals, and one of his finest came in a 2012 friendly between Sweden and England. Ibrahimovic scored a remarkable bicycle kick from 40 meters out, sending the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart. Despite the English defenders’ best efforts to block it, they were powerless to prevent one of the most memorable goals in football history.