15 Most Iconic Facial Expressions in World Football History

Undoubtedly, the main talking point from Monday’s Manchester Derby was the horrified facial expression of Phil Jones as Sergio Aguero netted City’s winner.

Monday was not an isolated incident; Jones has gained a reputation for pulling some of the beautiful game’s most hideous facial expressions.  But what have been world football’s most iconic faces pulled?

We are counting down the top 15 faces in order of how iconic they have become.

15. Pierluigi Collina in 2002 World Cup Final

There has never been a more famous referee than international sex symbol, Pierluigi Collina.

This expression from the 2002 World Cup final between Germany and Brazil perfectly typifies the man. Stern, professional, no nonsense, but with the constant threat that he could be prone to a psychotic outburst.

It only rates so low because Collina recreated this facial expression a thousand times over and it probably isn’t technically a “facial expression” and more just his facial features.

14. David Beckham Reacting to a Rob Green Blunder in 2010 World Cup

England’s 2010 World Cup campaign and Rob Green’s tendency to lose complete control of his hands were summed up in one raise of the eyebrow.

Beckham, who missed out on the England squad due to tearing his Achilles' tendon, was given a backroom role as “mediator” between the players and then-manager Fabio Capello.

He probably had to mediate a message from Capello to Rob Green that went along the lines of “what the hell were you playing at, you idiot?” after Green fumbled a tame, long-distance effort from USA’s Clint Dempsey into the back of his own net.

D-Becks, who you doubt has ever said a bad word to anybody, seemed to struggle to keep in his rage at Green’s clumsiness.

This facial expression is only so low as it isn’t as iconic for people who aren’t fans of England, USA or slapstick goal line comedy.

13. Sebastiano Nela Gives the Finger to Jim McLean in '84 European Cup Semifinal

To say the 1984 European Cup Semifinal between Roma and Dundee United was “heated” would be an understatement. It was fully cooked; burnt in the deep fat fryer (a delicacy in Dundee).

Dundee United went to Stadio Olimpico with a two goal load after beating Roma 2-0 at Tannadice Park. But angry words were exchanged prior to the second leg with the Roma chairman accusing the United players of being on drugs and McLean allegedly calling the Romans "Italian b*******".

The stadium was filled with banners from the home fans that issued such warm welcomes to their Scottish counterparts as "GOD CURSE DUNDEE UNITED", "McLEAN **** OFF" and "ROMA HATES McLEAN HE'S A ****."

Roma managed to win the game 3-0, book a trip to the final and the photo shows the Roma players not just enjoying their victory, but reveling in their opponent's defeat as a gleeful Sebastiano Nela raises his middle finger to Dundee United manager Jim McLean and assistant manager Walter Smith.

This would be higher on the list but the main talking point isn’t so much the facial expression, but the hand expression.

12. Manchester United Fan with Terrible Hat Reacts to City Winning the League

On the last day of the 2011-12 season, Manchester United were playing Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light. They needed to better Manchester City’s result against Queens Park Rangers to win the league.

And they were seconds away from doing it, until Sergio Aguero (oooooo) scored his famous winner.

This fan and his terrible bear hat summed up the sudden emotional whiplash that occurs when your team goes from champions of England, to second place in a split second.

It may be argued that this shouldn’t feature as highly in the chart as it does as it’s a fan's facial expression not a footballer's, but it gains extra points as there are actually two facial expressions on show. The man’s anguished face at United losing the league and the bear’s face on top of the man’s, showing complete apathy to the situation.

11. Mick McCarthy Being Beautiful

I'm not going to ruin Mick McCarthy seducing the camera with his raised eyebrow for you by trying to write about it. I'll just tell you why it is challenging for the top 10:

1. Over 183,000 YouTube views.

2. For him being a beautiful, beautiful man.

10. Stuart Pearce Celebrates vs. Spain in Euro '96

Stuart Pearce was in an uncharacteristic display of passion after netting a penalty against Spain in the 1996 European Championships.

Pearce stepped up to take a penalty against Spain in a shootout in the Euro ‘96 quarterfinal. Pearce had previously missed a penalty in Italia ’90 causing England to crash out of the tournament.

After public heartbreak and national ridicule, a lesser player wouldn’t have volunteered to take a pen. But not Stuart Pearce. Not a player with the nickname “Psycho.”

Pearce netted the penalty and went fittingly psychotic. He roared and seemingly assaulted the oxygen around him in celebration.

Pearce makes the top 10 as you can virtually see a weight being lifted off of his shoulder and him vomiting out any emotional baggage from his soul.

9. Jose Mourinho Celebrates at Old Trafford

This is Jose Mourinho celebrating as his FC Porto side knocked out Manchester United in the 2004 Champions League. Porto would eventually go on to win the entire tournament.

Mourinho, in ecstasy, ran down the Old Trafford touchline punching the air after Costinha scored for his side.

