10 Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend
The proverbial fat lady sang in several major European leagues over the weekend, as the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 were among those who played their final matchday of the season. Those leagues all produced efforts that make our golazo rankings, along with stunning strikes from Japan, Turkey, Greece and the United States.
Honourable mentions this weekend go to Stefano Sturaro's turn-and-shoot effort against Napoli, Henrikh Mkhitaryan's great control and chip for Borussia Dortmund and the free-kick efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodridguez.
Without further ado, here are the rankings...
10. Ryota Nagaki (Shonan Bellmare) vs. Shimizu S-Pulse
1 of 10[Skip to 0.45 to see the goal]
Shonan Bellmare stormed to a 4-0 win over troubled Shimizu in the J-League on Saturday. The second goal came just after the hour mark when Ryota Nagaki lined up a free-kick form around 35 yards and proceeded to beat the keeper.
9. Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray) vs. Besiktas
2 of 10Galatsaray put one hand on the Turkish Super Lig trophy on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Istanbul rivals Besiktas.
Wesley Sneijder scored the second from distance in the 80th minute, which sent former Gala and current Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan into raptures in the crowd.
8. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Augsburg) vs. Borussia Monchengladbach
3 of 10[Skip to 0.25 to see the goal]
Augsburg, who have the second-smallest budget in the Bundesliga, pulled off an unthinkable act on Saturday when they earned Europa League qualification with a 3-1 win at Borussia Monchengladbach.
The home side—who were already assured of Champions League football next season—took the lead, but the equaliser was a stunner from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who is on loan from Bavarian neighbours Bayern Munich.
7. Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen) vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
4 of 10[Skip to 0.35 for the goal]
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a final-day defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, but they did manage to score one of the best goals of the weekend in the process.
In the sixth minute, when Leverkusen were already 1-0 down, Karim Bellarabi picked up the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a 25-yard screamer.
6. Steven N'Zonzi (Stoke) vs. Liverpool
5 of 10
Steven Gerrard scored on his final day in a Liverpool shirt, but his side suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Stoke on Sunday.
The pick of the Potters' goals was Steven N'Zonzi's long-range beauty to make it 5-0 just before half-time.
5. Vincent Nogueira (Philadelphia Union) vs. New York Red Bulls
6 of 10The New York Red Bulls suffered their first home loss of the season on Sunday evening as Philadelphia came to New Jersey and scored two unanswered goals.
The second strike was an audacious backheel from Vincent Nogueira, who stayed onside to claim his first goal of the campaign.
4. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) vs. West Brom
7 of 10
Arsenal capped off their campaign with a 4-1 win over West Brom. Theo Walcott bagged a hat-trick—which included this impressive strike—but the Gunners' best of the day was Jack Wilshere's sublime left-footed half-volley.
3. Alejandro Dominguez (Olympiakos) vs. Xanthi
8 of 10Olympiakos won their 27th Greek Cup on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Xanthi.
The Greek champions went 2-0 ahead in the 64th minute, when Argentinean striker Alejandro Dominguez picked up the ball in his own half and proceeded to score a fantastic solo golazo.
2. Go Nishida (Ehime) vs. V-Varen Nagasaki
9 of 10[Skip to 0.15 to see the goal]
Those who do not keep up with the Japanese second division may not realise that Ehime suffered a 3-1 defeat on the road to V-Varen Nagasaki on Sunday.
Ehime, however, opened the scoring in magnificent style after five minutes of play, when Go Nishida volleyed home with the outside of his foot.
1. Lucas Ocampos (Marseille) vs. Bastia
10 of 10Olympique Marseille finished their Ligue 1 campaign two points short of Champions League qualification, but they consolidated their Europa League place with a 3-0 win over Bastia.
Lucas Ocampos topped off the victory in the 89th minute with a stunning solo golazo that saw the Argentinean midfielder pick up the ball on the right flank before twisting and turning his way through the defence.
Take a bow, son.
