Ranking La Liga's Top 5 Overhead Goals of the Last 15 Years

There is no more exciting way of scoring in football than an overhead kick. Luis Suarez’s athletic effort against Levante continued a fine tradition of La Liga goals scored in this manner.

This type of goal requires bravery to take the shot on, incredible timing to meet the ball at the correct moment and no small amount of athleticism to execute such an acrobatic move.

Here is a ranking of the top-five bicycle kicks scored in the Spanish top flight over the last 15 years. From Rivaldo to Ronaldinho, hold tight for a whistle-stop look at some of the most breathtaking finishes to have ever graced a football pitch.

Notable Mentions

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Picking only five goals means that some excellent finishes have been left out. Below are three notable mentions:

Radamel Falcao, ATLETICO MADRID vs. America Cali (2012): This was a truly magical strike, but it could not be included in the top five due to the fact it was scored in an exhibition match against Colombia’s America de Cali rather than La Liga.

Carlos Vela, REAL SOCIEDAD vs. Malaga (2011): This 88th-minute equalizer saw Mexico forward Carlos Vela head the ball up into the air before smashing it into the net.

Saul Niguez, ATLETICO MADRID vs. Real Madrid (2015): Twenty-year-old Saul Niguez became an instant hero with this tidy finish, the second goal in Atletico's recent 4-0 hammering of bitter rivals Real Madrid.

No. 5: Luis Suarez, BARCELONA vs. Levante (2015)

Luis Suarez has struggled at Barcelona under the weight of his huge £75 million price tag. With Lionel Messi and Neymar forming such a formidable partnership, the Uruguayan has at times appeared to be trying too hard to impress.

This goal seemed to change all that. The sublime piece of skill, which would have appeared routine at Anfield last season, could be the catalyst that gives the hitman the confidence to truly shine at Camp Nou.

One down, four to go.

No. 4: Ronaldinho, BARCELONA vs. Atletico Madrid (2008)

When Ronaldinho was at the peak of his abilities, the Brazilian could do almost anything with a football. Extraordinary skill, unexpected flair and, above all, the ability to score big goals in important games characterized the five years he spent with the Blaugrana.

This finish epitomises the Ballon d’Or winner’s powers of improvisation, with the forward already in the air as Xavi plays the ball in from the right.

Atletico goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is visibly shellshocked during of the Barca celebrations, a victim of the true force of nature that was Ronaldinho.

The final three await.

No. 3: Diego Costa, ATLETICO MADRID vs. Getafe (2013)

Born in Brazil but naturalized as a Spaniard, Diego Costa took a few years to truly settle in the red and white half of Madrid. Known as a troublemaker, it wasn’t until the 2013/14 season that the striker fulfilled his goalscoring potential.

Thirty-six goals in all competitions were not only enough to help secure the La Liga title, they also proved sufficient to earn Costa a big-money transfer to Chelsea.

This goal displays the key assets of this bullish forward: strength to work the defender back, agility to nip away from the marker and clinical precision to meet the ball at a fiendish height and still generate such power.

And then there were two.

No. 2: Ronaldinho, BARCELONA vs. Villarreal (2006)

Another game, another prodigious acrobatic execution from Ronaldinho. This goal is truly a masterpiece.

Xavi’s chipped through ball was just ahead of the Brazilian, who had effortlessly peeled away from the defenders. Taking the ball on the chest with his back to goal, not a person in Camp Nou would have predicted what happened next.

The ball hovered just over the No. 10’s head, and a quick 180-degree swivel was completed with a right-footed bicycle kick into the far corner. That the left foot would have been physiologically simpler to use just adds another dimension to this piece of pure footballing art.

The top overhead finish is next.

No. 1: Rivaldo, BARCELONA vs. Valencia (2001)

Some stories in football are so astounding that were they to be written as fiction, readers would dismiss them as too fanciful. This goal tops the ranking not only because it is technically the most complete overhead finish, but it also signals a truly memorable end to a season.

Barcelona were languishing in fifth place heading into the final match of the season, three points behind and level on goal difference with Valencia in fourth position—and it was Valencia who made their way to Barcelona for this epic finale.

If the Catalan giants won, they would qualify for the Champions League—the least the fervent supporters required for the season not to be considered a complete failure.

Rivaldo put Barca ahead with a wicked free-kick, but Reuben Baraja levelled soon after. Before the break, Rivaldo again gave the home side the lead, only for Baraja to again restore parity and put Valencia back into the Champions League places.

With two minutes left, Frank de Boer hit a vertical pass directly to Rivaldo. Eighteen yards out and with his back to goal, the man from Paulista chested the ball into the air and hit an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Santiago Canizares.

The rapturous celebrations that followed befitted such a heroic, astonishing feat of individual brilliance.