The Biggest Ever Goal

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0:40The biggest goals might be scored on the pitch, but the next big moment could be right outside your door. Is your door in the draw? Sign up by midnight, 30th November, for your chance to win a share of£38.2 million at postcodelottery.co.uk. People's Postcode Lottery manage lotteries on behalf of good causes. 18 plus conditions apply. Play responsibly. Not available in Northern Ireland.

1:17Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. It's a somewhat special episode today. We're going to discuss the most important thing in football. And the reason is that the People's Postcode Lottery have their biggest ever prize pot in the December draws. So it feels like the right moment to talk about football's biggest ever goals. So how firstly, Alan, Micah, do we, and I know this goes against you a little bit, Micah, because you're one of those people that try to stop goals. But when we say the biggest ever goals, is that their significance?

1:57Is it how good the goal was? Is it the moment? That's what I was going to ask you. Is it the most important? Is it your favourite? Is it your best? Because I think there might be different sort of categories, you know? We can discuss all. We can discuss our own personal biggest goals as well. I've got a few of those. Well, yeah. Shall we start from bottom to top? I'll go I shouldn't say long how many did you score big meets it doesn't matter I don't it does I scored for England that's all that matters yeah three layers people can see that not many people can see that exactly who's that against again remind us Israel I rose like a salmon in the air you know what I did come though you know what it was right Let me explain to people, because I've got energy today.

2:53For some reason, I've got loads of energy today. When the set-piece taker used to spin the ball like that, it was easier for the defenders to get a header. So whether you're going in-swing or out-swing, I know I had the biggest leap out of anyone I've ever played with. Really? I'm not exaggerating. Do you think so? Even someone like Cristiano Ronaldo is known for his springy leap. on all the tests, the jumping tests and all that sort of thing. And my first goal, my first goal for Man City was in the FA Cup for Man City against Villa. And Joey Barton was playing and he kept fizzing them in, fizzing them in, fizzing them in.

3:36I said, just drive it. You know, them lofty ones, because I'll win it. I'll score a goal. Exact same thing for England. I went into the England dressing room and I said, come on, boys, I can be the difference. Just trust me. was that for you your biggest ever goal Michael has to be doesn't it but the one for England was my biggest ever goal and that header against Israel like I said rose up there hang time passer goalkeeper victorious we was victorious magnificent I love it I mean you scored one or two more goals than Micah Alan what I mean it's quite hard what were your the biggest goal you've ever scored or the best goal however you want to describe it the best yeah this is where I find this really difficult because the best and I don't know the most important or favourite I think there's different categories I think my best ever goal was my volley for Newcastle against Everton at St James that was some goal I would say that was my best goal I think my favourite goal would be when I broke my dad's hero, Jackie Milburner, when I broke his record at Newcastle.

4:54But I think one of my most important ones would have been when I scored for England in Euro 96 because I hadn't scored for two years. That's probably your biggest goal because it makes the most difference. I mean, even though probably not your best goal. I think that's how I define biggest goals. The one, if we're talking personally and we'll come on to obviously the biggest goals ever scored latterly. But I would say my biggest goal was very, very similar circumstances to yours. The first one I scored against Poland in Mexico in 1986 because I'd gone a few games, not as long as you, obviously, without scoring a goal.

5:33But I had gone about five games without a goal for England. And first two games went very close to scoring, got one cleared off the line, but still didn't score. And then I thought I'd be left out. I wasn't left out. The first goal, actually a bit of Everton, it was Trevor Stephen to Gary Stephens and he did a little near post ball and I slid in at the near post. Not the greatest goal ever, but for me the biggest goal in my life because it transformed my life going from someone trying to make his way in international football, who's doing well domestically to suddenly being known around the world, finish up with a golden boot and move to Barcelona two weeks later.

