Ranking World Football's 20 Best Goals in November

With the month of November now done and dusted, we pick the 20 best goals that have been scored from around the world in the last 30 days and then rank them in order of brilliance.

And so, feast your eyes on these sensational wonder strikes, and let us know if you agree or disagree with the order of our final short list and whether we have left any screamers out from the top 20.

20: Carlos Marchena (Deportivo La Coruna v. Real Madrid ‘B’)

The former Spain international has still obviously got it, judging by this outrageous overhead volley against los Blancos’ reserve team. Do not forget either that this is a centre-back by trade who is now 34!

19: Maxi Rodriguez (Gremio v. Flamengo)

This is a lovely individual effort from the Uruguay midfield player, who cuts in from the right flank and beats three men before making space and then shooting low past the Flamengo keeper.

18: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal v. Sweden)

It is a difficult task to pick just one of the Portuguese superstar’s three goals that helped send his country through to next summer’s World Cup.

However, we have gone for his opening strike on the night in Stockholm as the playmaker latches on to Joao Moutinho’s delicious through-ball, before steadying himself and then firing high into the roof of the net.

17: Shola Ameobi (Nigeria v. Italy)

The Newcastle United striker’s nicely cushioned near-post volley just screams past Azzurri reserve goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Although to be fair to the backup shot stopper, not even first-choice Gianluigi Buffon would have stopped it.

16: Arjen Robben (Netherlands v. Japan)

Here we have the Dutch winger at his very best. He collects the ball in space wide on the right-hand side, after a lovely first-time volleyed pass into his path by fellow Oranje playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, before cutting in onto that lethal left foot of his and inevitably curling the ball into the top corner past a helpless Japanese keeper.

15: Edinson Cavani (Uruguay v. Jordan)

Yet more proof, if it were needed, that the Paris Saint-Germain front man is now the complete striker after this beautifully struck free kick in his country’s 5-0 romp in Jordan in their FIFA World Cup playoff tie.

14: Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg v. Dortmund)

The Croatian forward may not be getting any younger, but like a fine wine, he does appear to be getting better with age judging by this terrific curling effort right into the top corner for Wolfsburg against an in-form Dortmund team in the Bundesliga.

13: Joe Jacobson (Shrewsbury Town v. Sheffield United)

There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned long-range piledriver to set the pulse racing, and what is more, this beautifully struck first-time effort is from a Shrewsbury defender.

12: Valmir Berisha (Sweden U17 v. Honduras U17)

This is the cheekiest of cheeky back-heeled goals from this young Swede in their recent FIFA Under-17 World Cup match against Honduras U17s, so much so that the player is now being dubbed the “next Ibrahimovic."

11: Luis Suarez (Liverpool v. Everton)

The mercurial Uruguay international once again outlined his brilliant all-round abilities by curling this outrageous direct free kick around the Everton wall and into the bottom right-hand corner of Tim Howard’s goal to stun the Goodison Park faithful (at 2:15 on the video).

10: Alan Carvalho (Red Bull Salzburg v. Standard Liege)

What is it with spectacular bicycle-kicks goals in November? Although, to be fair, this latest eye-catching effort from the Salzburg striker is scored by a Brazilian, and so no doubt it comes as second nature to the 24-year-old!

9: Humberto Suazo (Monterrey v. Veracruz)

The brilliant Chile international finishes a lightning-quick Monterrey counterattack with the most delicious and audacious of lobs over a stranded and flat-footed Veracruz keeper.

Gorgeous, just gorgeous skill from the 32-year-old forward.

8: Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk v. Real Sociedad)

There really was only one place that the Brazilian midfield player could have scored when the ball arrived at his left foot on the edge of the area, but the 23-year-old was still good enough to hit what is often referred to as the “postage stamp” in the corner of the Basques’ goal.

7: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal v. Liverpool)

You did not think that a month could possibly go by without there being an entry from Europe’s most in-form goalscoring midfield player, did you?

And this latest strike from the Welshman is a real beauty, and in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Liverpool at the Emirates too. Ramsey is given all the space and time in the world to measure a dipping long-range shot over Reds keeper Simon Mignolet.

6: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid v. Galatasaray)

The Welsh wizard is really finally starting to hit his straps now with los Blancos, further proof of which was provided by his sumptuous, Cristiano Ronaldo-style long-range free kick against Turkish champions Gala in the UEFA Champions League (at 0:50 in the video).

5: Gokhan Inler (Napoli v. Marseille)

This is an outstanding first-time volley from this exceptionally talented midfield player in Napoli’s 3-2 win over the French outfit in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, although rare to see from the Swiss.

4: Abdoul Sissoko (Hercules v. Las Palmas)

The young French midfield player will struggle to score a better goal in his whole career than this outrageous long-range volley for Hercules (at 2:15 on the video). He is on loan currently from Udinese.

3: Paul Pogba (Juventus v. Napoli)

What technique from the ever-improving France international, and also, to score such a stunning goal in one of the biggest games of the season so far shows just what a talent this midfield player is now turning into.

2: Diego Costa (Atletico De Madrid v. Getafe)

Is there anything the soon-to-be Spain international cannot do after this sensational bicicleta at the Vincente Calderon for Diego Simeone’s high-flying Atleti team in their recent 7-0 romp against Getafe?

1. Hulk (Brazil v. Honduras)

Brazil being Brazil, this outrageous team goal involves three, yes THREE, back heels before the Zenit St Petersburg forward finishes in style for an eye-catching strike that is a truly team goal and November’s Goal of the Month winner.

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