World Football's Top 10 Goals of the Week

This week certainly saw some notable action in the world of football.

From the opening weekend of the Premier League to Champions and Europa League playoffs to Spanish Supercup madness, there was no worry of boredom.

With great drama, there usually come great goals, and this week certainly did not disappoint.

Here are my selections for the 10 best goals of the week, listed in ascending order.

Honorable Mention

Before we actually get into the list, let's just take a second for some honorable mentions:

Bolton's Gary Cahill scored a beauty for the opener against QPR in the Wanderers' 4-0 rout.

Wayne Rooney's strike against West Brom was also a very nice shot, looping over the keeper's arm and into the side of the net.

These were some good goals, but not quite good enough for the top 10.

10. Marko Arnautovic: Werder Bremen vs. St. Pauli

We start this list off with a club friendly between Werder Bremen and St. Pauli.

Perhaps the game didn't count for much, but the strike, taken off the volley and perfectly placed into the side of the net past the keeper's out-stretched fingertips, was enough to earn Marko Arnautovic a spot in the top 10.

9. Sejad Salihovic: Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund

Sejad Salihovic of Hoffenheim comes in at No. 9 with this free kick against defending Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

The ninth minute strike proved to be the game winner.

The kick was impressive, hit with power right and into the top corner, but as it was from more than 30 yards, should keeper Roman Weidenfeller have had it covered?  Perhaps his slow movement toward the ball detracts from this otherwise wondrous goal.

8. Etien Velikonja: Maribor vs. Rangers

No. 8 is from the first leg of the Maribor-Rangers tie in Europa League qualifying.

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead heading into the break, but Maribor drew level soon after the break.  In the second minute of stoppage time, this sublime back-heel by Etien Velikonja gave the Slovenian side the advantage heading into the second leg.

Rangers' performances in Europe this season, having already been eliminated in Champions League qualifying, have truly been laughable.  Clearly, the video sees this humor.

7. Gocha Tvildiani: FK Siauliai vs. FBK Kaunas

No. 8 comes in from the Lithuanian A Lyga with Georgian Gocha Tvildiani.

Sure, the Siauliai forward gets an assist from Kaunas keeper Laurynas Vertelis, leading the keeper to be out of position, but come on: this goal is just too cool to not be on the list.

It's a bicycle kick goal from outside the box.  I don't care how it started; it's on the list.

6. Lionel Messi: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

The build-up was beautiful and the cross on the money.  The goal won the Supercup, deciding a game between the two "Clasico" rivals with minutes remaining.

But in all, is it the best goal of the week?  I put it at No. 6.

(By the way, how can anyone stand to listen to Ray Hudson for 90 minutes?  I was unfortunate enough to have to watch the GolTV broadcast of these two games, and Hudson, who is the one commentating in the video, made me resort to muting the TV.  It's not even the over-the-top, insane, utter nonsense that spews from his mouth; it's the rate at which it does.  Seriously, man, come up for air sometime.)

5. Raul: Schalke 04 vs. FC Koln

The legend strikes again.

It may have seemed as though Raul's transfer from Real Madrid to Schalke in 2010 would merely serve to provide the striker with one last payday, but his year and change in Germany has proven that there is something left in the Spaniard.

The pass was incisive, leading the striker into the clear.  With just the keeper in his way, Raul chipped high, making a play of extreme technical difficulty look easy.

Beautiful.

4. Sergio Aguero: Manchester City vs. Swansea City

This is how you debut.

Sure, it was against Swansea, a team that looked ready to surrender eight after the first goal went in, but you can't take anything away from that second goal.

Stepping up with the ball and unleashing a furious strike into the corner of the net, Aguero made City fans giddy at the team's prospects for the future.

3. David Villa: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

For the first time in years, Barcelona had been soundly beaten by a Real Madrid side for a substantial period of time.

The trend seemed destined to continue through the first half, as Barca had no opportunites against a tough Madrid defense.

That was, until David Villa stepped up and delivered yet another moment of brilliance.

From seemingly nothing, Villa turned the tie on its head, delivering the strike that probably led the way to another Barca Supercup.

(Again, sorry for the Hudson horribleness.  If you have a weak stomach, you may want to mute this video.)

2. David Abraham: Basel vs. Zurich

No. 2 takes us to Switzerland, where hated rivals Basel and Zurich clashed in the Swiss Super League.

In the 30th minute, defending champions Basel took a corner that ended up falling to Argentine defender David Abraham.  With his back to the goal, the young defender did his best Wayne Rooney impression, delivering a strong bicycle kick into the corner of the net to rock the stadium.

Zurich wiped the smiles off the faces of the Basel crowd with two late goals, including a stoppage time winner, but this was a wonder-goal nonetheless.

1. Sebastian Larsson: Sunderland vs. Liverpool

And the top of the pops this week goes to Seb Larsson and his beautiful volley at Liverpool.

In his Sunderland debut, the Swedish midfielder produced an amazing strike that not only salvaged his club a point at Liverpool but put his name into the early running for goal of the season.