6:14yeah that took him all of four minutes to get Barcelona in my game yes I've got the time around for this I've got my hat-trip I've got my World Cup hat-trip my golden boot and Barcelona all in one paragraph I mean come on yeah unbelievable yeah that's the the biggest boast ever Gaz you know I was speaking to someone and I can't remember who I was speaking to and I said have you got any stories on Gaz football stories obviously obviously and they just said you were unbelievable. You know, like we play down your I don't play it down. We have a bit of jokes. Well, I don't play it down. But apparently you were unbelievable.

6:53But there's no footage. I'm not able to take any power. I've just been dunked into the World Football Hall of Fame, Micah. I must have been alright. You know, the best part about that, the best part is, and there's no footage. There's zero evidence of that. I mean, what a thing to say. Apparently, you're all right. I mean, you must be pretty good if you get 48 goals, was it, Gads? 48 goals, yeah. I'll drop that in. Play for Barcelona, play for Everton, top numbers. You must be pretty good. I mean, you say that one, Chan, this is, I mean, that's, you know, when we talk about, like, you've got your record, I've got one or two records, you know, what's, you know, But when someone challenges that record, like say if Haaland gets close to you and you get to a certain age and you're not that far behind me, you're a decade behind me, but it will happen to you.

7:55People are reminded of how good you are because they see that graphic with you permanently at the top. Now, I'm at the top of the World Cup one for England, goal score for England. slightly braggadocious again but it's a fact but Harry Kane this summer is too behind me and I suspect he'll probably go ahead I very much hope he does because we need him to have a great World Cup to win it but what it does when those things come up it actually reminds people that he used to play football and we were actually quite good at it Alan because most people of a certain age they think oh they just do TV oh he must have played a bit at one point he just sold crisps all his life or whatever it is that kind of thing no we actually play I'm not I'm actually not looking forward to getting to your age and some young whippersnapper come in and see there's no footage of you Alan there's no footage what a sad day for football at least at least yours is in colour mine's in black and white I saw one of your goals the other day Alan which one Micah When you held off Desailly and you turned and smacked.

9:08That goal there. Because I was thinking, what is he going to do here? He was thundercised, wasn't he, Ali? Give it a good smack. Give it a good smack. And I thought, you don't see that goal anymore in football. Held him off, got a yard, didn't think about passing, and just you knew where the goal was. and I was like yes yes Alan yes that's what I want that's like old school old school that's the difference guys when you've got the footage around Mike I can have a look at the old goals you see I'm going to I'm going to be looking at YouTube for the next six hours trying to find one of mine your biggest goal for me though it has to be Blackburn you've got to talk us through that one again oh my gosh the footage the footage the certainly footage of that one yeah Remind us Go on remind us So what it was I'd moved from From right back To centre half Because it's chop and change You know I was Versatile Versatile The ball comes to me And he's anticipating What's in front of you So am I going to go Left Am I going to go right Am I going to clear it The first touch is As Alan would say Magnificent Which is good Considering you're pretty blind I do not jest correct so I'll take one touch now you know what it's like you had a bit of pace you had a little bit of flair so you tell me then you break the line and then someone else comes so then you do that thing where you drop your shoulder you drop it you drop it one way you go the other so I'm running forward now I'm tired at this point you know when you've run 60 yards and you're knackered I had a big arse tonight back then you know he was carrying the bunda around with you what do you mean back then I looked to me left I seen nobody I looked to me right I seen Ben Jarny I thought oh god but I'm tired so I've got to pass to him I pass the ball to him off the post and who's there for the rebound Big Meeks himself what a goal that was what a player what a player what a player on that note we'll take a little breather to get over the emotion of that goal and when we come back we'll have the biggest ever second half of a podcast in history this episode is brought to you by People's Postcode Lottery the players aren't just creating winners they're changing lives through football Charities like Street Soccer Scotland Players have raised over£1.4 million Using football to build confidence, connection and hope They run weekly sessions for those facing homelessness, addiction or mental health challenges Giving them a team who supports them They also back the Newcastle United Foundation Something close to home for me Thanks to the players of People's Postcode Lottery they've raised over£3.3 million to help people across the region live healthier, happier lives.

