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Clip of the day

Den Ridder Miss

Beerschot's Nicoletta den Ridder somehow manages to scoop a rebound over the bar from a yard against Ajax. Oops

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Feature: 1986 World Cup: Greatest Goals

10 of the best from Mexico 86 - as featured in the February 2010 issue of FourFourTwo

Select a feature:

1 Maradona vs England

You have probably seen the Best Goal Ever™ a million times, but it still looks tasty. The Argentinian wiggles like a lubed eel past top-notch tacklers before slotting the ball coolly into the English net.

2 Maradona vs Belgium

Maradona again resembles a cocky playground superstar dribbling through some wheezy asthmatics from maths club. Arguably, this was harder than the one he scored against England.

3 Lineker vs Poland

A tap-in, but one at the end of a beautifully-constructed passing move
 of which Brazil would have been proud. Gary Stevens’ cross is met perfectly by the advancing number 10. Delightful.

4 Burruchaga vs West Germany

The goal that sealed Argentina’s second World Cup was a humdinger. Maradona‘s visionary pass allows Burruchaga to clip home. “To have these memories is the dream of every footballer,” he said later.

5 Belanov vs Belgium

Belanov notched a superb hat-trick against the Belgians. His first was the definition of the word ‘thunderbolt’ - something that the Soviet missile boffins would have been proud of. Genuinely amazing.

6 Negrete vs Mexico

Negrete receives a high ball outside the penalty area, controls it and wallops past a hapless Borislav Mikhailov. Arguably the best volley in the tournament’s history – an acrobatic scissor-kick.

7 Josimar vs N. Ireland

Josimar had more space to set himself, but the finish was not only brutal, but scientifically precise. He hits it with such velocity that it is still rising when it reaches the back of Pat Jennings’ net.

8 Rats vs France

Another absolute monster of a goal. A headed clearance from the French is picked up by Ihor Belanov and laid off to Rats, who spanks it past Joel Bats in the French net and into the top corner.

9 Careca vs N. Ireland

Careca scored five World Cup goals in 1986, but none better than this, ghosting past two men and feeding Elzo, who back-heels it into his path. He promptly larrups the return pass into the back of the net.

10 Laudrup vs Uruguay

While Maradona jinked past opponents, Laudrup glided by. Uruguay fail to clear and the ball falls to Laudrup. The Dane drifts past one, cuts inside another, then sweeps by the last man and goalkeeper to pass into an empty net.