Top 10 Goals from World Football in December

Even in the coldest segment of the football season, hotshots from all over the world showed throughout December that there is no weather frosty enough to stop the sport's constant flow of world-class finishing.

From the thousands of goals netted at all levels of the sport this past month, we've compiled a list of the top 10, those few which made the cut in quality to be deemed truly special.

Occasion doesn't count for everything in our reckoning, so regardless of context or the teams on display, the standard of goal is all that matters, whether it be a one-man demolition job or the most tactile of team touch-ups.

However, even the keenest of eyes can't catch every goal. Let us know which finishes you think should have made the countdown by posting in the forum below.

10. Munir El Haddadi Curled Assist to Pedro vs. Huesca

In a way, Luis Enrique won't be encouraged to see Munir El Haddadi relying quite so heavily on the use of his left leg, but when it's this precise, one has to question if there's any need for a right.

Opening the scoring during their 8-1 rout of Huesca in the Copa del Rey, Barcelona carved open the opponents' defence to give Munir all the time in the world in which to pick Pedro out in front of goal.

Given the time at his disposal, young Munir may have shifted onto his right, the risk being that loss of a mere second or so may have given Huesca's defence the chance to regain their poise.

Instead, the Blaugrana starlet hits a target the size of Pedro's head—in fact it was Pedro's head—with the most sumptuously struck outside-the-boot cross. Incredibly intricate football made simple.

9. Karim Benzema Finishes Fast and Furious Real Madrid Move vs. Cruz Azul

Real Madrid can go from zero to ignition in a matter of seconds against the most talented teams in the world and during the FIFA Club World Cup, it was Cruz Azul who fell victim to their vicious pace.

In total, it takes Los Merengues around 14 seconds to go from inconspicuously passing the ball around heir own half to goal celebrations down the other end of the pitch.

On this occasion, it was Karim Benzema doing his lurking job well enough to get on the end of Dani Carvajal's weaved run down the right flank.

From Pepe's searching ball at the back to Carvajal's individual brilliance in taking the ball past his man to Benzema's initiative in getting to the ball, Real's synchronisation is poetry in motion.

8. Dean Cox Outside-the-Foot Assist Lays Up Chris Dagnall vs. Crawley Town

If Munir thought the December award for best outside-the-boot cross was his to take home, Leyton Orient's Dean Cox may have an objection following his candidate this past weekend.

After opening Orient's scoring himself, Cox then took on the role of provider for team-mate Chris Dagnall, teeing his striker up for the simplest of headers with a ball in that seemed to take on a mind of its own.

Lined up on the left flank with the ball on his right, Cox may well have looked a harmless figure to Crawley Town's defenders, but they were soon taught a lesson for any lapse in concentration.

Cox's effort was all the more sweet thanks to the ball trickling on the bounce just as he lined it up, with Orient's star man showing precisely why he's among the cream of their crop this term.

7. Hakan Calhanoglu Mixes Precision and Power vs. Borussia Monchengladbach

Hakan Calhanoglu would appear to have magic in his boots, or at least some form of wizardry that the rest of the Bundesliga hasn't yet cottoned on to.

The Bayer Leverkusen starlet registered yet another golazo in December, far from the first in his professional career, and this time came from open play, as opposed to his usual set-piece marvels.

Lobbing the goalkeeper from 25 yards out is a great accomplishment for any player. Doing so at the age of 20 is amazing. Combining both those factors while taking the ball at full stride and adding a boot full of power to mix makes for one world-class effort.

Borussia Monchengladbach found out first-hand what Calhanoglu is capable of this month and we can only look forward to the next score of similar or even greater quality.

6. Aaron Ramsey Unleashes Left-Footed Cannon vs. Galatasaray

Arsene Wenger's reign at the Emirates Stadium has led to Arsenal gaining a renown for their passing and movement, an ideology that Aaron Ramsey usually abides by.

But not against Galatasaray.

