Unbelievable goals that were discredited/played down

Diablodave

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Has there ever been a goal that you’ve seen in professional football that you thought was outstanding but the goal was always played down or discredited for absolutely ridiculous reasons by press, football pundits or fans?

*Edit* Waaaaaay too many people missing the point here. The goals below might have won awards and polls but still get discredited for whatever reason.


I’ll get the ball rolling with a few….


Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick vs City in 2011: To show that level of athleticism, to get that high, in that magnitude of a game and stick it in the top corner was phenomenal. However, I always felt it was discredited because he “shinned it”. So many people discredited the goal because it didn’t 100% strike his foot, despite it being a deliberate attempt to score.

Mkhitaryan’s scorpion goal vs Sunderland in 2016: Crazy attempt on goal and received goal of the month, however. I felt it was played down moreso because it was perceived as offside. Once Giroud replicated it, it was completely played down altogether.


Bergkamp’s pirouette vs Newcastle in 2002: Absolutely incredible pirouette on Dabizas and slotted home. Felt it was totally discredited because it was a perceived fluke. I genuinely believe people who think it was, totally underestimate the genius of Bergkamp and only a certain type of player could pull it off. Never felt it got the credit it deserved.


Any more you can think of and why?
 
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U99ted

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I bet opposition fans played this one down because of who scored it (thinking it was a fluke or whatever)

 

OL29

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Ronaldo’s free kick against Arsenal in the champions league in 09 gets played down as a mistake from Almunia but it was a stunning strike.
 

jem

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Has there ever been a goal that you’ve seen in professional football that you thought was outstanding but the goal was always played down or discredited for absolutely ridiculous reasons by press, football pundits or fans?


I’ll get the ball rolling with a few….


Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick vs City in 2011: To show that level of athleticism, to get that high, in that magnitude of a game and stick it in the top corner was phenomenal. However, I always felt it was discredited because he “shinned it”. So many people discredited the goal because it didn’t 100% strike his foot, despite it being a deliberate attempt to score.

Mkhitaryan’s scorpion goal vs Sunderland in 2016: Crazy attempt on goal and received goal of the month, however. I felt it was played down moreso because it was perceived as offside. Once Giroud replicated it, it was completely played down altogether.


Bergkamp’s pirouette vs Newcastle in 2002: Absolutely incredible pirouette on Dabizas and slotted home. Felt it was totally discredited because it was a perceived fluke. I genuinely believe people who think it was, totally underestimate the genius of Bergkamp and only a certain type of player could pull it off. Never felt it got the credit it deserved.


Any more you can think of and why?
Has there ever been a goal that you’ve seen in professional football that you thought was outstanding but the goal was always played down or discredited for absolutely ridiculous reasons by press, football pundits or fans?


I’ll get the ball rolling with a few….


Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick vs City in 2011: To show that level of athleticism, to get that high, in that magnitude of a game and stick it in the top corner was phenomenal. However, I always felt it was discredited because he “shinned it”. So many people discredited the goal because it didn’t 100% strike his foot, despite it being a deliberate attempt to score.

Mkhitaryan’s scorpion goal vs Sunderland in 2016: Crazy attempt on goal and received goal of the month, however. I felt it was played down moreso because it was perceived as offside. Once Giroud replicated it, it was completely played down altogether.


Bergkamp’s pirouette vs Newcastle in 2002: Absolutely incredible pirouette on Dabizas and slotted home. Felt it was totally discredited because it was a perceived fluke. I genuinely believe people who think it was, totally underestimate the genius of Bergkamp and only a certain type of player could pull it off. Never felt it got the credit it deserved.


Any more you can think of and why?
Not sure I agree about the Bergkamp goal - it routinely turns up in greatest goal compilations (and deservedly so.) I totally agree with you about Rooney's goal. Who cares what part of the leg he hit it with; it was clearly intentional and was just spectacular.
 

