GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week

Yes, the dreaded international break came this week for Europe’s major domestic leagues, but it wasn’t all bad. In fact, we were treated to quite possibly the best overall collection of golazos in quite some time. There were a few familiar faces, with Neymar grabbing the winner over Colombia with his inch-perfect free kick, and Edinson Cavani scored a sizzling goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Saint-Etienne. There were also several new names to the Golazos countdown. The likes of Ozan Trufan, Jackie Marrero, and John Guidetti all scored goals that would turn heads in any corner of the world. And one of the best bits from this week came from MLS, where Thierry Henry showed that even at 37, he’s one of the best strikers of the ball both past and present. From Mathieu Valbuena’s Russian curler to Filip Starzynski’s bicycle kick, check out The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Tottenham Hotspur v. Liverpool

Competition: English Premier League

Ground: White Hart Lane, London

Liverpool made no secret their desire to capture the signing of Alberto Moreno from Sevilla this summer, and with a run and a goal like this it’s not hard to see why. The Spanish left back muscles the ball off the attacking Spurs player, runs half the length of the pitch, and uncorks a perfectly-angled missile past Lloris in goal. 3-0 to Liverpool has the Reds sitting pretty once again.

Date: 9/5/2014

Match: Brazil v. Colombia

Competition: International Friendly

Ground: Sun Life Stadium, Miami

Much is made about Neymar and his over-exaggeration on fouls, but that negative comes with some sublime positive. Check out this perfectly-placed free kick from the Barcelona man during Brazil’s midweek friendly against Colombia. This would be the match winner as well.

Date: 9/5/2014

Match: Vietnam U19 v. Australia U19

Competition: AFF U19 Championship

Ground: Hanoi Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnamese youngster Cong Phuong sent the Hanoi home crowd into delirium with this spectacular solo golazo against Australia in the AFF U19 Championship. A mesmerizing run, that’s only topped by a neat finish, was deserving of the late match winner.

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Paris Saint-Germain v. Saint-Etienne

Competition: Ligue 1

Ground: Parc des Princes, Paris

After much speculation over a move away from the Parc des Princes this summer, it appears that Edinson Cavani is quite content to be staying in France. The Uruguayan leaves the Saint-Etienne keeper with absolutely no chance at event attempting a save, let alone keeping this shot out of the back of the net. Certainly the pick of the bunch in PSG’s 5-0 thrashing of the 10-time Ligue 1 champions.

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: FC Krasnodar v. Dynamo Moscow

Competition: Russian Premier League

Ground: Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia

If this free kick is any evidence, then it appears as if Mathieu Valbuena has settled into life in Russia quite comfortably early on this season. The former Marseille man gets the perfect bend on this strike from the edge of the area, as he leaves the Krasnodar keeper rooted to his spot. Let us know how you feel come that Russian winter, though, Mathieu.

Date: 9/1/2014

Match: Greuther Furth v. St. Pauli

Competition: 2. Bundeslliga

Ground: Trolli Arena, Furth, Germany

Florian Trinks gets this free kick spot on from the edge of the St. Pauli penalty area. The German attacker measures his distance from goal and goes for placement over power to give Greuther Furth a commanding 3-0 lead. St. Pauli’s keeper does all he can to get a hand to it, but some shots are just unstoppable.​

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Rijeka v. Zadar

Competition: 1. HNL

Ground: Stadion Kantrida, Rijeka, Croatia

Goran Cvijanovic-try saying that three times fast-needs no second invitation to try his luck from the halfway line against Zadar. He spots the keeper off his line, and considering his side was already 4-1 up at the time, why not have a pop at goal. Still, he gets the technique and measurement spot on to score Rijeka’s fifth of the night, and leave the Zadar keeper wondering why he showed up last Sunday.

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Sassuolo v. Cagliari

Competition: Serie A

Ground: Stadio Citta del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Zaza zoom. What a strike from the 23-year-old Italian striker to give his side the lead against Cagliari last Sunday. He does so well to keep himself onsides, lose his defender, and time his one-time volley to perfection. Zaza absolutely lashes this thing into the back of the net.

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Botafogo v. Santos

Competition: Brasileiro Serie A

Ground: Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

Shades of Michael Essien’s howitzer against Arsenal in 2006 come to mind with this fantastic goal from the Brazilian Daniel. Outside of the boot, bending like a shooting star in the night, this golazo from the 20-year-old was worthy of the winner against Santos.

Date: 8/31/2014

Match: Lechia Gdansk v. Ruch Chorzow

Competition: Polish Ekstraklasa

Ground: PGE Arena Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

Shades of Michael Essien’s howitzer against Arsenal in 2006 come to mind with this fantastic goal from the Brazilian Daniel. Outside of the boot, bending like a shooting star in the night, this golazo from the 20-year-old was worthy of the winner against Santos.

Date: 9/3/2014

Match: Denmark v. Turkey

Competition: International Friendly

Ground: TRE-FOR Park, Odense, Denmark

Does it get any better for a 19-year-old than to score a winner of this quality in the 90th minute, while representing his nation? We think not. What a cracker this is from the young Turkish defender to give his side the 2-1 win over Denmark. We have a sneaking feeling that you might here this name mentioned a few more times in the coming years.

Date: 9/3/2014

Match: Puerto Rico v. Curacao

Competition: Caribbean Cup

Ground: Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico isn’t usually associated with the football power houses of the world, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a sweeter goal than this volley from midfielder Jackie Marrero. The Kultsu man gets everything behind this one, and lashes past the Curacao keeper. Ya, we’d run into the stands to celebrate too if we scored a goal like this.

Date: 9/5/2014

Match: Sweden U21 v. Greece U21

Competition: UEFA U21 Championship

Ground: Orjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden

Swedish striker John Guidetti is only 22-years-old, and is currently on loan at Celtic from Manchester City. Those are two pretty big names in world football, and after watching this free kick, you can see why Guidetti has already made his debut for the senior national side. This 30-yard missile would be the opening goal and the winner during Sweeden U21’s 3-0 victory over Greece U21’s.

Date: 9/6/2014

Match: New York Red Bulls v. Sporting KC

Competition: MLS

Ground: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey

Is there any doubt that Thierry Henry would arguably be the greatest striker on Arsenal at the present moment? Just watch this golazo from the 37-year-old that nearly broke the internet last night. He doesn’t look like he even has an angle for the shot, but he uncorks a lazer into the top corner. This would prove to be the match winner in the 52nd minute, because sometimes things work out exactly as they should.

Date: 9/5/2014

Match: Lugano v Fiorentina

Competition: Club Friendly

Ground: Cornaredo stadium, Lugano, Switzerland

We come to it at last. Our top goal this week comes from Fiorentina’s Milan Badelj, during a club friendly against Lugano in Switzerland. The Croatian midfielder was making his debut for the Viola on Friday, and this could go down as the best first day at work ever. First-time volleys are always a thing of beauty, but Badelj’s strike is really on another level. He times his hit to perfection, and smashes it into the top corner. Lugano may have won the game 2-1, but Badelj’s goal is the only talking point that matters after this one.