Born with formidable skills and a sublime footballing IQ, Ruud van Nistelrooy is undeniably one of the greatest strikers the Premier League has ever seen, and to celebrate his remarkable career, we’re looking back at his top five goals.
In a magical five-year Manchester United campaign, the graceful forward set Old Trafford alight, winning a Premier League title, the 2002/03 Golden Boot and a PFA Player of the Year Award.
In total, the legendary Dutchman bagged a whopping 150 goals, so without further ado, let’s roll back the years.
5) Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Sunderland
In a sport like football, you can put the best players in the world on the pitch together, with everything indicating they’ll link up well, and for whatever reason, it just doesn’t work. However, when Van Nistelrooy met David Beckham, something clicked. The pair formed an unbreakable bond, which they perfectly exhibited during a game against Sunderland.
The Londoner fed the Dutchman, who turned the defender and smashed the ball high and past a helpless Jurgen Macho. He later slotted home a penalty en route to a 4-1 victory.
4) Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Blackburn
At his best, Brad Freidel was almost unbeatable. With cat-like reflexes, the American shot-stopper rendered forwards across the league furious with his innate ability to seemingly prevent anything from going past him. However, as good as he was — he was no match for Van Nistelrooy.
Playing a flashy 1-2 with Quentin Fortune, the dynamic striker burst into the box and fired the ball past the esteemed goalkeeper.
3) Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Arsenal
In a pivotal game against Arsenal in 2002, Van Nistelrooy hit the ground running, scoring a goal that has lived long in the memory. Picking up the ball from Ryan Giggs, the predatory player burst into action, nutmegging Sol Campbell, before leaving Martin Keown in the dust.
Then, with remarkable composure, he expertly lifted the ball over Martin Keown to send his adoring fans into raptures.
2) Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Fulham
In one of the greatest performances of his career, Van Nistelrooy left ‘The Cottagers’ in tatters, scoring a magnificent hat-trick. And while his first and third goals were nothing short of glorious, it was his second that really caught the attention of the purists.
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From the moment the ball arrived at his feet, you could just tell the Netherlands hero was about to produce something special. From the centre circle, he sprinted towards goal, leaving any man who dared attempt to tackle him in a state of disarray, before slotting the ball into the back of the net with laser-like precision.
1) Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Charlton
While all the goals on this list were nothing short of sensational, this one really takes the biscuit. With a bitter atmosphere in the aftermath of Roy Keane’s fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Nistelrooy needed to deliver on the pitch to give the fans something to cheer about. And when it mattered most, he rose to the occasion.
In a magnificent showing, United emerged victorious with a 3-1 win, two of which were scored by Van Nistelrooy. And it’s his second goal that has gone down as the best of his career.
Showcasing all the flare a player could possibly possess, Wayne Rooney bulldozed his way past a plethora of defenders before delivering a pass to the magician. Van Nistelrooy masterfully utilised his chest, spinning around his man and volleying the ball past Stephan Andersen.
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