Scorum / england

Image Source Good day people of Scorum. It's always a great pleasure to interact with us here despite the world currently being ravaged by a common enemy, "Covid-19." However, Scorum has continued to survive through the bear market, coronavirus scare and shortage of funds, but I am glad that passion for Sports and what we believe in have continued to drive the activities of some of us here. The past few weeks, I have noticed the implementation of ads on the platform, which is to me, a nice indication that the team are still committed to the development of this project. Just like Sir @Pete will always say, the next crypto wave will see great adoption and activities on the platform and the product itself. So what are you still waiting for, get back in and let's continue to do what we know how to do best. THE CONTEST Source Earlier this month, the Scorum team launched a contest titled "The best goal in History." This is probably one of the biggest Contests I have seen on the platform, and I don't know why someone will hesitate to participate in this contest. I have never been more indecisive in my life than now. I have seen lots of great goals and settling for one as my best in the history of football is really a tough one. For more than 8 days now since the official announcement for this contest was published, I have combed the entire soccer universe in order to settle with my best goal in history, and I am glad I have finally settled for a goal that meets my parameters. What Parameters Did I use to Settle for The best Goal in History: Image source Has anyone scored something similar in the game? Yes, I had to consider if any other player in the history of football has scored a similar goal or something close to that. It is the uniqueness of such goal that appeals to me. If it's a goal another player in history has done something similar or close to it, then I will have to use other Parameters to judge both goals. How difficult it is to score such a goal? Very well, I had to drag this in as a factor to help me arrive at a conclusion bereft of sentimental attachments. Was it really easy to score that goal, the accuracy, the spontaneity, the skill applied in execution and the ability to read the opponent's mind before hitting the ball. How far the scorer was from the opponent's goal post? Actually, I also had to bring this factor to the fore. This is because scoring long range goals is not a football ritual we get to enjoy everyday. Watching the ball pierce through or navigate itself in the atmosphere for longer seconds untrammelled before landing in the back of the net, has a special kind of scintillation and suspense that comes with it. Did the goal win any accolade, and what's the pedigree of such award? I actually had to also consider this before finally pitching my tent with my best Goal in the history of football. Apart from the said goal winning an award for the player, what is the class of such award in football world. Did it only win a regional recognition, was it a particular league recognition or did the award have a wider coverage? Of course, I had to settle with a goal that emerged after most of the goals in other leagues across the world had been assessed. Was the Goal Instinctive or did the player have ample time to think? This parameter is very important if I'm to get my choice of the best goal right. I had to analyze which goal is more unlikely to hit the back of the net. Is it an instinctive goal which the player hits under the heat of the moment, or is it a goal that the player had to analyze how to hit the ball. The time from they had to calculate and settle before hitting the ball into the net. Of course, I naturally picked the goal that came with instinct and gave the player little or no time to think before taking the shot. Comments Of Football Experts and Respected Personalities About the Goal. Yes, I always pay attention to the opinion of experts in a certain field of endeavour before arriving at some conclusions in relation to that profession. So I listened to see and hear their rating of the goal I picked as the best in the history of football. This gives me room for transparency and reasonability in making a choice due to how difficult it is to settle for a goal. In conclusion, any Goal which does not pass the above listed parameters can't emerge as my best goal in the history of football, irrespective of how attached I am to a player or Club. ______________________________________________________________________________ THE TOP FIVE PLAYERS WHOM I HAD TO CHOOSE THE BEST GOAL FROM Image source Please don't misunderstand this list. I had to finally pick out these five players for my best goal in history of the game, after assessing over hundreds of other players and their goals. This is one of the major reason why this blog is coming now. I had to keep eliminating players until I was left with these five listed players. One of the major reasons why I had to settle for these five players in order to pick one is because they are still actively playing football and I have also watched them score those goals I will be picking from. Below are their names in no particular order: ______________________________________________________________________________JAMES RODRIGUEZ Source James is certainly one the best players in European football and most teams will be glad to see him in their line up. The 28 year old Real Madrid player hails from Columbia, and is one of their best players currently. Young James is an attacking midfielder and a winger who has played for top clubs in Europe including Porto, Monaco and even Bayern Munich(on Loan) before returning to the Santiago Bernabeu. James' Goal: Blessed with a magnetic and swift left foot, James is a prolific goal