It’s been a couple of weeks since the conclusion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup--and what a World Cup it has been. In this past World Cup, soccer fans across the world have been treated to a tournament that will forever go down as one of the greatest World Cup’s we have ever seen--in part due to all of the top-class goals that we were fortunate enough to see. As promised, here are my top eleven goals from the knockout stages of the World Cup, starting with number eleven and ending with number one:
11) Inui vs Belgium
We start with a goal that took the entire world by surprise. In Japan’s round of sixteen match against Belgium, Takashi Inui hit a beautiful strike from roughly 25 yards out, a strike that flew perfectly past Courtois’ outstretched arms and into the bottom right corner of the net. While the fun didn’t last for Japan, Inui gave Japanese supporters a moment to cherish.
10) Perisic vs France
For the past three World Cup Finals (2006, 2010, 2014), the soccer world has been treated to at least one beautiful goal in the final, and this year didn’t disappoint, thanks to Ivan Perisic. Following a free kick put into the box by Modric, Perisic found the ball at his feet at the top of the box, with only one man to beat. After a quick touch past N’Golo Kante, Perisic wound up from about seventeen yards out and proceeded to hit a strike that will be remembered for years to come, rifled perfectly into the bottom right corner.
9) Vertonghen vs Japan
While it's doubtful that Vertonghen actually meant to head this towards goal, this was a world class goal nonetheless. After a wayward cross by the struggling Japanese defense, Vertonghen found the ball with little space towards the endline, about fifteen yards from goal. To everyone’s surprise--including Vertonghen himself--his miss-hit cross flew straight over the Japanese keepers’ head and into the bottom right corner of the goal.
8) Cavani vs Portugal (goal # 2)
In Uruguay’s defeat over Ronaldo and Portugal, Cavani showed us why he should be regarded as one of the world’s best strikers. This was his second goal of the game (his first is honored in the “honorable mentions” section), and what a goal it was. The PSG forward made the inside of the boot, opening of the hips strike look easy with this beaut, giving us one of the most satisfying goals the World Cup has seen this year.
7) Varane vs Uruguay
Headers are often overlooked, but this header by Varane should not be. Not only was the header itself great, but so was Real Madrid center backs run. Varane excellently made room for himself after faking a run towards the goal and then shifting back outside, only to beat out the Uruguayan defense and head the ball across goal and into the bottom left corner of the net.
6) De Bruyne vs Brazil
What a wonderful goal here by De Bruyne, who is emerging as the best-attacking midfielder in all of soccer. Manchester United striker Lukaku started the move, beating Brazil’s midfield all by himself and then playing an inch-perfect ball to the sprinting De Bruyne, who only needed three touches to get the ball into shooting range before unleashing a laser into the left side of the net that no goalie could’ve saved.
5) Chadli vs Japan
While the actually finish here was nothing special, this goal earned its prestige due to the flawless counterattack that Belgium constructed, sending Japan out in the dying embers of the game. Courtois started the move with a quick roll into the path of De Bruyne, who quickly brought the ball up the field before laying it off Meunier. Meunier then put the ball onto a platter for Chadli, who received the ball after a jaw-dropping dummy by Lukaku, completing fooling the Japanese defense.
4) Trippier vs Croatia
Trippier was one of the emerging stars of this World Cup, and this free-kick showed why. The twenty-seven-year-old fullback had no qualms about standing in front of the ball following a foul by Croatia and showed his class through his technique to send the ball flying into the top right corner of the goal.
3) Di Maria vs France
When Di Maria received the ball in acres of space about thirty yards away from goal and proceeded to line up to shoot, all French fans held their breath, as Di Maria has proven himself from this range before. What followed was an absolute missile from Di Maria, who sent the ball flying past Romero’s outstretched hands and into the top right corner of the goal. His reaction exhibited just how much a goal like this meant to an Argentina side who ultimately had a very disappointing showing at this World Cup.
2) Cheryshev vs Croatia
Similar to Kieran Trippier is Denis Cheryshev, who was undoubtedly one of the best players in the World Cup this year. Cheryshev gave us many goals to remember, but this goal was something else. The Villarreal winger started Russia’s attack by evading Croatia’s midfield through a give-and-go with Russian striker Artem Dzyuba, and after dodging another member of the Croatian defense let the ball fly with immense force into the upper left echelon of the goal.
1) Pavard vs Argentina
The goal of the tournament? I think so. While the VfB Stuttgart right-back was relatively unknown leading up to the World Cup, he made his name prominent in the soccer world after a solid tournament with France. Within this tournament, Pavard provided us with one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time, with a half-volley as sweet as honey which flew inch perfectly into the upper left corner of the net. Wow.
Honorable Mentions:
Paul Pogba vs. Croatia
The Manchester United midfielder proved his worth this inside of the boot strike from outside of the box, which put France up 3-1 in the World Cup Final.
Kylian Mbappe vs. Croatia
The Mbappe hype train is real, and if you don’t believe so, watch this goal again. Mbappe became only the second teenager to ever score in a World Cup Final with this goal, only joined by Brazilian legend Pelé.
Cavani vs Portugal (goal #1)
Cavani gave us two wonderful goals in Uruguay’s win over Portugal, and his first goal of the match was a goal that strikers will study long past this World Cup. Cavani both started and finish the goal, first playing a long ball to switch the field out to Suarez, and then continuing his run to the back post where Suarez’s cross met his chest and soared into the back of the net.
We here at Third and Long hope that you thoroughly enjoyed the World Cup!
Allez les bleus.
(Stats via ESPN)
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