With Arsenal in the ascendancy and confidence flowing for the Gunners, the Welshman too it upon himself to vacuum up a defended Yaya Sanogo corner and give goalkeeper Sinan Bolat no chance of saving from 29 yards out.

Lurking on the edge of the area, Ramsey proceeded to wind up the traction engine he sometimes disguises as a left foot, managing to beat Bolat despite the ball seemingly taking forever to actually hit the back of the net.

The old saying goes that "that one stayed hit" when a player connects particularly well with any attempt. Ramsey's stayed hit.

5. Paul Pogba Skill Sets Up Sublime Carlos Tevez Finish vs. Napoli

Paul Pogba playing the role of playmaker with Carlos Tevez keeping up his part as finisher supreme—it's a storyline Juventus fans have grown accustomed to seeing this season.

However, in the Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Napoli, the pair combined on the edge of the Azzurri box in a more dazzling nature than usual, with Pogba's footwork in particular a beautiful piece of build-up.

No less than three Napoli defenders attempted to stop Pogba in his path before he offloaded the ball to Tevez, whose feinted shot under pressure showed an elite sense of calm in front of goal.

It speaks volumes of the build-up that Tevez's firmly swept finish was perhaps the most boring aspect of the entire move.

4. Maximilian Wittek Long-Range Screamer vs. Karlsruhe

A player's first club goal is a prestigious landmark that he'll remember for the rest of his days and Maximilian Wittek certainly won't be forgetting this one any time soon.

The 19-year-old enamoured himself with the 1860 Munich faithful this month, netting the opener against Karlsruhe by taking one touch to settle himself before smacking his long-range attempt with extreme accuracy.

Karlsruhe would go on to win 3-2, but 1860 Munich will have been over the moon to see their academy graduate record such a walloping maiden score for the club.

What's most admirable about the finish was to see left-back Wittek even muster the courage to take on the shot in the first place. Perhaps a move into midfield beckons.

3. Jeremy Menez Defies Physics with Disallowed Spin Score vs. Roma

This entry is a unique addition to our list in that it was actually ruled out for offside, but it would feel like a sign of disrespect not to at least honour this insane finish from Jeremy Menez.

After jinking his way past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis during the Rossoneri's 0-0 stalemate against Roma, a backtracking Menez somehow managed to slice the ball into an open net from almost behind the goal line.

It's at times like these that one might be tempted to ponder whether or not Menez actually meant the strike; on this occasion we can say the Frenchman most certainly did.

2. Mateo Kovacic Thunderbolt Volley vs. Lazio

In another lifetime, Croatian starlet Mateo Kovacic may have ended up at Old Trafford instead of Inter and this month the midfielder paid homage to Manchester United great Paul Scholes with a most assured long-range volley.

Just as Scholes so often used to at the Theatre of Dreams, Kovacic hammered a rebounded volley first time against Lazio and there was nothing but net in the ball's path of destruction.

The goal helped in giving Inter a 2-2 draw against the Rome outfit, but while that result may have left the Nerazzurri slightly disappointed, Kovacic's growing confidence in matters such as these is hugely encouraging.

Knee over the ball and concentration unnerved, Kovacic's effort could have done serious damage to any Lazio defender unfortunate enough to block its route.

1. Stephen Mallan Outwits the Dundee Defence with Ease

It's all downhill for St. Mirren prospect Stephen Mallan, who scored his first professional goal against Dundee just a couple of days after Christmas—and what a goal it was.

BBC Sport Scotland questioned whether or not the 18-year-old will ever net a better finish in his career, picking the ball up inside his own half before tricking his way deep into Dundee territory and striking the ball home from 20 yards.

With the two teams drawing 1-1 at the time, Mallan couldn't have picked a better moment to force his breakthrough, but the manner of the score merely made his maiden goal all the better.

En route to the enemy's goal, Mallan picked up a dispossession, a nutmeg and turned several opponents inside-out. The fleet-of-foot midfielder certainly wasn't feeling any hangover from that Christmas turkey.