It comes as no surprise that one of football’s most celebrated skills comes from the streets of South America: the bicycle kick. Because of its rarity in football, complexity of execution, and acrobatic attributes, it holds a special place in football circles. The aestethics aside, the bicycle kick is a practical skill to be used in situations in which attackers are with their back to the goal. It simply provides the shortest route to the goal, and good strikers know when to use it.
Let’s check out who those footballers were in the Premier League. Here is a list of the top 10:
Bonus: Deco
The Portuguese midfield maestro might have scored only six goals for Chelsea, but one of them was a joy to behold.
10. Abel Hernandez
It was on a sunny day when Abel Hernandez opened the new season with a spectacular overhead kick against reigning champions Leicester–a worthy promise of things to come in England.
9. Shinji Okazaki
Okazaki is the antidote to any claim of the Foxes having a boring style of winning. His overhead kick against Newcastle in March gave Leicester a 1-0 victory and a five point advantage at the top of the table.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oapw8RqUitE
8. Laurent Koscielny
Surely when Koscielny woke up that day, he thought ‘I’m gonna make myself a great birthday present today.’ What he didn’t predict was how amazing it was going to be.
7. Christian Benteke
When Benteke bagged a stellar acrobatic goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford, he was not happy. Liverpool lost that match 3-1. No, no, Benteke. Don’t downplay the aesthetics.
6. Andy Carroll
Once belittled for not living up to expectations of being a record-breaking transfer, Carroll executed the most charged bicycle kick for West Ham which surely shut some mouths for good. The preparation, execution, celebration, it sticks in memory.
5. Juan Mata
Back in 2015 when United travelled to Anfield, it was a Mata of principle to win against their old rivals. Mata duly complied with a brace, one of which was a particularly memorable.
4. Trevor Sinclair
Great Premier League goals become iconic when they are truly unique and hard to forget. Trevor Sinclair’s goal back in 1997 in the FA Cup was better.
3. Eidur Gudjohnsen
Everything about this goal spoke class. From the pin-point cross of Frank Lampard, turning clockwise after it to Gudjohnsen towering bicycle kick that made him look stuck in midair for more than physically possible
2. Peter Crouch
Most of the time, Crouch’s skeleton-like figure looks on the pitch as out of place as a Japanese robot in a world dancing championship. Not so much when he scored one of UEFA’s greatest 60 goals against Galatasaray.
1. Wayne Rooney
The Manchester United top goal-scorer of all time has a repertoire of amazing goals, but this one holds a particular sweeter taste because it was a late winner against United’s city rivals.
