The Greatest Goals Of Mexico 86

10. Michael Laudrup, Denmark v Uruguay

Laudrup has a Danish Knighthood, was voted his country’s Golden Player of the last 50 years and has an executive lounge at Brondby named after him – all thanks to breathtaking play like this. While Maradona jinked, Laudrup glided.

Here, Uruguay fail to clear and the ball falls to Laudrup. The elegant Dane drifts past one defender, cuts inside another, then sweeps through the last man and goalkeeper to pass into an empty net. Elegant, cocky and quite brilliant.

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9. Careca, Brazil v Northern Ireland

Careca scored five World Cup goals in 1986 – only Gary Lineker could deprive him the Golden Boot – but none better than this. And not for the only time, Northern Ireland were on the receiving end.

Having already notched one cracker, the striker runs full pelt at the Ulstermen’s defence. He ghosts past two men and feeds Elzo, who backheels it (of course) into Careca’s path. He promptly larrups the return pass into back of the net. A goal that only Brazilians could make look simple.