Top 10 best last minute goals in football history

Football is always exciting because of its drama and close scores. Nothing shows this more clearly than last minute goals, especially when tension and pressure are high. These goals not only decide titles, cups, or glory but also symbolize extraordinary determination and effort. Although this list cannot be comprehensive, in a sport that has existed for more than 200 years, those great moments are still imprinted in the hearts of fans. Here are the 10 best last minute goals in football history that Kingsoccertips has compiled, the moments when the ball hits the net that have shaped legends.

Top 10 Greatest Last-Minute Goals in History

10. Nacer Chadli: Belgium 3-2 Japan (2018 World Cup – Round of 16)

Picture this. It’s the summer of 2018 and the FIFA World Cup is underway as Japan take on Belgium in a huge last-16 tie in Rostov. The Samurai Blue have been heaping praise on the team but Belgium were the favourites until… Japan scored twice in the second half, leaving the Red Devils with work to do.

The lead didn’t last long as Jan Vertonghen’s powerful header gave Belgium a glimmer of hope before Marouane Fellaini levelled things up. Japan were the better side, though, creating chance after chance but failing to find the net in the final third as Belgium were forced into extra-time.

Then came the moment, a powerful counter-attack and for a moment Lukaku had a chance. He leapt over it, Japan watching in amazement as Nacer Chadli charged at the far post and curled the finish home.

9. Ben Watson: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Manchester City (2013 FA Cup – Final)

The 2012/13 season is over and the FA Cup final is on TV with Manchester City once again in contention. They were beaten by Manchester United in the title race, surprisingly beaten by Aston Villa in the EFL Cup final and are looking for a trophy. Surprisingly, Wigan Athletic are standing in their way and few would have given the Lactics a chance of winning the trophy.

However, for 90 minutes they held their own, creating plenty of chances and causing City a few problems when Roberto Mancini’s side were down to 10 men. But still, 1 minute into 3 minutes of added time and no goal as Shaun Maloney took a corner.

It was perfect, Ben Watson jumped highest and the 80,000 Wembley fans held their breath as the ball flew past Joe Hart and into the net. Just like that, Wigan Athletic’s 81-year trophy drought was over… even if they were relegated from the Premier League.

8. Fabio Grosso: Italy 1-0 Germany (2006 FIFA World Cup – semi-final)

Everyone, football fans and those who have never heard of the game, knows what happened in the 2006 World Cup final. But the semi-finals had their share of drama, with both games being tense affairs for the finalists. It was more tense for Italy than France as they faced Germany, a clear favourite for the title.

But the Azzurri’s defensive play kept the game scoreless until the final minutes of extra time when Italy stepped up to take a corner. It wasn’t a great cross and was well cleared by Germany but the ball fell to Pirlo on the edge of the box. He dribbled, passed the ball to Fabio Grosso without looking, who swung his foot in. Boom!! 1-0 to Italy.

Grosso sprinted half the length of the pitch, Buffon the other as the Germans watched in amazement. So stunned was Alessandro Del Piero that a second goal just minutes later sealed the win.

7. Sergio Ramos: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (2013/14 Champions League final)

With Real Madrid chasing La Decima, only cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid stood in their way in the 2013/14 Champions League final as Diego Simeone’s side took an early lead. Los Rojiblancos had lifted the La Liga title that season and were on course for a historic double.

Then Atleti took the lead in the 36th minute and from then on, Simeone’s players did what they do best and parked the bus. They defended superbly, holding their lines tight and Real Madrid were outplayed as Los Blancos tried, tried, tried, and tried for an equaliser. It looked like it was all over when Real Madrid stepped up to take the final corner in the 94th minute.

It would be the last kick of the ball as Sergio Ramos rose highest and headed the ball into the net, leaving everyone watching in awe. The game went into extra time… and Real Madrid scored three more goals to lift La Decima.

6. Arjen Robben: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich (2012/13 Champions League final)

Borussia Dortmund won the 2011/12 Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal but Bayern Munich snatched both trophies from the Germans this season. So much so that Klopp’s side finished runners-up to Bayern in both competitions but they reached the Champions League final to face… Bayern Munich. They had one last chance to make something happen and they tried as Dortmund piled on the pressure.

