50 Great UEFA Champions League Goals

The Champions League group stages got under way this week, and to celebrate, we're presenting 50 great goals from the competition's archives.

You won't have to think back very far to remember some, because Tuesday's matches provided a couple of classics.

Borussia Dortmund equalized against Arsenal late in the second half thanks to a wonder-strike by Ivan Perisic.

And AC Milan equalized against Barcelona with a towering header by Thiago Silva.

Of course, we've also included some goals from the more distant past.

Which ones? You'll have to click through to find out.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United vs. Porto, 2009

Sure, Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most insufferable player of the modern era. How many stepovers can one guy do, anyway?

This goal from 2009, however, was pure class. When Ronaldo first shoots, the commentator doesn't seem too worried.

But then he's suddenly excited, and later Andy Gray almost chokes on his microphone. And why not? This was a classic long-distance strike.

Jari Litmanen, Ajax vs. AC Milan, 1994-95

This one was harder than it looks. Litmanen, Ajax's great Fin, showed great skill to score this one on a half-volley from a cross.

Plus, it helped Ajax on the way to the 1995 title.

Jean-Pierre Papin, AC Milan vs. Porto, 1993

Here's a great technical goal from AC Milan's Jean-Pierre Papin back in 1993.

Papin showed great technique to catch the ball out of the air and guide it into the goal with a sweet shot.

Dejan Savicevic, AC Milan vs. Barcelona, 1994

I don't know what the commentator is saying here, but I'm guessing it's related to Dejan Savicevic's cheekiness.

First he picks the pocket of a helpless defender, then he lobs the goalkeeper. Cheeky.

Oh, and that came in the 1994 final. Nice work.

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool vs. Olympiakos, 2004-05

The incomparable Andy Gray helps us once again. After Gerrard scored this thunderbolt, Gray lost control of his senses and started rambling. Wildly.

Gray: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ya beauty! What a hit, son! What a hit!

That is all.

Ronaldinho, Barcelona vs. Chelsea, 2005-05

Remember when you played soccer as a kid and the coach told you not to kick the ball with your toe? Yeah, me too.

Ronaldinho didn't get the memo.

Paul Scholes, Manchester United vs. Barcelona 2008

On first look at this goal, it almost looks like Scholes mis-hit the ball. But when you get the reverse angle, you see it was complete brilliance.

He earns extra points for slicing the ball with the outside of his foot. It's always hard to do, and even harder when you're on the run.

Mauro Bressan, Fiorentina vs. Barcelona, 1998-99

Who tries a bicycle kick from outside the box?

That's right, Mauro Bressan does.

If it weren't so funny, it would be sad. That goalie just got punked.

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen, 2002 Final

This one is just ridiculous.

Zidane doesn't just volley the ball into the net. He curls it too. And after waiting 37,000 seconds while the ball hung in the air.

And it was in the 2002 final.

Hugo Almeida, Porto vs. Inter Milan, 2005

Power. Precision. Almost a complete lack of spin.

This goal by Porto's Hugo Almeida in the 2005 group stages was a beauty.

Marc Overmars, Barcelona vs. Liverpool, 2001-02

Barcelona has been doing this sort of thing long before this season.

This goal by Dutch midfielder Marc Overmars capped a possession that included more than 30 passes. The finish was simple, but that's because of the brilliant build-up play.

By the way, the final pass came courtesy of Xavi. Small world, eh?

Charles-Edouard Coridon, PSG vs. Porto, 2004

Words like great and amazing might not fit this goal.

It's more like puzzling. Looking back on this goal, it's hard to know what Coridon actually was doing.

Was he trying to shoot? Was he trying to just get a foot on the ball? Was he wondering why his hair looks like that?

Only he'll ever know.

Dejan Stankovic, Inter Milan vs. Schalke, 2011

The most interesting thing about this goal is not that Stankovic scored it from the center circle.

It's that Inter still lost 5-2. Go figure.

Eran Zahavi, Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Lyon, 2010-11

Everyone loves a good bicycle kick, even if it's not from outside the box.

This goal from Hapoel's Eran Zahavi in last year's Champions League is a great example.

Thomas Müller, Bayern Munich vs. Roma, 2010-11

You can tell this one is good (fast forward to about 45 seconds) because of Müller's reaction. He really can't believe it.

If I curled in a volley like that, I'd probably react that way too.

