Top 10 Best Header Goals in Football History - Ranked

The charm of football has grown because of its goal scorers, with header goals putting the cherry on top. In the modern day, fast-paced games require a great amount of athleticism from the attackers to convert the headers into goals. Ever wonder best header goals in football history? Are. Any player can score a goal using the feet, but to execute a header goal, a player must possess a sense of the defender’s presence and receive the ball at the right time inside the penalty box.

A perfect leap at the ideal moment, defender-deceiving skills and positional awareness are the most needed weapons the strikers must have in their arsenal to score a perfect header. Since the inception of football, many players have made it a habit to score using their heads. Well-known players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Robin Van Persie, and Sergio Ramos have recorded their names on the list of the best header goal in football history. In this article, we are going to explore the top 10 best header goals in football history.

List of Best Headed Goals in Football History

The table given below consists of a list of top 10 best header goals in football history. Many notable players on the list have made history scoring these sensational goals through headers.

Who has the Best Header in Football History?

Now, let's move on to the depth of each best headed goals in football history as per our listing. From Luis Garcia's heroics in Liverpool shirt to Champions League stunners, they have secured a spot in the list of top 10 best header goals in football history.

10. Luis García (2005 vs Anderlecht)

Luis Garcia scoring for Liverpool against Anderlecht (Video courtesy: @European Goals/Youtube)

The former Liverpool forward, Luis García, took the level of headers to new heights with his goal in a UEFA Champions League fixture back in the year 2005. The Spaniard perfectly headed a curling cross from the right side to execute a no-look headed goal against the Belgian side, Anderlecht. He scored this beauty looping header from almost 19-20 yards out while moving away from the goal line.

His second goal was crucial in helping the Merseyside giants Liverpool secure a 3-0 victory against the Belgian outfit to further improve their chances of making it into the knockouts. Garcia went on to make 120 appearances for the Reds and scored 30 goals and 16 assists, the most for any club in his career. He is 10th on our list of best header goals in football history.

9. Alan Shearer (2003 vs Bayer Leverkusen)

Alan Shearer scoring for Newcastle United against Bayer Leverkusen (Video courtesy: @xiiFUSiiONZx/Youtube)

The Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer was one of the best headers off the ball during his time. The striker scored a whopping 49 headers out of his 206 goals for the English Premier League club. Meanwhile, Alan scored one of best header goals in football history, it was also his first UEFA Champions League goal.

Premier League's all-time top scorer Shearer is hailed as one of the best to play in the EPL. When the Magpies locked horns with Bayer Leverkusen in 2003 in a Champions League clash, the Englishman threw himself like a rocket and scored a horizontal-headed goal without giving the keeper any chance to save. He went on to score a hat-trick on the night as Newcastle clinched a 3-1 win.

8. Zinedine Zidane (1998 vs Brazil)

The French icon Zinedine Zidane is famous not only for his exquisite skills and vision but also for his heroic performance against Brazil in the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He netted two header goals in France’s 3-0 victory on home turf against Selecao and stole the limelight. Meanwhile, his first goal was something else.

Running into a tight position and making solid contact to find the back of the net – a perfect goal visually. And Zidane, like a true opportunist, rose to the occasion and became the hero of the moment. That goal still exists in the famous header goals archive in football as one of the best headed goals in football history.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (2008 vs Roma)

Out of the world! These were the first words coming out of the mouths of the commentators when Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the best header goals in the history of football against Roma. Then, playing for Manchester United, he scored a blinder from nowhere in a UEFA Champions League game in 2008.

When midfielder icon Paul Scholes sent a high cross into the middle of the penalty box, Cristiano was nowhere to be seen. But, out of nowhere, he burst onto the scene and sent the ball into the net with a perfect header with a leaping header followed by a perfect run. The Al Nassr striker is renowned for his exceptional jumping ability that allows unleash his aerial prowess to net best header goals in football history.

6. Robin van Persie (2014 vs Spain)

Well, this goal by Robin van Persie might be the best header goal in football history, which earned him the name “the flying Dutchman”. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, an onrushing Van Persie threw himself in the air like a bird and slotted the ball home through a pinpoint header with an unbelievable flight, facing the defending world Champions, Spain.

Unbelievable! Words can not describe the royalty of this beautiful goal alone. This moment stunned the Spanish team, although they started the game on a high note. When the final whistle blew, the number 9 of the Netherlands had already propelled his side to a 5-1 victory, and the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker scored a brace in the group stage fixture.

5. Sergio Ramos (2014 vs Atlético Madrid)

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest Spanish players of all time, Sergio Ramos, is one of those defenders who have more goals than many forwards in football. His iconic header against archrivals Atlético Madrid in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final is the most remarkable and among the best header goals in football history.

When Colchoneros were just seconds away from winning their first-ever Champions League trophy, Ramos seized the moment with an accurate header off a corner cross from Luka Modrić's corner kick to level the score. It was the 92nd minute and 48th seconds by the clock at that moment. Since then, 92:48 has been synced with the former Spanish skipper.

4. Carles Puyol (2010 vs Germany)

Regarded as one of the finest defenders to step on the football field, Carles Puyol Barcelona and Spain defender Carles Puyol’s header earned a spot for Spain in the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The mop-haired defender charged a bending cross from a corner kick with precision and scored the winning goal against Germany in the second half of the semi-final game.

It was a bullet header, and the young German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looked helpless between the sticks. Puyol’s goal is still considered one of the most important moments in the history of the World Cup, while also claiming a place in best headed goals in football history. Subsequently, La Roja went on to win the tournament, beating the Netherlands in the final to claim the world championship.

3. Didier Drogba (2012 vs Bayern Munich)

Didier Drogba is hailed as one greatest footballers from Africa, the Chelsea forward was known for his physical strength, athleticism and goal-scoring mastery. Didier Drogba has scored many goals using the head, but the goal against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final was something else.

When English club Chelsea was trailing 0-1, the Ivorian international netted the equaliser with a rocket header on the cusp of the end of the regulation time and made Allianz Arena silent. Later, the Blues lifted the UEFA Champions League glory by winning on penalties. The Blues lifted the European trophy; he was on the most prominent names in that campaign.

2. Pelé (1970 vs Italy)

The Brazilian legend is a monumental figure in football; there were plenty of occasions when Pelé bailed his team out. Arguably the greatest player ever to play the sport. In the 1970 World Cup final, he scored a stunning header against Italy that is widely remembered as one of the best header goals in football history.

The defensive Italian side had no plans to stop the 29-year-old Brazilian magician, who entered the penalty area and leapt up to convert a strong header into a beautiful goal, making the goalkeeper a watcher only. The header went past the goalie like a bullet. Brazil eventually defeated Italy 1-0 to win their third global title.

1. Lionel Messi (2009 vs Manchester United)

Leo Messi scoring for Barcelona vs Manchester United in UCL final 2009 (Video courtesy: @UEFA/Youtube)

Now, who has the best header in football history? The Argentine icon Lionel Messi is a surprising inclusion on the list of best header goals of all time. But the little magician’s magical header in the Champions League final against Manchester United demanded a spot on this tally. In the showdown at the Champions League, Xavi’s cross found the head of Messi, who was not prepared for a high cross.

However, with commendable accuracy, the former Barcelona star headed the ball into the far corner in the 70th minute of the game. This is Messi’s best header goal so far in his career; his iconic goal helped the Blaugrana to claim the European trophy. Therefore, this goal cements its place best header goal in football history.