The 10 Best World Cup Goals So Far
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Netherlands' Robin van Persie scores a goal during the Group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil on June 13.
Image: Bernat Armangue/Associated Press
Never has "GOOOOAL!" been yelled as much as it has been in this World Cup.
A total of 132 goals were scored in the group stages, and every nation competing managed to score a goal. But who had the best goals of the tournament? We have extensively compiled the definitive list of the top 10 goals of the World Cup thus far.
10.) Miroslav Klose
Let's start with a sentimental one.
Germany's Miroslav Klose — with this equalizer against Ghana on Saturday — scored his 15th goal in a World Cup, officially tying Brazil's Ronaldo for the most goals scored in a World Cup.
9.) Silvestre Varela
The goal that crushed USA fans' hopes and dreams...
Although it's a tough pill to swallow, you have to admit that this is some beautiful, high stakes soccer. Cristiano Ronaldo only scored one goal during Portugal's time in the World Cup, but his cross to Silvestre Varela in the final 30 seconds of their game against the USA on Sunday was magical.
Perfectly placed with a wonderful finish from the Portuguese duo.
8.) Thomas Muller
Muller is on track to win the Golden Boot — the prize reserved for the player who scores the most goals in the tournament. With one of the World Cup's two hat tricks thus far in tow, Muller is a fearsome striker (though no one really had to tell you that now).
By far, his most impressive goal, was in the USA vs. Germany game — in the torrential downpours of Recife, Brazil on Thursday. It looks simple, but after a perfectly executed and controlled set piece by Germany, Muller's finish is textbook striking at its finest: one touch, inside of his foot, boom.
The wunderkind from Germany is on track to attack the record 15 World Cup goals shared by Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose with 9 goals in two World Cup showings. This is why.
7.) Clint Dempsey
Image: Mashable, James Dybvig
Fans of the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) will look back at the final seconds of Team USA's game against Portugal, and wonder about what would have happened if they could've hung on for just a while longer.
But if USMNT "lost" a match in group stages in the last 30, they also ran away with one in the first 30 seconds.
Thirty-two seconds into the USA's opening match against Ghana, and captain Clint Dempsey manages to pull off this unbelievable run to put his team on the board — and ultimately win against a Ghanaian team that was looking like Team USA's kryptonite, having knocked them out of the World Cup in 2006 and 2010.
6.) Lionel Messi
Frankly, a Messi set piece is pretty much a guaranteed goal.
5.) Tim Cahill
Cahill called this goal "the best of my career."
He couldn't be more right. This is just a beautiful, beautiful volley by the Socceroo striker and a master class in finishing.
4.) Jermaine Jones
Image: Mashable, James Dybvig
Jones' first goal of the tournament was the one that had USA fans believing in the win against Portugal — a first seed finish in their "Group of Death."
Jones has easily made his case as the standout player from Team USA. Sure, team veterans Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard have performed up to the standards fans are used, but the German-American young blood in Jones, Fabian Johnson and John Brooks has been a delight to watch.
3.) James Rodriguez
A devilishly cheeky chip from Colombia's James Rodriguez in their game against Japan on Tuesday takes the number 3 spot.
With big-name players like Neymar, Messi and Muller leading the race to the Golden Boot, people may be sleeping on James Rodriguez. With three goals in the tournament so far and a first round match against a Suarez-less Uruguay, Rodriguez can definitely add a few more goals to his total — especially if he continues to be this creative.
2.) Lionel Messi...again
Image: Mashable, James Dybvig
People, Messi is a soccer god. Just accept the Church of Messi into your lives already.
What was looking like an impenetrable Iranian defense on Saturday was crushed by the one true ruler of the pitch.
1.) Robin van Persie
The Flying Dutchman.
When your diving header becomes it's own meme, you know you've struck gold.
What's more, the goal displays a whole different level of thinking from a striker. Most strikers would likely try to chest the ball and kick it, but van Persie's thought process was something else. He knew where Spain's Iker Casillas was — showing a vital sense of awareness — and made the correct move.
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Topics: world cup, Entertainment, goals, lionel messi, soccer, Sports
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