scorer on a very good day, even as an attacking midfielder. Among all his goals, It was the goal he scored against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup that got my attention the most. That goal is still reputed as James' best career goal. A thundering left foot volley not too long from the 18 yard box, saw Rodriguez roof the only Goal that sent their opponents packing from the world Cup round of 16. That goal later won the Puskas award that year. Is It my best goal? NO! While the goal was very instinctive, won a high pedigree award and skillfully executed, I think I have seen similar volleys or goals of that sort, so it's not a unique goal. Also, it was not too far from the goal line. Having failed to meet up with some of my parameters, I hereby state that James' goal is not my best goal in the history of football. Click here to watch James' goal on YouTube ______________________________________________________________________________CHRISTIANO RONALDO Image source C. Ronaldo needs no much introduction as long as football is concerned. He hails from Portugal and scoring goals is his hobby. Blessed with great pace, shot power and height to jump above defenders in aerial balls, Ronaldo's scoring ritual has seen him win the Ballon d'Or Award five good times. In his peak, he fired Madrid to three consecutive UEFA champions league glory. Ronaldo's Goal: I have seen this guy net many goals, but his goal against Porto in their Champions league second leg match is considered as his best. The Portuguese striker launched a 40 yards outside 18 bombshell into the net for his then club Manchester United. Scoring goals from such a distance is no easy feat, and I wasn't surprised when it won the inaugural Puskas Award in 2009. Is it my best goal? NO! While this Goal must have won a prestigious award and scored from such a distance, it still didn't cross my benchmark to become me best goal in the history of football. Yes, he must have employed a powerful hit to send the ball into the top left corner of the post, but it's not a Unique goal, because I have seen players score goals from even half of the pitch. Click here to watch Ronaldo's goal on YouTube ______________________________________________________________________________NEYMAR Jr Source The name Neymar Jr is not new to many as far as football is concerned, and your list of top players may lack credibility if he is not there. Hails from Brazil and one of their finest players in recent times. The 28 year old is currently playing for PSG in France, and had formerly played for Santos in Brazil and Barcelona in Spain. The Brazilian forward is a prolific goalscorer, and one of his goals caught my attention too. Neymar's Goal: Blessed with very swift and skillful moves, the pacy Brazilian dribbled his way past few Flamengo defenders to net arguably, his best career goal. It was in a Campeonato Brazileiro Seria A that he scored the goal, after a one-two passes with his teammates from the middle of the pitch. It was a great goal and also won the 2011 Puskas award. Is it my best goal? NO! Despite Neymar's goal winning the Puskas and arguably very impressive with a skillful dribble, it still doesn't meet my standards or Parameters to become the best goal in history. I have seen players dribble their way from the middle of the pitch to the box, and still scores. Also, the distance wasn't too far from the goal line. So Neymar's goal isn't the best. Click here to watch Neymar's goal on YouTube ______________________________________________________________________________LIONEL MESSI Source Not sure there is any human who is yet to hear this name, even in their dream lands. Lionel Messi hails from Argentina and plays for Barcelona. He is arguably the best player that has played the game of soccer, thus, he is being referred to as the G.O.A.T(Greatest Of All Time). He has won the Ballon d'Or 6 times and the only player to achieve that feat. He is a playmaker and a prolific goal Scorer. Let's see if his goal qualifies as the best in the history of the game. Messi's Goal: No doubt, Messi's goal against Getafe in 2007 remains his best goal. He was just 19 years old and pulling such stunt showed how great this guy is. Dribbling his way past every single Getafe player from the middle of the pitch and still netted the goal, tempted me to brand the goal the best in the history of the game. We don't get to see such goals anymore and it's almost impossible for anyone to replicate such feat now. Is it my best goal? NO! Being a Barcelona fan and Messi faithful, many would have expected me to pick his goal as the best in the history of the game. In as much as I would have loved to, Messi's goal failed some of my tests and my hands are tied. His Goal received no high pedigree award, probably because the Puskas award was yet to be inaugurated by then. Also, his goal isn't unique as I have watched Maradona score almost the same goal in his days. Also, the goal was scored from close range, thereby not meeting my distance consideration. All these and many more made me not to pick Messi's goal as the best. Click here to watch Messi's goal on YouTube FINALLY, HERE COMES THE BEST GOAL IN HISTORY: Introducing The Scorpion King Image source When you talk about a football player who operates on a different realm, crowns and worships only himself, there is only one name that comes to mind and that is "ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC." In football, there are always arguments or topics which we all will never agree on. However, I don't think there is a debate from any quarter as regards who scores the most unbelievable goals in the history of football. Zlatan may be described as one the world's greatest players who has been very unfortunate not to