Top 10 Goals in Confederations Cup History
The FIFA Confederations Cup—which brings together eight of the best nations in world football—has always provided plenty of highlights and talking points.
Throughout the two decades since it's inception, the Confederations Cup has delivered on the expectations that come with every major tournament—particularly when it comes to spectacular goals that make their way on to highlight reels for several weeks and months afterwards.
The 2013 tournament should be no exception to that either.
So in order to get us ready for the tournament set to start in mid-June and the great goals that will follow, let's look back through the history of the Confederations Cup and pick out some of the greatest goals—the top 10 of which can be seen in this slideshow.
What are the greatest goals in Confederations Cup history?
Read on and find out.
10. Giuseppi Rossi
1 of 10| Giuseppe Rossi | Italy | United States | 2009 |
Kicking us off is this majestic team goal from Italy that saw some fantastic build-up play by Andrea Pirlo finished off emphatically by Giuseppe Rossi.
And the finish itself wasn't all that bad either—a great team goal.
However, it was not enough to see Italy emerge from the group stage—bowing out on goal difference to the team this goal was scored against, the United States.
9. Ronaldinho
2 of 10| Ronaldinho | Brazil | Saudi Arabia | 1999 |
Drawn against Saudi Arabia in the semifinals of the 1999 competition, Brazil emphatically beat the Saudis 8-2, with Ronaldinho grabbing himself a hat-trick.
And this goal, with it's brilliant dribbling and control, was the best of them all.
Ronaldinho would go on to be named the best player of the Confederations Cup that year. Brazil, unfortunately, would lose the final 4-3 to the hosts Mexico.
8. Kaka
3 of 10| Kaka | Brazil | Argentina | 2005 |
This might not seem like the world's greatest goal from Kaka, but it certainly deserves plenty of credit and it's place in this list. For not only is it a brilliant bit of timing and balance from Kaka, it came when Brazil most needed the midfielder to step up and deliver something spectacular.
In the final, against archrivals Argentina, Kaka did just that.
Brazil would go on to clinch the Confederations Cup that year.
7. Ludovic Giuly
4 of 10| Ludovic Giuly | France | New Zealand | 2003 |
Giuly's goal might not seem like the greatest of volleys.
But in light of the build-up and tremendous teamwork (which saw France expertly move the ball from one side of the field to the other), it's a pretty nice goal.
France would go on to win the final that year over Cameroon.
Talk about teamwork.
6. Reny Ribera
5 of 10| Reny Ribera | Bolivia | Egypt | 1999 |
Now we start to get into the big boys, and this rocket from Reny Ribera in the 1999 Confederations Cup was a pretty special goal. It might not have helped Bolivia win the game against Egypt and it might not have helped them emerge from the group stage with a single win to their name.
But it did make the highlight reels, and for very good reason.
5. Shunsuke Nakamura
6 of 10| Shunsuke Nakamura | Japan | France | 2003 |
Fabien Barthez had no chance of stopping this free kick.
From the moment that Nakamura curled it up and over the wall, Barthez was left scrambling, and the rest of the world were left watching one of the great goals of the tournament.
France would go on to win that game and would clinch the final in extra time over Cameroon, but that doesn't take away from a sensational effort on the night.
A deserved entry in our top five.
4. Zinha
7 of 10| Zinha | Mexico | Japan | 2005 |
If you give a player this much space with the ball at his feet—regardless of whether it's Lionel Messi or just another midfielder from Mexico—they will make you pay.
Zinha's perfect strike from distance proves that to be true.
This goal also carried some significance for Mexico—leveling the match at 1-1—and they would go on to win the game 2-1. That win would allow them to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament, where they were cruelly beaten in the semifinals on penalties by Argentina.
A great achievement nonetheless.
3. Samuel Eto'o
8 of 10| Samuel Eto'o | Cameroon | Brazil | 2003 |
Into the top three now, and it's little surprise to see a world-class striker like Samuel Eto'o make his way on to the list—especially when he scores goals like these.
It was a fantastic volley from distance that made Brazil pay for their defensive mistake, but one that also meant a great deal for both teams. Brazil were defeated, and they would fail to qualify from the group stages because of it while Cameroon would go all the way to the final, where they would lose in extra time.
Talk about a tournament-changing goal.
2. Hwang Sun-Hong
9 of 10| Hwang Sun-Hong | South Korea | Australia | 2001 |
This might seem like a pretty innocuous goal from South Korea in their group stage match against Australia, and in terms of importance, it's pretty standard. Korea had to beat Australia by six or seven goals to make the knockout rounds, and despite winning 1-0, they didn't go any further in the tournament, while Australia would defeat Brazil in the third-place playoff.
However, in terms of the goal itself, it's deceptively brilliant.
Hong had to time his leap and run perfectly, and the ability to flick the ball over the goalkeeper with the outside of his boot—under pressure—is simply incredible.
One of the tournament's best ever goals.
1. Katlego Mphela
10 of 10| Katlego Mphela | South Africa | Spain | 2009 |
However, the best goal of all time has to be this effort from Mphela.
Up against the might of Spain (2008 European champions) and in a desperate bid for a third-place finish, the South African player made himself a star with this tremendous effort from distance deep into injury time—forcing the game into extra time and keeping South Africa's hopes alive.
Xabi Alonso would break their hearts with a game-winning goal in extra time, but in terms of significance and in terms of the goal itself, there is none better than this one.
Iker Casillas simply didn't stand a chance at stopping this one.
Talk about finishing the tournament with a bang.
Which Confederations Cup goal was your favorite?
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