The year 2025 on the football pitch was defined by moments of breathtaking individual brilliance, where technique, audacity, and power combined to create a catalogue of unforgettable goals. From the Scottish Highlands to the Indian Super League, players produced strikes that will be replayed for years to come, featuring acrobatic volleys, dazzling solo runs, and shots struck from improbable distances.
Thunder from Afar: The Art of the Long-Ranger
Nothing ignites a crowd quite like a goal from long range, and 2025 delivered in spades. Declan Rice announced himself on the ultimate stage by beating the renowned Thibaut Courtois not once, but twice from 25 yards in Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, each shot perfectly nestled in the top corner. Further afield, Kezang Dorji unleashed a howitzer in the Bhutan Premier League, while Kyra Cooney-Cross of Australia spotted the German keeper off her line and floated a sublime 40-yard effort into the net.
The FA Cup witnessed a "top bins" special from James Edmondson for Macclesfield Town at Slough Town, and Kévin Rodrigues produced a dipping strike for Kasımpaşa in Turkey that had "more dip than a rollercoaster in Blackpool". Not to be outdone, Ángel Di María rolled back the years with a late, winning free-kick for his boyhood club, Rosario Central, in the heated derby against Newell's Old Boys.
Acrobatic Excellence and Scorpion Kicks
The year's most eye-catching goals often defied gravity. The standout moment came from Scott McTominay, whose spectacular bicycle kick opened the scoring for Scotland in their crucial 4-2 World Cup qualifying victory over Denmark. This acrobatic theme was echoed globally.
Santiago Montiel of Club Atlético Independiente won the prestigious Puskas Award for a powerful overhead kick after muscling his marker aside. In a blizzard-hit Canadian Premier League final, David Rodríguez scored an "icicle kick" for Atlético Ottawa, and João Neves completed a PSG hat-trick with his second overhead kick of the game, a stunning chest-and-volley into the top corner. Meanwhile, Lizbeth Ovalle earned FIFA's Marta award for a seemingly impossible scorpion kick for Tigres against Guadalajara.
Dazzling Skill and Solo Spectacles
Individual skill was celebrated in numerous goals. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia capped a razor-sharp counter-attack for soon-to-be European champions PSG with a bewitching roll of the studs and a thunderous finish against Aston Villa. Vivianne Miedema showcased sublime close control for the Netherlands, rolling her foot over the ball twice before curling home against Wales.
The solo goal of the year arguably belonged to Micky van de Ven. The Tottenham centre-back channelled Gareth Bale, dribbling from his own box to the opposition's to score spectacularly against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Brazilian legend Marta also provided a masterclass, picking up the ball in the centre circle, leaving two Kansas defenders and the goalkeeper on the floor before slotting home.
The year also had room for dark humour in the form of spectacular own goals. Nick Woltemade of Newcastle powered a bullet header past his own keeper in the Tyne-Wear derby, later receiving a standing ovation from Sunderland fans when substituted. For Leyton Orient, a stunning halfway-line attempt from Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley cannoned off the bar and onto Manchester City keeper Stefan Ortega's back for a cruel, yet memorable, own goal.
From the technical perfection of a 30-yard volley to the raw athleticism of an overhead kick, 2025 proved that the capacity for footballing genius remains limitless, providing a global highlight reel that celebrated the beautiful game in all its forms.
