Gianfranco Zola and 12 Other Magical Backheel Goals

Thirteen years ago, Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola seemingly defied physics to score a remarkable backheeled goal in an FA Cup tie against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge.

Remember it? Well, here's the video footage to remind you of why Zola was idolised by the club's supporters long before any of them had heard of Jose Mourinho, Diego Costa or Eden Hazard.

Zola was a special player, but his feat was by no means unique, so put your best foot forward and enjoy 12 more examples of backheel brilliance.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid vs. Valencia, May 4, 2014

Ah, of course Cristiano Ronaldo has to be here.

The Portuguese gave just one example as to why he was crowned the best footballer on the planet in 2014 in the dying stages of this match against Valencia last May, meeting an Angel Di Maria cross with a kind of spinning, twirling kung-fu backheel that flew into the net for the equaliser.

All in a day's work.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Italy vs. Sweden, June 18, 2004

Where there is impudence, there must also be Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Sweden superstar saved his country from defeat in this Euro 2004 group game against Italy in Porto, with this flying effort five minutes from time dragging his team level and ultimately playing a large part in the Italians' exit at the first hurdle.

They still got to spend 90 minutes in Zlatan's presence, though, so they at least had that.

Pablo Aimar, Argentina vs. Bolivia, November 15, 2003

The further out you get, the better the backheeled goal becomes. Although Argentina's Pablo Aimar isn't miles out when he scores this cheeky effort against Bolivia in a 2006 World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires, his effort does still require some precise placement.

The former Valencia and Benfica playmaker was one of the classiest operators in Europe in the early 2000s, and it is easy to see why.

Thierry Henry, Arsenal vs. Charlton, October 2, 2004

The mid-noughties Premier League was pretty much owned by Thierry Henry, and Charlton Athletic's Jonathan Fortune found that out on this occasion.

With his back to goal at Highbury, Henry sucked Fortune in before placing a perfectly executed backheel into the bottom corner in a way that only he could.

Leopoldo Luque, River Plate vs. Huracan, December 1979

One of the most famous backheels in football history, River Plate's Leopoldo Luque used this Argentinian league clash with Hurucan to show off his remarkable skills and introduce the football world to the backheeled finish in 1979.

Luque expertly prodded the ball around the goalkeeper before stabbing into the net to kick off wild celebrations and start a pretty lasting trend.

Jeremy Menez, Parma vs. Milan, September 14, 2014

Thirty-five years after Luque's cheeky masterpiece, AC Milan's Jeremy Menez paid homage to it during a madcap Serie A match at Parma, which the Rossoneri won 5-4.

Seven goals had already been scored when Menez pounced on a defensive error to knock the ball past goalkeeper Antonio Mirante, race around the other side of him and brilliantly backheel into the net to make the score 5-3.

There was still time for Mattia De Sciglio to score a bizarre own goal, but Milan and Menez won the day.

Roberto Mancini, Parma vs. Lazio, January 16, 1999

That, however, wasn't the first time that that end of Parma's Ennio Tardini stadium had seen the brilliance of the backheel, as 15 years prior to Menez, Roberto Mancini was strutting his stuff with an outstanding finish for Lazio.

Long before the trademark scarf or the last-gasp Premier League title win, Mancini was a deadly forward capable of producing moments such as this. He made it look effortless.

Rafael van der Vaart, Ajax vs, Feyenoord, November 30, 2003

The Dutch Klassieker between Ajax and Feyenoord is always one of the most heated fixtures of any Eredivisie season, so much so that the players barely have any time to think during what is among the most heated of atmospheres.

How on earth, then, did Rafael van der Vaart come up with this simply ridiculous finish in Ajax's 2-0 win in November 2003?

Matty Burrows, Glentoran vs. Portadown, October 5, 2010

The Stephanie Roche of 2010, Glentoran's Matty Burrows hit the headlines when this outrageous backheeled volley injury-time winner against Portadown in Northern Ireland went viral.

Like Roche, Burrows was nominated for FIFA's Puskas award. Unfortunately, like Roche, he also missed out, with the award going to Turkey's Hamit Altintop for his volleyed strike against Kazakhstan in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

It was alright, I guess.

Denis Law, Manchester United vs. Manchester City, April 27, 1974

A strike that lives on in Manchester derby memories. Manchester United legend Denis Law fatally wounded his former club's hopes of staying up with this backheeled winner against them for rivals Manchester City in April 1974.

As Law himself says at the end of the video, the goal itself didn't send United down to the Second Division, as results elsewhere had done that, but it's a good story isn't it?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Inter vs. Bologna, October 4, 2008

It's Zlatan again, with this goal for Inter Milan against Bologna from October 2008, which features an assist from a surprisingly svelte Adriano.

Ibrahimovic had plenty of work to do once the Brazilian fired in a cross to the near post, but he managed to do it in typical Zlatan style, with a flick of his right boot and an unerring finish into the back of the net.

All in a day's work.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid, February 26, 2012

We'll finish how we started, with the man of the moment: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mere mortals might have considered a pass to a team-mate or at least turning to face the goal before deciding what to do next, but Ronaldo decided to backheel an effort at goal in this Liga clash at Rayo Vallecano in February 2012.

It was only ever going to end up in one place.