Robin Van Persie, Arsenal vs. Barcelona, 2010-11

There's something about scoring at the near post.

It's humiliating to a goalkeeper. And the tighter the angle, the more impressive the goal seems.

This one is pretty impressive, as Van Persie slips the ball right past the Barca goalie.

Lionel Messi, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid 2010-11

This goal almost looks like it comes from basketball. Messi picks up the pass, runs around a screen and sprints down the lane, er into the box, before scoring on a fast break.

Just like they draw it up on the hardwood.

Karim Benzema, Real Madrid vs. Auxerre, 2010-11

Oops.

I feel for this goalkeeper, because when I'm playing in my weekend league, we do this kind of junk all the time.

But we're not professionals, and we don't play in the Champions League.

Regardless, it was a nice finish by Benzema. It finished a hat trick, though he doesn't seem too excited about that afterwards.

Tino Costa, Valencia vs. Bursaspor, 2010-11

It used to seem like Valencia made the Champions League final every year. Now they're lucky to make the group stage every year.

But if they'd had this strike from Tino Costa back in the good ol' days, they might also have a trophy to show off.

Andy Cole, Manchester United vs. Barcelona, 1998-99

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. The passing is nice, but we've all seen nicer, and the finish is pretty routine.

But everybody always lists this one and so will we.

We don't have to like it though.

Kaka, AC Milan vs. Manchester United, 2007 Semifinals

The lesson here is never give up.

Even when it looks like two defenders are going to shut you down, keep on playing. That's what Kaka does, kiddies.

Ivan Perisic, Borussia Dortmund vs. Arsenal, 2011

Here's Ivan Perisic's stunning volleyed goal against Arsenal on Tuesday. It tied the match for Borussia Dortmund late in the second half.

Perisic showed great skill to catch the ball on its way down and steer it into the top corner of the goal. Well done.

Filippo Inzaghi, Juventus vs. Galatassaray, 1998

I've said it a few times before, and I'll say it again.

Everyone loves a good bicycle kick. This one is another great example, courtesy of Filippo Inzaghi.

Lars Ricken, Borussia Dortmund vs. Juventus, 1997 Final

Lars Ricken had just come on as a substitute for Borussia Dortmund in the 1997 Champions League final against Juventus.

This was his first touch, an audacious long-distance strike.

Freddie Ljungberg, Arsenal vs. Juventus, 2001

Check out the moves by Dennis Bergkamp. Check out the calm finish by Freddie Ljungberg.

Those two formed an amazing partnership during their time at Arsenal, one that produced a bunch of goals just like this one. Pure class.

Arsenal fans must be missing those two. And Highbury, for that matter.

Mancini, AS Roma vs. Lyon, 2007

How many stepovers did Mancini fit into this goal? I'm counting four, but you decide.

Regardless, this was a great individual goal worthy of taking Roma to the next round.

Peter Crouch, Liverpool vs. Galatassaray, 2006

One of the commentators on this video says Peter Crouch sometimes reminds him of a horse falling down stairs. That sounds about right.

But this is the other side of Crouch, the brilliant side that produces bicycle kicks, which everyone loves.

Mikael Nilsson, Gothenburg vs. PSV Eindhoven, 1993

Look at the swerve on this one.

Nilsson just ran up to the ball and thumped it with as much power and spin as he could muster.

And it showed: The ball flew past the wall then suddenly reversed course and went the other way past the keeper.

Amazing.

Kaka, AC Milan vs. Fenerbahce, 2005

There's just something about a goal that comes from the brilliant dribbling of one player.

It can be mesmerizing, as this goal by Kaka was.

Lee Sharpe, Manchester United vs. Barcelona, 1994-95

Most players have to be looking at the goal to score. Lee Sharpe apparently doesn't.

The best part of this goal is the muted celebration by the home fans. Don't they know they just saw a great goal?

David Beckham, Manchester United vs. Barcelona, 1998

Fast forward to about the :45 mark.

Here's a gorgeous free kick from dead-ball specialist David Beckham.

He curls the ball around the wall then brings it back to the top corner of the near post.

Vintage Beckham.

Dimitar Berbatov, Bayer Leverkusen vs. Roma, 2004

This match must have been played behind closed doors due to some kind of UEFA punishment, and it's a shame, because very few people got to see this brilliant goal.

Berbatov can make lots of players look bad. But none more than this defender.

