You know the old saying “a goalkeeper scoring is like waiting on a bus”. You wait for ages then two come along at the same time.
Ok, that’s a saying I just created but still that literally just happened this week, so maybe if it happens again it can become a saying?
Anyway, as the world was laughing at Barcelona and specifically Miralem Pjanic and Ousmane Dembele for missing spot-kicks against lowly Cornella, Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic banged one in against Athletico Madrid.
Update: Looking for Alisson’s goal for Liverpool against West Brom? Scroll to the end.
Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez rescued Atletico with a late penalty (this is getting confusing) in the end to advance in the Copa Del Rey. Anyway, the takeaway is the rare occurrence of a goalkeeper scoring.
Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović SCORES from the penalty spot! 🔥
That’s one way to take the lead against LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid 😂 pic.twitter.com/pZznk3CPer
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) January 21, 2021
What’s even rarer is another professional goalkeeper scored in the same week – Tom King from Newport County.
Carlow man Padraig Amond watched his goalkeeper score in what is now officially regarded as the longest goal ever scored. The 96.01m strike against Cheltenham cements its place in the Guinness World Records. Not bad for a Tuesday.
😲 According to @GWR there is a new record for longest goal scored in a competitive match: 96.01 metres by @NewportCounty goalkeeper Tom King 🧤
🎥 @SkySports pic.twitter.com/3OfoQywbKL
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) January 21, 2021
So we thought we would take a look at some of the best ever goals scored by goalkeepers. Have a gooch at the list below and let us know what you think.
1. Oscarine Masuluke – Baroka – 2016
Sure some keepers can score from long range and catch keepers on the bounce. However, can they bust out a bicycle kick and earn themselves a Puskas nomination in the process?
That’s exactly what South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke did against the Orlando Pirates in 2016. Unfortunately for him, he eventually lost out to Oliver Giroud’s amazing scorpion kick in the same year, scored when playing for Arsenal.
Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke was yesterday named as a finalist for the FIFA Puskas Award with Olivier Giroud & Deyna Castellanos. pic.twitter.com/6Dc9geNYoX
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 10, 2017
2. Jimmy Glass – Carlisle United – 1999
I still remember watching Soccer Saturday live for this. It’s the 94th minute, and Carlisle survival in the football league depends on them getting a winner. With everything on the line, on-loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass runs up for a corner.
Initially, the ball is kept out by Plymouths No.1 before falling to the right foot of his opposite number who buried it in the back of the net. Carlisle faithful were sent into hysteria and stormed the pitch as Carlisle were safe from relegation. Speaking after the goal Glass said, “It wasn’t my goal, it was football’s goal, I just happened to be in the middle of it.”
3. José Luis Chilavert – Paraguay, Vélez Sarsfield , Peñarol, Real Zaragoza , Strasbourg.
World Goalkeeper of the Year in 1995, 1997, and 1998 Chilavert was also a prolific goalscorer for club and country. A young me was astonished in 1998 when I saw the Paraguayan keeper standing over a free-kick at World Cup 1998.
I went onto discover that Chilavert was the designated free and penalty taker as he was a dead ball specialist. He has netted a total of 8 times for his country and 59 times for various clubs, while also holding the distinction of being the only goalkeeper to score a hat-trick during a game.
4. Jorge Campos – Atlante, Pumas.
The eccentric Mexican goalkeeper who got to design his own jerseys was such a good footballer, he would occasionally play as a striker. Sometimes he would start a game in goal, and then switch to playing outfield.
He scored 35 goals throughout his career most notably scoring a beautiful scissor kick for Atlante against Cruz Azul in 1997.
5. Rogério Ceni – Sao Paulo
Rogério Ceni is the highest-scoring keeper in football history. When the Brazilian keeper retired he could attribute 132 goals to his name. The goal included in this article is his 100th for his beloved Sao Paulo and came against deadly rivals Corinthians.
6. Martin Hansen – Den Haag – 2015
Liverpool are currently on a four-match streak where they have failed to score. They would do well to bring back their former goalkeeper this transfer window, not to displace Allisson, but maybe to replace Firmino.
This tidy backheel finish would make Gianfranco Zola proud.
7. Rene Higuita – Atlético Nacional – 1995
The high-risk Columbian sweeper-keeper Rene Higuita is mostly famous for his scorpion kick clearance against England, however, he should also be known for his exploits in front of goal.
Higuita scored three goals for Columbia in 68 appearances due to him often taking set-pieces. All in all, he has 45 goals registered to his name but this great free-kick in the Copa Libertadores against River Plate ranks among the best.
Premier League
1. Peter Schmeichel – Denmark, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Hvidovre, Brondby.
The legendary Dane has scored a total of eleven goals throughout his career including one for his country. His goal for Aston Villa would be his only goal in the Premier League, joining a small group of keepers to have accomplished.
2. Brad Friedel – Blackburn – 2004
The episode of #OnThisDay from 2004 when Brad Friedel scores an 89th minute equaliser & still ends up on the losing side 😲 pic.twitter.com/DoNMC13l29
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 21, 2019
3. Paul Robinson – Tottenham Hotspur – 2007
Not something you see every week…🤨#OnThisDay in 2007, Paul Robinson scored for Spurs against Watford! 🗓 pic.twitter.com/SvDsoAujd0
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 17, 2020
4. Tim Howard – Everton – 2012
Happy Birthday Tim Howard 🇺🇸
Is this the best ever goal scored by a goalkeeper?
— Art of Football (@Art_of_Football) March 6, 2020
5. Asmir Begovic – Stoke – 2013
Stoke’s Asmir Begovic previously held the Guinness World Record for the longest goal scored in football at 91.9m. The strike was at the very start of the game which caught against future teammate Arthur Boruc flatfooted and bounced into the Southampton net.
The record was then broken by South Korean Koo Sang-min, before been broken again by Tom King
On this day in 2013 Asmir Begovic broke the record for the longest goal in football history #SCFC #TBPTVpic.twitter.com/zdGw2EWR1E
— The Bear Pit TV (@TheBearPitTV) November 2, 2020
6. Alisson Becker – Liverpool – 2021
As defending champions, Liverpool’s 2020/21 form simply didn’t live up to their title-winning season the previous year. With three games to go in the league, the Reds needed to take maximum points to keep the dream of Champions League football alive.
Going down 1-0 to West Brom midway through the first half, Liverpool pegged one back through Mo Salah, before the Baggies had a second ruled offside.
The Merseysiders threw everything – everything – at West Brom for the closing quarter but couldn’t break down Sam Allardyce’s men.
That was, until, Alisson Becker raced up the pitch for a 95th-minute corner, found himself free near the front post, rose above everyone else and put the ball in the back of the West Brom net as if fated to do so.
You won’t see many better, from a keeper or anyone else for that matter.
