Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend
Real Madrid scored seven at home, Leicester City extended their lead atop the Premier League and Claudio Pizarro scored in the Bundesliga. Nothing really surprised us this weekend in world football.
We were treated to some screamers, long-range thunderbolts, solo efforts and even some acrobatics.
The much-anticipated domestic leagues in China and the USA also got underway, and there were plenty of goals to enjoy across the weekend.
We take you from Europe and Asia to North America, from top flight to youth leagues, in this weekend's top 10 goals.
10. Fernandinho (Chongqing Lifan) vs. Guangzhou Evergrande
1 of 10Interest in the Chinese Super League has perhaps never been quite so high.
That's why an opening weekend that saw many of the competition's big names find the back of the net was followed so closely.
Fernando Henrique da Conceicao, also known as Fernandinho, scored a brace in Chongqing Lifan's 2-1 win over Guangzhou Evergrande on Sunday, including this solo effort from well inside his own half.
Not a bad way to kick off proceedings in China.
9. Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen) vs. Hannover
2 of 10
He has over 15 years of experience in the Bundesliga, and Claudio Pizarro showed us he's still got it on Saturday as Werder Bremen knocked over Hannover on Saturday afternoon.
Pizarro's goal simply oozed class—a brilliant touch to beat his defender, and a calm but unstoppable volleyed finish to make it 2-0 on the day. It was also his 100th league goal for the club.
The 4-1 win moved Bremen three points clear of the drop zone, while Hannover remain rooted to the foot of the table.
8. Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo) vs. AC Milan
3 of 10Straight from the training ground.
Sassuolo upset AC Milan on Sunday, and it was a rehearsed corner-kick routine that saw the opener midway through the first half.
Alfred Duncan applied the finish, an emphatic drive from outside the penalty area, and Nicola Sansone would double the lead in the second spell.
The result moved Sassuolo to within three points of Milan in Serie A.
7. Joao (Atletico Madrid Youth) vs. Real Madrid Youth
4 of 10How to settle a local derby? This is how.
Atletico Madrid's youngsters took on Real Madrid on Saturday, and it took this ridiculous free-kick to match the seniors' result from a week earlier.
It sparked wild celebrations and a shoutout to Atleti's 2 million followers on Twitter—not a bad day out for the kid.
6. Brahim Diaz (Manchester City U18) vs. Chelsea U18
5 of 10Sergio Aguero donned a mask on Sunday and helped Manchester City's under-18 side to a 4-3 win over Chelsea—or so it might seem.
It was in fact City 16-year-old starlet Brahim Diaz, rather than the Argentine first-team player, who scored this stunning goal against the Blues over the weekend in a classy solo effort.
Watch this space, Manchester City fans.
5. Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax) vs. Willem II
6 of 10Ajax kept the pressure on Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven on Saturday with a 4-0 win at Willem II, and Riechedly Bazoer stole the headlines with their brilliant second goal.
The Dutchman's first wasn't the greatest, but even then, he unleashed a wicked right-footed shot that left the Willem keeper with no chance.
Pick that one out.
4. Diego Fagundez (New England Revolution) vs. Houston Dynamo
7 of 10Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution played out a 3-3 draw on Sunday, and it didn't take long for the scoring to get underway.
New England's Diego Fagundez took advantage of a less-than-convincing clearance to fire home a wicked shot on the half-volley after just three minutes.
Revolution twice came back from a goal down in the second half to take a point from Texas, sealed by Daigo Kobayashi in the last minute.
Major League Soccer is back with a bang.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) vs. Celta Vigo
8 of 10You just can't keep Cristiano Ronaldo quiet.
The Portuguese helped himself to four goals in Real Madrid's 7-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, and his first was the pick of the bunch.
He found himself in a pocket of space outside the penalty area, turned and drove an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
The win keeps manager Zinedine Zidane's side third in La Liga and four points behind rivals Atletico but still 12 back of league-leading Barcelona.
2. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) vs. Arsenal
9 of 10
For a brief spell on March 5, 2016, Tottenham Hotspur were top of the Premier League table.
Two goals in three minutes by Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane had cancelled out Aaron Ramsey's opener in a pulsating derby against Arsenal and, with Francis Coquelin having been sent off, Spurs fans might have been forgiven for dreaming of staying there.
Alexis Sanchez equalised later on to deflate the atmosphere at White Hart Lane, but Kane's goal will live long in the memory, as he curled home a brilliant shot on the angle and wheeled away in mask-less celebration.
1. Federico Higuain (Columbus Crew) vs. Portland Timbers
10 of 10Welcome back, Major League Soccer.
Columbus Crew went down 2-1 at Portland Timbers on Sunday, but the visitors had the best of the three goals thanks to this glorious finish by Federico Higuain.
The cross took a deflection and ended up just behind the Argentine, who controlled it, swivelled and scored in the only way that seemed fitting: an overhead bicycle kick.
This weekend at least, Gonzalo has another Higuain to contend with.