Massive Spanner

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Not sure I agree about the Bergkamp goal - it routinely turns up in greatest goal compilations (and deservedly so.) I totally agree with you about Rooney's goal. Who cares what part of the leg he hit it with; it was clearly intentional and was just spectacular.
The Rooney goal is regularly listed in the best ever PL goals. I'm really not sure how the hell it's discredited.
 

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Yikes at the topic but i do find it a bit odd that any deflected goal gets any sort of credit. A deflection should remove pretty much any credit from the person who hit the ball, utter fluke.
 

jem

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Not sure if it really qualifies, but I've never celebrated as much as I did when Scholes scored that header against City in 2010. Strangely enough, it was difficult to find a good video of it on Youtube for a while (I think it's easy enough to find now.) Still, just an incredible moment from one of our greatest players.
 

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Ronaldo’s free kick against Arsenal in the champions league in 09 gets played down as a mistake from Almunia but it was a stunning strike.
It's a good strike but the height it goes in at and the distance he strikes it from would point to an error from Almunia.
 

berbasloth4

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the fletcher goal when we got hammered 6-1 by city was a cracker but gets forgotten about because of the hiding we got
 

harms

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Nice idea for the thread but some truly weird examples in the OP. Bergkamp's goal is usually seen as the best in the PL history. And I don't think that anyone discredits the Rooney's one because of his shin.

In the BBC vote that had more than 500,000 participants Bergkamp's goal was voted №1 and Rooney's №3 in PL history.

Micky is a good one though.
 

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I remember having a debate with one of my mates over whether Ronaldinho meant to score that free kick against Seaman for Brazil. Still not convinced!
 

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Bergkamp one downplayed?! I dunno about that, but I see your point that it isn't recognised as a top 10-5 all time goal too often even though imo it should be . Think you might be confusing Scouse cope talking points for our goals with downplaying
 

MichaelRed

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There was a Rooney goal vs Liverpool with Reina in goal that was ruled out due to what was supposed to be a foul in the build up. Wasn't even a foul and the goal should have stood & they didn't even put it in the highlights on MOTD when it happened. I'll try find it & edit if I manage.

Edit:
This is the best video I can find
 

harms

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This one is somehow forgotten, I think. One of the best team goals that I've seen (the second one).
 

DJ Jeff

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There was a Rooney goal vs Liverpool with Reina in goal that was ruled out due to what was supposed to be a foul in the build up. Nobody knew until after so it's not like anyone stopped trying and just let Rooney score. Wasn't even a foul and the goal should have stood & they didn't even put it in the highlights on MOTD when it happened. I'll try find it & edit if I manage.
It would've been his third in the 2-1 home win over Pool in 2012. Absolutely sensational goal. I remember it well. I don't think it made it into motd or anything

Here it is
 

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Van Persie’s volley against Charlton. Played down occasionally for striking his ankle, he jumped as high as he could, could not physically get his foot high enough to strike it, and the ball fizzing into the net showed how well he lined his leg up for the strike.

 

harms

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Also Berbatov's overhead kick got overshadowed by Rooney's I think. Can you imagine United forward scoring a hat-trick against Liverpool now?

 

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The best examples are probably going to be goals that got overshadowed by the narrative e.g. the team was on the losing side. Can't think of any phenomenal goals off the top of my head but something like Liverpool's goal at the Etihad this year, that was a wonderful team goal but as it turned out to be meaningless it never really got a mention. If that had been the winning goal, for instance, the press would have been insufferable in gushing over it.
 

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Johan Elmander vs Wolves. I remember being amazed by the footwork.
 

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Has there ever been a goal that you’ve seen in professional football that you thought was outstanding but the goal was always played down or discredited for absolutely ridiculous reasons by press, football pundits or fans?


I’ll get the ball rolling with a few….


Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick vs City in 2011: To show that level of athleticism, to get that high, in that magnitude of a game and stick it in the top corner was phenomenal. However, I always felt it was discredited because he “shinned it”. So many people discredited the goal because it didn’t 100% strike his foot, despite it being a deliberate attempt to score.

