One of the most difficult skills in all of football, the volley has produced some of the most memorable goals in history. Here’s our top 10 list of first-time strikes.
10. Francesco Totti vs. Sampdoria
Totti has scored a number of memorable goals but this effort against Sampdoria is one of his best. The ball arrives to Totti on the left hand side of the penalty area and he drills a left-footed volley into the side of the Sampdoria net. When you get a standing ovation for the opposition fans for your goal, you know it was something special.
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9. Thierry Henry vs. SC Weiz
While volleys are usually associated with great power, Thierry Henry’s sublime goal against SC Weiz displays otherwise. He collects a long ball from Philippe Senderos and with three deft touches feathers the ball past the goalkeeper with incredible skill.
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8. Tony Yeboah vs. Liverpool
Tony Yeboah is a player who had a penchant for the spectacular and this volley against Liverpool is certainly that. The Ghanaian shows remarkable technique as he adjusts his body to his teammate’s knock-down to blast a searing volley in off the bar past the Liverpool goalkeeper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDx-KUGVGMk
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7. Hamit Altintop vs. Kazakhstan
Many great volleyed goals have come from corners and Hamit Altintop’s recent effort against Kazakhstan is no exception. The Turkish midfielder shows great technique in controlling his right-footed volley strike which fairly flew past the Kazakh goalkeeper at a fair rate of knots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqIGz5_lIPM
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6. Gareth Bale vs. Stoke City
It may have been recent but Gareth Bale’s volley against Stoke was extraordinary. He met Aaron Lennon’s cross with an freakishly high foot and shaped the ball perfectly just inside Thomas Sorensen’s far post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2344ANe_3E
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5. Paulo Di Canio vs. Wimbledon
You could always count on Paulo Di Canio producing a moment of magic in a game and that’s exactly what he did with this sublime volley against Wimbledon in 2000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUh-NcHi5ug
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4. Zinedine Zidane vs. Bayer Leverkusen
On the biggest stage in club football, Zinedine Zidane produced a piece of brilliance that will go down in history as one of the greatest goals ever to have been scored in a major football final. The ball seemed to hang for almost an eternity in the air but Zidane was not to be fazed as he swept an left-foot volley past Hans Jorg Butt.
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3. Marco van Basten vs. USSR
However, the honour of greatest volley in a final doesn’t go to Zidane, but instead it goes to Marco Van Basten’s spectacular volley in the 1988 European Championship Final. The Dutch legend manages to score from a seemingly impossible angle to seal Holland’s first and so far only major international trophy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVzRTQXu5EI
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2. Wayne Rooney vs. Newcastle
In second place is this Wayne Rooney wonder-strike against Newcastle. Rooney has just been arguing with the referee and this thunderbolt is the result of the striker’s frustration.
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1. Robin van Persie vs. Charlton
In first place is Robin van Persie’s breathtaking volley against Charlton. The Dutchman flew through the air to meet Emmanuel Eboue’s cross and lashed an unstoppable drive past the Charlton goalkeeper.
Are there any other volleys you feel should have made the list?
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