have won the UEFA champions league, Ballon d'Or or even the World Cup. Talk of a man that has left his mark across all the clubs he has featured, winning almost all the leagues he played. I couldn't have found a goal that passes my parameters from any other player if not from Zlatan. ______________________________________________________________________________ On Monday the 13th of January 2013, the Swedish former international and his country's highest goal scorer, received the prestigious annual FIFA Puskas Award. The award which was set up in October 2009 during the reign of Sepp Blatter as FIFA President, is normally given to the player who scores the most beautiful goal in a year. The award serves as a tribute to one of soccer greatest goal scorers. "It is important to preserve the memory of those footballing greats who have left their mark on our history. Ferenc Puskás was not only a player with immense talent who won many honours, but also a remarkable man. FIFA is therefore delighted to pay tribute to him by dedicating this award to his memory," said Blatter at the inauguration of the award ceremony which took place in Budapest.THE GAME Image source To think this was a friendly game between Sweden and England still baffles me. How could such a match be a friendly encounter, after all the Jawbreaking stunts we saw there. Roy Hodgson's side came into the game still fresh from their disappointing EURO 2012 outing. Many would have expected "The Three Lions" to pacify their angry fans with that game. Come to think of it, it was actually Steven Gerrard's 100th cap for England, and what a scintillating memory it would have been for the Liverpool legend if he had secured a win. There were also other events or circumstances which placed that game above the usual friendly games we're used to. The game was also the opening of the new Friends Arena in Stockholm, so the frenzy was really high. Despite playing without Frank Lampard and Rooney, England started the match pretty well and everything was moving according to plan until the Scorpion, Ibrahimovic stung! Zlatan who was still playing for PSG then, captained Sweden in the match, and of course, he proved what it means to be a leader. For Zlatan, it was time to silent his English critics who never saw him as a player that proves his mettle on the big stage, especially for the Swedish national team. He had waited for that day and as the game unfolded, he released his venom to silent his detractors. With 12 minutes left in the clock and England still leading by 2-1, they wouldn't have been a better time to turn the table against his foes. That was when he netted a hat trick to bring his goals for the day to four. However, it was Ibrahimovic's fourth goal that tore down the sky. It was unthinkable, unbelievable and nothing of such had ever happened in the history of football, even the Greek gods won't argue this. Zlatan may be a man who talks in high volumes about his superhuman abilities, but he actually does what he says and you can't beat him to it. IBRAHIMOVIC'S GOAL: Source Anyone who watched that friendly game between Sweden and England that day must have been seen screaming. None of us have seen such a goal before, not even in video games. How do you explain to your kids that Zlatan is a human and nothing more. That last goal against England which won him the Puskas award was actually his fourth goal in that game that ended 4-2 in Favour of Sweden. We've witnessed players score bicycle kicks or overhead kicks within the goal line area or even slightly outside the 18 yard box, yes, that's nothing out of the moon. However, for Ibrahimovic to score a bicycle kick from 35 yards, that's something unheard of. Never has anyone done that, I have never read about it neither have I seen a clip of that Nature. _______________________________________ "Sometimes you feel you're looking at a computer game where you can do all these incredible things. Because that's not possible to do that, that fourth goal." Sweden head coach Erik Hamren said after the game, still looking stunned by the wonders he saw in that game. Click here to watch Ibrahimovic's goal on YouTube Image Source Going by my above listed parameters to pick the best goal in history, this particular goal passes all tests. Truth is, no one has ever scored a similar goal from such long range, if any, please kindly let me know. This alone makes the goal stay afloat from other goals in the ocean. It is unique and the first of its kind. Also, looking at how difficult that goal is, it really deserved to win the Puskas award. It will take great skill and calculation to perform such stunt in football again, and I don't see anyone scoring a better goal any time soon. Still considering the parameters. ______________________________________________________________________________ Looking at the long range(about 35 yards) from where a human being launched a bicycle kick that went into the goal, that's terrifying. The Goal also won a prestigious award. Even Ibrahimovic himself never knew he won't be able to replicate such goal again. Though when asked if that was the best goal of his career, he said "No - but it's the one I've enjoyed most. When I got the long ball, I saw the goalkeeper come out, and I thought, 'Should I go in for the duel, or wait for him to put it out?' When he put it out, I had it in my mind to score - to try to score. I tried to put it in the goal and when I was on the ground, I saw a defender trying to get it, and I wanted to scream 'No' but the ball went in." He told the Telegraph. Thank you so much for having the patience to read through. Do you agree with my choice of the best goal in history? Feel free to drop your opinion and criticisms in the comment section. Have a Great day!😉