Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend
World-class talent, the adoration of one of the biggest fanbases on earth, good looks and a knack for sublime goals: Where did it all go wrong for James Rodriguez?
The Colombian is among those who feature in our latest weekend golazo ranking, the quality of which is so high that the following excellent efforts were unable to scratch the top 10: Nani's 97th-minute free kick winner for Fenerbahce, Yann M'Vila's lovely dead ball for Sunderland, Valter Birsa's Pirlo-esque strike for Chievo against Lazio and the opportunistic overhead kick from Bournemouth's man of the moment Callum Wilson.
With the honourable mentions taken care of, let us proceed.
10. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) vs. Real Betis
1 of 10Real Madrid reminded Saturday us all that there are still two behemoth teams in Spain with a 5-0 dismantling of Real Betis at the Bernabeu.
In a slightly revised role under manager Rafa Benitez, Gareth Bale scored twice, including a beauty of a long shot just before the final whistle.
9. Daniele Baselli (Torino) vs. Fiorentina
2 of 10Torino's 100 percent Serie A record—and right to brag over their neighbours Juventus—continued Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina.
Midfielder Daniele Baselli put the final nail in the coffin of La Viola's afternoon with a wonderful strike in the 77th minute.
8. Mathew Leckie (Ingolstadt) vs. Augsburg
3 of 10Augsburg's poor start to the Bundesliga season continued Saturday with a 1-0 home loss to Ingolstadt.
To be fair to the Bavarians, the goal they conceded was a cracker: Shortly after the hour mark, Aussie midfielder Mathew Leckie sunk a beauty from 25 yards.
You know it was a great weekend for goals when this only makes No. 8.
7. Marc Pfitzner (Eintracht Braunschweig) vs. Karlsruher
4 of 10Eintracht Braunschweig marched to a 6-0 win over Karlsruher in the 2. Bundesliga on Sunday.
The hosts' fourth goal was something special from Marc Pfitzner, who put away an acrobatic overhead kick—a fantastic way for the midfielder to celebrate his 31st birthday.
Click here to see an alternate angle.
6. Chris Wood (Leeds) vs. Derby
5 of 10
Derby's encounter with Leeds at Pride Park looked to be ending honours even up until the 88th minute, when Chris Wood made the difference in style.
The New Zealand-born forward received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area, turned his defender and struck home a masterful winner with just two minutes on the clock.
A golazo is so much better when it earns three points at the death.
5. James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) vs. Real Betis
6 of 10James Rodriguez is a man who does not know the meaning of a scrappy finish. Evidently, the Colombian is only capable of scoring sensational goals, as proven by the brace he bagged against Betis on Saturday.
So as not to make this ranking 30 percent Real Madrid, we have condensed his wonderful self-made overhead kick and exquisite free kick into one spot.
Feel free to discuss your favourite Rodriguez goal of the match in the comments, but this writer favours the inch-perfect audacious dead ball that somehow beat the keeper from that acute angle.
4. Claudio Beauvue (Lyon) vs. Caen
7 of 10Nabil Fekir bagged a hat-trick in Lyon's 4-0 win over Caen on Saturday, but the best goal of the afternoon came from his colleague, Claudio Beauvue.
Three minutes from time, the 27-year-old received the ball on the right side of the box and hit a beautiful first-time volley over the beleaguered keeper.
3. Christian Noboa (Rostov) vs. Amkar Perm
8 of 10Christian Noboa played his first game for Rostov on Friday evening, marking the occasion with a rocket of a strike.
In the 65th minute of the Russian Premier League contest with Amkar Perm, the Ecuadorian midfielder scored the only goal of the game in stunning fashion from 30 yards.
2. Jesus Duenas (Tigres) vs. Queretaro
9 of 10Tigres stormed to a 5-1 win over Liga MX rivals Queretaro on Saturday, and fans at the Olympic Stadium in Coyoacan were treated to something special from Jesus Duenas.
In the 18th minute, the Tigres midfielder controlled a cross on his chest and proceeded to volley into the top corner.
Goalscoring technique doesn't come much better than that!
1. Vladimir Hernandez (Junior) vs. Deportivo Cali
10 of 10You may not be familiar with the name Vladimir Hernandez, but the Colombian put himself on the map on Sunday evening with a sensational strike in the Colombian Primera A.
The 26-year-old scored twice in Junior's 3-1 victory over Deportivo Cali, the first of which was a bullet of an overhead kick that almost broke the net.
Incredible.