Mkhitaryan’s scorpion goal vs Sunderland in 2016: Crazy attempt on goal and received goal of the month, however. I felt it was played down moreso because it was perceived as offside. Once Giroud replicated it, it was completely played down altogether.


Bergkamp’s pirouette vs Newcastle in 2002: Absolutely incredible pirouette on Dabizas and slotted home. Felt it was totally discredited because it was a perceived fluke. I genuinely believe people who think it was, totally underestimate the genius of Bergkamp and only a certain type of player could pull it off. Never felt it got the credit it deserved.


Any more you can think of and why?
Those goals all received massive media coverage dude. The Rooney and Bergkamp goals have received legendary status, so I'm not really sure what you mean here.

Joe Cole against United, if Messi does that it's a legendary goal. Seems to have been lost in time.
 
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Edmundo's goal vs United,similar to Bergkamp,is also strangely considered a fluke by some.

You also have Ronaldinho's classic freekick vs England.
He meant it.
 

Bobski

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Giggs away to Fulham, that fading volley, or improvised scuff depending on your perspective. Called lucky at the time but it was really the only he could have scored from that angle with the manner the ball came to him. Well unless he trusted his right foot I suppose.
 

Wal2Fra

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Van Persie’s volley against Charlton. Played down occasionally for striking his ankle, he jumped as high as he could, could not physically get his foot high enough to strike it, and the ball fizzing into the net showed how well he lined his leg up for the strike.

Has there been a player who could volley better than RVP.

His goal vs Villa was a when will he do it in a United shirt not an if. I believe he scored a similar goal in the champions league for United?
 

Wal2Fra

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The best examples are probably going to be goals that got overshadowed by the narrative e.g. the team was on the losing side. Can't think of any phenomenal goals off the top of my head but something like Liverpool's goal at the Etihad this year, that was a wonderful team goal but as it turned out to be meaningless it never really got a mention. If that had been the winning goal, for instance, the press would have been insufferable in gushing over it.
Benteke for Liverpool against United (Berbatov hat-trick game I believe) and De Rossi for Roma in the 7-1 clash were both great goals but overshadowed due to the end result.
 

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Benteke for Liverpool against United (Berbatov hat-trick game I believe) and De Rossi for Roma in the 7-1 clash were both great goals but overshadowed due to the end result.
Berb hat trick came in 2010/11, Benteke didn’t come to Liverpool until 2013 iirc.
 

Tomuś

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16th goal. Never heard of it afterwards but to me this is quite a difficult way of adjusting your body to score. It may not be the best goal you'll ever see but certainly hard to find another one like that.

Nani's goal against City in that 2-1 game where Rooney stole the show. #4. Incredible piece of skill from Nani to bring it down at full pelt and the finish was sweet, too. His backheel goal against Bayern is there, too. He looked like he was riding a bicycle while scoring it:lol:.
 

Diablodave

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What on earth are you talking about OP?

Rooney's goal was voted best in 20 years of EPL and Bergkamp finished 2nd. :lol:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League_20_Seasons_Awards

"Rooney's goal won with 26% of the public vote, beating Bergkamp's goal against Newcastle into second place with 19%, and Henry's strike for Arsenal against Manchester United into third place with 15%.[27]"
Think you've completely missed the point... they won accolades sure. But the skill involved has always been played down. Maybe google Wayne Rooney shin while you're at it. ;)
 

luke511

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Probably one of the greatest goals of all time from Henry, against Weiz in a friendly however so no one really cares.
 

Bobski

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Probably one of the greatest goals of all time from Henry, against Weiz in a friendly however so no one really cares.
Henry is probably exhibit number one in greatest players who are being quietly forgotten. Incredible player, reached and maintained the highest level of any player in the history of the PL(excluding Ronaldo as the majority of his best years were elsewhere), really should have won at least one World Player of the year award.