One look at the shortlist for the FIFA goal of the year award and you should notice a glaring omission. Incredibly Lionel Messi’s slalom against Real Madrid in the champions league semi final has been criminally omitted. It was a goal that illuminated, which up until then had been a sour spectacle. It is a worthy contender for the greatest goal scored in the Champions League era, yet the scholars at FIFA have decided it is not even worthy to make the top three. It is not the first time the governing body have been guilty of such heresy, as recently as a year ago Wesley Sneijder was scandalously overlooked for the Ballon D’or. As it is we are left with three fantastic goals, each unique and each special in their own way.
We begin with Rooney’s bicycle kick against City, the goal that clinched the derby and was a pivotal moment in the title race. If you remember at the time Rooney was trapped in a protracted slump which encompassed an attempt to hold United to ransom and a string of extra marital liaisons. At the time his poor form, coupled with a decrease in popularity was proving an unassailable burden on his broad shoulders.
In the game itself Vincent Kompany kept him under wraps until Rooney gave us his coup de grace. As Nani’s deflected cross fell behind him he elevated and contorted his considerable physique to smash the ball in the top corner. Close inspection of the moment revealed the ball might not have come entirely cleanly off his boot, not that we care. The goal restored Rooney’s luster and sent our pundits into almost orgasmic delirium.
However Rooney goal cannot win goal of the year because it is a glorified bicycle kick. Such volleys owe a lot to luck and have a one in a hundred success rate. The goal demonstrated Rooney’s instinct for the sublime but it was a goal devoid of any cerebral element, moreover there have been countless goals of a similar nature scored over the years often by players not even half as gifted as Rooney. Which is why we move onto the next contender.