Ranking 10 Best Header Goals of All Time

Over the years, the charm of football has grown because of its goal scorers, with header goals putting the cherry on top. In the modern day, fast-paced games require a great amount of athleticism from the attackers to convert the headers into goals.

Well-known players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Robin Van Persie, and Sergio Ramos have recorded their names on the list of the best header goals in football history. Any player can score a goal using the feet, but to execute a header goal, a player must possess a sense of the defender’s presence and receive the ball at the right time inside the penalty box.

A perfect leap at the ideal moment, defender-deceiving skills and positional awareness are the most needed weapons the strikers must have in their arsenal to score a perfect header. Since the inception of football, many players have made it a habit to score using their heads. In this article, we’ll talk about the 10 best header goals of all time in football.

Ranking Factors

• Competition: The competition in which the particular goal is scored is the primary ranking factor, whether it is a World Cup fixture or a European clash.
• Importance: The relevance of the goal is a key factor in determining rankings of best header goals, such as whether was it a crucial equaliser or winning goal.
• Opponents: The opposition team, against whom the header is scored is the second-ranking factor after the competition. stronger the opposition higher the ranking.

10. Luis García (2005 vs Anderlecht)

Luis García took the level of headers to new heights with his goal in a Champions League match back in the year 2005. The Liverpool winger perfectly headed a curling cross from the right side to execute a no-look headed goal against the Belgian side, Anderlecht. The former Spanish international scored this beauty from almost 19-20 yards out while moving away from the goal line. The former Atletico Madrid player went on to make 120 appearances for the Reds and scored 30 goals and 16 assists, most for any club in his career.

9. Alan Shearer (2003 vs Bayer Leverkusen)

The former Newcastle United forward was one of the best headers off the ball during his time. Shearer scored a whopping 49 headers out of his 206 goals for the English club. Meanwhile, his best header goal came in the form of his first Champions League goal. When the Magpies locked horns with Bayer Leverkusen in 2003 on a Champions League night, Shearer threw himself like a rocket and scored a horizontal-headed goal without giving the keeper any chance to save. The scenes at St. James’ Park were out of the world after this goal. 

8. Zinedine Zidane (1998 vs Brazil)

The bald Zidane is famous not only for his exquisite skills and vision but also for his heroic performance against Brazil in the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which showed a different side of the famous midfielder. He netted two header goals in France’s 3-0 victory on home turf against Selecao and stole the limelight. Meanwhile, his first goal was something else. Running into a tight position and making solid contact to find the back of the net – a perfect goal. And Zidane, like a true opportunist, rose to the occasion and became the hero of the moment. That goal still exists in the famous header goals archive in football. 

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (2008 vs Roma)

Out of the world! These were the first words coming out of the mouths of the commentators when Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the best header goals in the history of football against Roma. Then, Manchester United superstar scored a blinder from nowhere in a Champions League game in 2008. When Paul Scholes sent a high cross into the middle of the penalty box, Ronaldo was not even there. But, out of nowhere, he burst into the scene and sent the ball into the net with a perfect header. 

Also Read: 10 Players With Most Headed Goals in Football History

6. Robin van Persie (2014 vs Spain)

Well, this goal by Robin van Persie might be the best header goal of all time in football. And it earned him the name “the flying Dutchman”. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, an onrushing Van Persie threw himself in the air like a bird and slotted the ball home through a pinpoint header with an unbelievable flight. Unbelievable! Words can not describe the royalty of this beautiful goal alone. This moment stunned the Spanish team despite they started the game on a high note. When the final whistle blew, the number 9 of the Netherlands had already propelled his side to a 5-1 victory. 

5. Sergio Ramos (2014 vs Atlético Madrid)

Sergio Ramos is one of those defenders who has more goals than many forwards in football. His header against Real Madrid’s archrivals Atlético Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final is one of the most prolific and important headers of all time. When Colchoneros were just seconds away from winning their first-ever UCL trophy, Ramos seized the moment with an accurate header off a corner cross from Luka Modrić to level the score. It was the 92nd minute and 48th seconds by the clock at that moment. Since then, 92:48 has been synced with the former Spanish skipper. 

4. Carles Puyol (2010 vs Germany)

Legendary Barcelona and Spain defender Carles Puyol’s header earned a spot for Spain in the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The mop-haired defender charged a bending cross from a corner kick with precision and scored the winning goal against Germany in the second half of the semifinal game. It was a bullet header, and the young German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looked helpless between the sticks. Puyol’s goal is still considered one of the most important moments in the history of the World Cup. 

Also Read: Top 10 Greatest Bicycle Kicks in Football History

3. Didier Drogba (2012 vs Bayern Munich)

The tall African forward was known for his physical strength, athleticism and goal-scoring mastery. Didier Drogba has scored many goals using the head, but the goal against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final was something else. When Chelsea was trailing 0-1, Didier Drogba netted the equalizer with a rocket header on the cusp of the end of the regulation time and made Allianz Arena silent. Later, the Blues lifted the UEFA Champions League glory by winning on penalties. 

2. Pelé (1970 vs Italy)

The Brazilian legend is a monumental figure in football, there were plenty of occasions when Pelé bailed his team out. In the 1970 World Cup final, he scored a stunning header against Italy. The defensive Italian side was no match for the 29-year-old Brazilian who entered the penalty area and leapt up to convert a strong header into a beautiful goal, making the goalkeeper a watcher only. The header went past the goalie like a bullet. Brazil eventually defeated Italy 1-0 to win their third global title.

1. Lionel Messi (2009 vs Manchester United)

Messi is a surprising inclusion on the list of best header goals of all time. But the little magician’s magical header in the Champions League final against Manchester United demanded a spot on this tally. In the showdown at the Champions League, Xavi’s cross found the head of Messi, who was not prepared for a high cross. Yet, with commendable accuracy, the little Argentine headed the ball into the far corner in the 70th minute of the game. This is Messi’s best header goal so far in his career, his iconic goal helped Barca to claim the European trophy.

List Best Header Goals in Football History

S.no	Player	Country	Year	Against	Compeition
1	Lionel Messi	Argentina	2009	Manchester United	UEFA Champions League
2	Pelé	Brazil	1970	Italy	FIFA World Cup
3	Didier Drogba	Ivory Coast	2012	Bayern Munich	UEFA Champions League
4	Carles Puyol	Spain	2010	Germany	FIFA World Cup
5	Sergio Ramos	Spain	2014	Atlético Madrid	UEFA Champions League
6	Robin van Persie	Netherland	2014	Spain	FIFA World Cup
7	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	2008	Roma	UEFA Champions League
8	Zinedine Zidane	France	1998	Brazil	FIFA World Cup
9	Alan Shearer	England	2003	Bayer Leverkusen	UEFA Champions League
10	Luis García	Spain	2005	Anderlecht	UEFA Champions League

Also Read: Ranking the 10 Players With Most Goals In International Football

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