Breaking down an opponent has puzzled the world’s brightest minds since the beginning of time, but this process has eventually yielded a collection of the best team goals ever.
Some of these goals are the finest examples of a style beautifully crafted by a team throughout an era – Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, Spain’s golden generation, mid-90s Ajax and many more – while some are simply instances of 11 footballers momentarily achieving authentic telepathic brilliance.
Some of them are good and inspiring at the same time and FootTheBall has collated the best team goals of all time for your viewing pleasure.
Ajax vs FC Twente | 1994-95 Eredivisie
Ajax crushed all comers during the 1994-95 season, going undefeated in league play, winning the Dutch Cup and defeating Milan in the European Cup final. Under the leadership of Louis van Gaal, the likes of Frank de Boer, Danny Blind, Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert and Jari Litmanen produced football like this on the regular.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid | 2013-14 LaLiga
Who can forget about this one? To make things spicier, Barcelona did this in El Clasico – away from home! It looked like fairly conservative possession until the 20th pass and then suddenly the Catalans go through the gears.
Xavi takes out two Real midfielders with a neat pass through the lines, Neymar spins away from Sergio Ramos and then Messi takes over. His perfect through ball finds Iniesta ghosting in at the back post, who controls expertly before lashing past Diego Lopez. Goosebumps.
Arsenal vs. Norwich | 2013-14 Premier League
This Arsenal team goal is arguably, one of the best ever team goals. Arsene Wenger agreed that it was the best he had seen in his career. 7 passes in 2 seconds, impossible to defend.
Wilshere’s and Giroud’s flicks were of such high order, that even as an opposition defender, you could just watch in awe as such a beautiful move was executed. Moreover, this goal, unlike most of the team goals, didn’t have any long passes over the defence. This one literally blew the defence apart, leaving them with no time to react. No back-line could have had an answer to that.
Argentina vs. Serbia and Montenegro | 2006 World Cup group stage
This one’s a treat to the eye. Argentina under Jose Pekerman scored one of the greatest World Cup goals against Serbia. The move featured 25 passes in just under 60 seconds, combining sharp movement with a perfect final pass to set up Esteban Cambiasso.
As the midfielder wheeled off in celebration, Diego Maradona lead wild scenes from the stands as Pekerman stood still in approval. “The most beautiful goal,” as Hernan Crespo described it. Beautiful it was.
Brazil vs. Italy | 1970 FIFA World Cup Final
With Pele, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Carlos Alberto, Gerson and Tostao, the 1970 World Cup-winning Brazil side is often cited as the best ever. In the six games Brazil played at the tournament in Mexico, the Selecao scored three or more goals on five occasions — including four in the final victory over Italy.
Perhaps the most famous goal is the final one registered on that day at the Estadio Azteca. At 3-1 up, Brazil were simply turning on the style, and this 86th-minute dagger, highlighted by Pele’s feather-like, weighted pass to Carlos Alberto- is poetry in motion.