Chance after chance followed but the breakthrough only came in the second half through Mandžukić before Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot. It looked like both sides were waiting for extra time but then, with just a minute left, Franck Ribery backheeled the ball to Arjen Robben. He outran a tired defence, narrowly missing the goalkeeper, to stun Dortmund once again.

5. Troy Deeney: Watford 3-2 (ag) Leicester City (2012/13 Championship play-off semi-final second leg)

The stage was set. Watford were 2-1 up from the second leg and, as Leicester City had won 1-0 in the first leg, the game went into extra time with the clock hitting 95. Then the Foxes won a penalty, Anthony Knockaert stepped up and the stadium fell silent as Vicarage Road watched. He took it, Manuel Almunia saved it, Knockaert picked up the rebound, Almunia saved it again.

And then….it was history. Watford flew forward, down the right, the pass was perfect for Hogg, who headed the ball into the path of Troy Deeney. His run was perfect, the gap was open and Deeney slotted the ball into the net as Vicarage Road exploded with joy. 19 seconds from penalty to goal, 19 seconds for football legend.

4. Andres Iniesta: Spain 1-0 Netherlands (2010 FIFA World Cup Final)

Spain’s first ever World Cup final and it was their golden generation up against a resilient but entertaining Netherlands side led by Bert van Marwijk. They had, after all, managed to reach the World Cup final, beating Uruguay and Brazil along the way while Spain had beaten Paraguay and Germany. That meant that while both sides hit double figures for shots, the game went into extra time.

Even then, nothing could separate the two teams as the clock ticked down in the final minutes of the second period of extra time as Spain played out from the back. The ball fell to Fernando Torres, whose pass was intercepted but found Cesc Fabregas, who passed it to Andres Iniesta in the box. A tap with his right foot and then… BANG!!!! The Spaniard fired the ball into the net past a helpless Maarten Stekelenburg.

3. Michael Thomas: Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool (1988/89 Championship Final)

Because of the Hillsborough disaster, the 1988/89 season was extended by a few months and that meant this game was moved up to after the FA Cup final. Liverpool won but were fighting hard to win the title against Arsenal but they were three points ahead going into the final. That also meant the Gunners had to win and for goal difference they needed to win by at least two goals.

History was against the Gunners as Liverpool had not lost by two or more goals at Anfield for three years while Arsenal had not won there for fifteen. But then Alan Smith scored, eight minutes into the second half and the fans were hoping for a miracle.

However, Liverpool held on tight but with less than two minutes remaining a long ball was played forward. Smith delivered the ball into space, finding the onrushing Michael Thomas, who got past Steve Nicol and scored the iconic goal that sealed the title.

2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1998/99 Champions League Final)

Both teams went into the Champions League final aiming to complete a treble, having already won the league and cup in their respective countries. But Bayern Munich took the lead in the sixth minute, which meant Manchester United’s hopes were dashed. Or were they? The Red Devils fought back but Bayern held on to hold on to their lead.

That was until the 90th minute when the Red Devils stepped up for a corner. David Beckham fired in a shot, which fell to Dwight Yorke but was cleared and Ryan Giggs swung it in. The ball didn’t go in well but Teddy Sheringham was in the right place and put it in the net 36 seconds into extra time. It was 1-1 and play resumed but 30 seconds later and it was back to the corner.

Beckham again, this time finding Sheringham in the box, his header weak but flying across goal where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was waiting. His toe-poke was perfect and the rest is history.

1. Sergio Aguero: Manchester City 3-2 QPR (2011/12 Premier League Final)

Ten games at once, two teams fighting for the title and only one team winning, sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It’s the 2011/12 season and both Manchester clubs are tied at the top of the table on points with a game in hand but City have a better goal difference.

Then QPR go 2-1 up until stoppage time and suddenly everything changes. Manchester United fans are celebrating, having beaten Sunderland, another title when Dzeko equalises in the 92nd minute. Hope returns to City fans but it takes two minutes before Mario Balotelli plays Sergio Aguero into the box. The Argentine doesn’t miss and City lift their first title in over 40 years.

Conclusion

The best last minute goals in football history are more than just thrilling moments; they encapsulate the very spirit of the game. Whether it’s Aguero’s title-clinching strike or Solskjaer’s Champions League winner, these goals represent the unpredictability and drama that make football truly captivating. They remind us that in football, the final whistle is never the end until the last second has passed, leaving us with memories that last a lifetime. These iconic moments are a testament to the magic and excitement that only football can deliver.

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