David Silva, Chelsea vs. Valencia, 2007

Silva lets this one fly from a long way out. Then suddenly it's gone across the goalkeeper and into the side netting at the far post.

And just for added difficulty, he curled the ball away from the direction of the goal.

David Beckham, Manchester United vs. Real Madrid, 2000

David Beckham is known for his deal-ball prowess, but on this goal he shows another dimension to his game.

He looks more like Messi or Kaka here, running through defenders before burying his shot past the keeper.

Gabriel Batistuta, Fiorentina vs. Manchester United, 2000

Ah, Batigol.

Gabriel Batistuta has a lot of things going against him. He has a girl's name. He has a terrible nickname (Batigol).

But back in the day, he could score goals like this. So he gets a pass.

Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United, 2010

This one vaguely recalls THAT Zinedine Zidane goal, but the stakes weren't so high here.

Still, Robben waits patiently for what seems like 10 minutes, then delivers a perfect volleyed strike into the far corner.

Thiago Silva, AC Milan vs. Barcelona, 2011

This is Thiago Silva's equalizer for AC Milan on Tuesday against Barcelona.

It looks like he's about 50 feet in the air when he heads home the goal. It had power and was placed perfectly.

A great goal that ended a great match.

Didier Drogba, Chelsea vs. Barcelona, 2007

This video is of poor quality, but it can't disguise a great goal.

Drogba receives a long pass, controls the ball and turns on his hell before unleashing a powerful shot to the far post.

No one can stop that.

And when Drogba is on his game—as he tends to be in big matches—it's hard to stop him. Get well soon, Didier.

Kaka, AC Milan vs. Celtic, 2006-07

Turn your volume down first.

Then enjoy yet another great individual goal by Kaka for AC Milan.

Juninho, Lyon vs. Bayern Munich, 2003-04

There are about a gazillion guys named Juninho in the history of world soccer, and all of them are good.

This one scored a great goal for Lyon against Bayern Munich in the 2003-04 Champions League.

Thierry Henry, Arsenal vs. Real Madrid, 2006

Arsenal beat just about everyone (except Barcelona, of course) it shouldn't have on the way to the 2006 Champions League final.

That included a 1-0 win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, clinched by this goal from Thierry Henry.

Sylvinho, Arsenal vs. Sparta Prague, 2000

More Arsenal, and another away win.

This time it's from 2000 and the opponent is Sparta Prague. The player is Sylvinho, a defender who could really turn on the style

He did that here.

Hernan Crespo, Inter Milan vs Ajax, 2002-03

You'll have to watch fast, but if you do, you'll see two great headed goals by Hernan Crespo.

One was a powerful header, and the other was a glancing header. Both were nice goals.

Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich, 1999 Final

Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer had one of the coolest nicknames in the history of world football.

The Baby-Faced Assassin.

Here's a picture of him, so you can see the face.

Watch the video above, re: assassin. It's the first one in the tribute, starting around the :15 mark.

That goal won the Champions League for Manchester United in 1999.

Michael Essien, Chelsea vs. Barcelona, 2009

Before Barcelona couldn't be beat, some teams actually scored on them once in a while.

This Michael Essien goal was an unstoppable volley from distance.

Yuri Zhirkov, CSKA Moscow vs. Hamburg, 2006-07

Here's another great individual goal.

This time it's CSKA Moscow's Yuri Zhirkov slicing through the Hamburg defense for a beautiful goal during the 2006-07 competition.

Stelios Giannakopoulos, Olympiakos vs. Porto, 1998-99

Can you read Greek? Neither can I.

But I think we all understand how great this goal is.

Fernando Torres, Liverpool vs. Arsenal, 2007-08

Ignore the music and pay attention to what's important.

Fernando Torres used to be able to score goals.

This is a compilation of his 10 best goals from the 2007-08 season. And that's funny, because he probably doesn't have 10 goals since then.

I kid, I kid.

Fast forward to the 4:45 mark

Ryan Babel, Liverpool vs. Besiktas, 2007

It's hard to include a goal from a blowout like this, but a back-heel is a back-heel is a back-heel.

They're always nice, and even nicer when they score a goal.

David Villa, Barcelona vs. Manchester United, 2011 Final

In closing, we give you a goal you can enjoy in 10 languages.

It's David Villa's goal against Manchester United in last season's final.