12:30From schools to local clubs, it's football opening doors and welcoming people in. Players have raised over£1.5 billion so far, supporting charities and good causes like these across Great Britain and beyond. Is your door in the draw? Sign up by midnight, 30th of November, for your chance to win a share of£38.2 million at postcodelottery.co.uk. People's Postcode Lottery, managed lotteries on behalf of good causes, 18+. Conditions apply, play responsibly, not available in Northern Ireland.

13:09Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richards and me, Gary Lineker. We're discussing the biggest goals ever scored. What about ones in games that you've played in, but you didn't score yourself? It can either be a teammate or someone from the opposition. Whilst you two think mine's easy, and you'll probably know what it was. I watched a certain Diego Armando Maradona march from the halfway line in 1986. Yes, 1986, Michael, way before you were born. and it was the thing of brilliance if it had been against anybody else I would have been up on my feet I was still up on my feet but I was a bit disappointed but felt I got to applaud really but you know he got it on the halfway line he did that amazing little turn the pitch was bumpy horrible almost unplayable and he just went I think he went past Butcher about three times he left Peter Reid trailing in his wake as he went He went past Fennick.

14:12Now, Fennick had had a yellow card already because Fenn was, let's say, an old school defender. He did like taking people out and he would have definitely tried. He probably would have failed. And then he went around Schiltz very, very easily and then poked it in, barely touching the ball with his right foot. And when you say biggest goal ever, right? So this is why I always put that one in there, because I think you've also got to take into account perhaps the circumstances. So you've got England against Argentina in a quarterfinal of a World Cup. There have been goals scored that are similar to that, individual goals from the halfway line.

14:50Not quite in the level of yours, Micah, against Blackburn. But to do that in a game as well that had, there were other things around it. The two countries had been at war just two or three years before, the Falklands or Las Malvinas, as they like to call it. So, you know, that was being built up by the press a lot. The players themselves just wanted to focus on the football match. But then given all that history, recent history, and given the occasion, a World Cup, I think that's hard to beat, personally. You've set a tough high bar there, Gaz. Yeah, but you can come up with, you know, the goals that you've seen in a game that were unbelievably brilliant.

15:33It's a different one. Yeah, two for me, Gary. One for England when Gaza was my teammate, England-Scotland, Euro 96. When he knocked it past his old mate Andy Gorham in goal and he lobbed it over Colin Hendry, I think it was. And then the old celebration. Dentist chair. Yeah, it was an unbelievable goal. It was just typical Gaza, how he was able to make it look. Stupidly easy, of course, which is not many people in world football would be able to do that. and the way he carried the ball and flicked it and then finished it. And then Wayne Rooney, Man United against Newcastle, Old Trafford, when he hit that volley, he had the bend on it.

16:11Is that the one where he was moaning at the referee? Yeah, that was the one where he was having a right pop with the referee and I was right beside it, right behind it. And I seen the sort of bend. I mean, it was ridiculous and the keeper diving for it. He was never, ever getting it. And I think he tells a story. He was about to be substituted. he was about to come off I think he was but not after that it was an incredible goal does yours feature won't ruin you Micah the one that you see the over head kick you were right there and he shinned it though he shinned it that's the worst thing about it he absolutely shinned it and it wasn't my man we've talked about this many times before Vincent Kompany go see the footage he slips at the vital moment and I looked like an absolute idiot thinking I can get there.

17:02I was nowhere near it and it flies into the top corner and guess who gets blamed afterwards? Me. What about one that you've witnessed on a teammate? Would you have to go Aguero, wouldn't you? Even though I know you won't play and you were disappointed but by the end, by the end. By the end, yeah. I think the biggest best was Alano's free kick. I think it was against Newcastle. I remember seeing that. It was against Newcastle. I remember seeing that. It was unbelievable. I was right behind it. It drilled into the top corner. I've never seen anything like that before on a pitch. But then the Aguero moment.