English football had never heard of Jose Mourinho before that point, they were unaware that they would soon become very familiar with The Special One.

This makes the top 10 as, in hindsight, it’s quite a rare show of joy from a normally cool figure.

8. Maradona Screams at the Camera in USA '94

Diego Maradona’s place in Argentina’s 1994 World Cup campaign looked unlikely prior to the tournament. He had struggled with his weight but managed to slim down and get himself in the squad.

Maradona famously ran at the camera, eyes bulging, screaming manically after scoring in Argentina’s 4-0 rout against Greece in the group stage.

Iconic as this image is, it doesn’t make the top five as there’s a chance it may have been affected by facial expression enhancing substances.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo's Wink in 2006 World Cup

The British tabloids had never been so disgraced by a footballing act since Maradona’s 1986 hand of god.

Cristiano Ronaldo helped get England’s (and his then-Manchester United teammate) Wayne Rooney sent off. Rooney had stamped on Ricardo Carvalho and it’s speculated some imaginary card waving from CR7 helped the referee pull out the red.

The papers labeled Ronaldo a “winker," but his actions helped get Portugal through to the semifinals.

It was widely thought that Ronaldo and Rooney had fallen out over the incident and one of them would move soon after the 2006 World Cup, but they played together at United for another three seasons before Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid in 2009.

Iconic as it is another failed England campaign, summed up in one facial expression.

6. Martin Keown Taunts Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 2003

In the late '90s and early 2000s Arsenal and Manchester United were bitter rivals and fought out the Premier League title every year. It may seem hard to comprehend now, but they were.

Arsene Wenger’s "Invincibles" took on Manchester United on Sept. 21, 2003, in what was later labelled “The Battle of Old Trafford.”

Tensions flew, red cards were given and Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Jens Lehman, Patrick Vieira, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo all found themselves in front of disciplinary committee after the game.

It was probably the best 0-0 ever.

The tinderbox atmosphere on the pitch is best typified by Martin Keown screaming in delight at Ruud Van Nistelrooy, after Ruud missed a last-minute penalty that would have won the game.

Keown’s face typifies the rivalry between United and Arsenal, the country’s two biggest sides at the time—passionate, aggressive and a tendency to get ugly.

5. John Terry's Tears After Missing Champions League Final Penalty in 2008

Nobody likes seeing national treasure John Terry in tears, but him sobbing after missing a penalty that could have won his beloved Chelsea the Champions League in 2008 could not go unmentioned.

If JT hadn't fallen on his backside during the penalty shootout against Manchester United in Moscow, they would have been champions of Europe.

But he did, and they weren't.

Despite United's celebrations, the most memorable image of that night was Terry reduced to tears in the pouring rain.

Our hearts go out to him.

4. Rod Stewart's Tears of Joy as Celtic Beat Barcelona in 2012

From tears of agony to tears of joy.

When Rod Stewart is wondering if you think he's sexy and you really want him he can be found watching his beloved Celtic.

It's fair to say Celtic aren't the European force they once were, but when they toppled giant Barcelona at Celtic Park in November, Rod couldn't hold in the emotion.

3. Robert Baggio's Despair After Missing Penalty in World Cup '94 Final

And back to tears of agony again.

Nothing can bring a grown-man to tears like making a complete mess of a penalty shootout.

Roberto Baggio's penalty in the 1994 World Cup Final might not have quite left the stadium, but Italy's hopes of lifting the trophy did.

Baggio missed the penalty. Brazil won. Italy's World Cup dreams were dead and with it the dreadlock/mullet hairstyle hybrid died too.

It doesn’t make the top two as we can’t actually see his face because he’s covering it with his hands. He could be laughing, or sticking his tongue out under there. But chances are he probably is sobbing.

2. Arsenal Fan Loses It as They Beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1998

This list won't evoke many great memories for Manchester United fans, but we return to the Arsenal and Manchester United rivalry.

In March 1998, Manchester United took on Arsenal and a Marc Overmars strike 10 minutes from time gave Arsenal the three points and the title race that was, for so long in United's hands, now in Arsenal's control.

Arsenal would go on to win the 1997-98 Premier League and this Arsenal fan, who roared with delight in the Old Trafford away section on television cameras around the globe, could sense it.

1. Gazza's Italia '90 Tears

The 1990 World Cup semifinal. England vs. Germany.

During the game, England's Paul Gascoigne picked up a yellow card, which would mean if England had beaten Germany (SPOILER ALERT: they didn't) he wouldn't have been able to play in the final.

Gascoigne couldn't hold back his emotion and famously broke into tears in the middle of the pitch.

It symbolized Gazza's love of the game and Gazza's love of his country.

It symbolized his desire to play in the World Cup final.

And, in retrospect, it would come to symbolize the end of the England national team as a major force in world football.

Some people were moved by Gascoigne's tears, other people said it was embarrassing for him (those people obviously hadn't seen Fog On The Tyne). Regardless, it was iconic.