Ranking Mario Balotelli's Best 5 Moments for Both Club and Country

Any ranking involving the mercurial Mario Balotelli will contain anything from the unbelievably bizarre to the shockingly entertaining.

Let's take a route less traveled by the media this time—looking at some of Mario Balotelli's best moments for both club and country.

It's no secret that most Super Mario headlines come with a negative connotation questioning his very sanity or motive. Much has been made about the fact that he's unstable, that he's a loose cannon and the farcical statement about him being some sort of locker-room cancer.

Despite the silly claims overhyping his occasional naivety, Super Mario has already made a dent for both club and country, giving his fans reasons to applaud in the most voracious of ways.

Here's a look at some of his best moments so far:

Goal: Italy vs. Germany Euro 2012 Semifinals

It was that fateful pose which has become an online viral sensation, drawing competitions from meme generators and graphic designers alike.

Of course, I'm talking about the heroic brace by Mario Balotelli against a favored German side in the Euro 2012 competition, one which introduced the Italian national team to the world as legitimate competitors for silverware.

The second goal was the one which put the Germans out of the game. A long ball from Riccardo Montolivo sent Balotelli streaking past the defense, leading to a cannonball into the top corner which prompted the statuesque celebration above.

Debut for Milan Against Udinese

Widespread speculation shrouded the Mario Balotelli move in January.

Financially unable to compete with some of Europe's other big spenders, Milan was forced to dig in the bargain bin for a world-class talent who was on the discount rack.

Balotelli's first performance for the Rossoneri resulted in a goal and plenty of other dangerous occasions. He capped off a fantastic second half of the season, scoring 12 goals in 13 domestic matches. 

Goal: Italy vs. Brazil in the World Tour

Balotelli continued his torrid form this calendar year in leading Italy to a great comeback in the Brazil World Tour by netting a spectacular curler from 35 meters out.

He followed up this goal with a cheeky hand gesture, showing that even he was in awe over this strike.

These flashes of genius can turn an anonymous performance by Balotelli to one which will receive YouTube infamy. His unexpectedness is perhaps of Mario's greatest assets.

Goal: Shoulder Strike for Manchester City

Often times, it's the misunderstood genius of Mario Balotelli which leads to some of his best and worst moments both off and on the pitch.

How else could you explain this. After the Norwich keeper parried Super Mario's effort into the heavens, the ball would fall back down only millimeters away from the net.

Instead of heading it in like any other player in his right mind would do, Balotelli went for a bizarre shoulder-shrug strike to add another tally to his goal record in England.

Whether you love him or hate him, everybody has an opinion on Mario Balotelli.

Goal: Inter vs. Chievo

Even though he was only a teenager at the time, this was one of Balotelli's pearls which put his name on the map in Europe.

Already, his naive confidence could be seen as he refused to celebrate after a strike that would send most players into a visibly euphoric state.

Instead Mario would walk on, pretending to be oblivious to the touch of genius he had just given to the Nerazzurri faithful.