17:40That's definitely the biggest moment. The biggest. Biggest goal moment. It's iconic, isn't it? It's iconic, isn't it? Iconic, yeah. Never happen again, that, will it? Never happen again. Just everything about it. The situation, the commentary, the importance. It was incredible, yeah. I think that's the most iconic Premier League one, yeah. Agreed. Okay, we're agreed on that. But will we agree on the biggest goal ever by anyone, anytime? There's only one. Well, there's not only one. There's not only one. But Roberto Carlos' free kick against France. How long were I? Was that in the tournament for the last England captain to lift a trophy?

18:26What have I done? Don't bring it down. Fika. What was the last time it blew one silverware, was it? That was it. 1997. Le Tournois. The only three teams, innit? I mean, for crying out loud. Le Tournois. Le Tournois. That goal. That was unbelievable, wasn't it? Come on, guys. Roberto Carlos. How much bend did he have? He was full. It looked like AI didn't it? It didn't look real. How's he done that? Yeah. Technical genius. You can see how far it started out and the bend, it was, it was, it was like something you've never seen before, the movement on that ball. That's my favourite ever goal. Yeah.

19:08What's yours, Al? I don't know, Zidane's volley? Oh, yeah. That or Carlos Alberto? Oh, yes. Yeah. Gareth Bale's overhead kit wasn't bad in the final. I always think you need to, but it needs a big occasion. If you're going to say the biggest goal ever, it's got to be. So I'd also, I mean, I'd go back to my previous thing in a game I played in with Diego and I always will think that was the best goal ever because of the conditions and stuff. But imagine scoring an overhead kick and it was extraordinary the way he did it as well. In a Champions League final. Final, yeah. I mean, wow. Hey, I've just remembered as well, Marco van Basten's volley oh my god yes Euros final 1988 against Russia Russia yeah yeah believable volley right before we finish we've got to have a definitive answer on the biggest goal ever you know my thoughts are on Diego Maradona but I also should probably shout out the other goal in that game because that was certainly probably the most famous goal ever scored followed by the best goal ever scored Yeah, when he punched it in.

20:23The hand of God moment. We haven't even mentioned any of Messi's goals. He could probably have about 300 contenders for some of the ridiculous ones that he's scored, including a very, very similar one to Maradona's in his early days. It's remarkably similar to the goal he scored against England, not the hand one. But you have to take into, I think, account that this was a World Cup quarter-final. So I'm going with Diego. Your biggest goal ever? I'm not going to argue with that, guys. I just think because of isn't it bonkers that you get two goals like that in one game and the importance of that game is crazy wasn't it so I wouldn't argue with that I wouldn't take that away from Maradona we said biggest didn't we so I'll agree with the guys we'll go with Maradona well he went on to score two against Belgium in the semi-final one of those was unbelievably good as well and thankfully he didn't score in the final so someone else won the golden boot by the way to finish out I ain't good about that boom boom Just like in football, anyone can have their big moment.

21:24People's Postcode Lottery are giving players that chance with their biggest ever prize pot in the December draws. But for now, goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.

21:46This Biggest Ever Goals episode was brought to you by People's Postcode Lottery. Their December draws are the biggest ever too. A share of £38.2 million to be won with you and your neighbours lining up on the same team sheet. Yep, no offside flag or VAR review. Just your postcode clean through on goal. And while the headlines might go to the goals on the pitch, off it, players have already raised over£1.5 billion for good causes across Great Britain and beyond. That's 30 % of every ticket going straight to charities and community projects. The kind of stat you actually want on the board. While the game's decided on the pitch, others find glory a little closer to home.

22:33Is your door in the draw? Sign up by midnight the 30th of November for your chance to win a share of £38.2 million at postcodelottery.co.uk People's Postcode Lottery manage lotteries on behalf of good causes. 18 plus conditions apply, play responsibly, not available in Northern Ireland.