When it comes to the land of great volleys, the UEFA Champions League has produced some absolute belters.
The home of Europe’s elite, it’s hardly a surprise that the competition has gifted us a long list of sublime strikes.
The best of the best
Sure, we’re big fans of intricate team-built goals and flowing passages of play that undo the best defences in the land – but few things compare with seeing someone slap their size 11 perfectly through a ball falling from the heavens.
In celebration of the volley, the official Champions League twitter account has been counting down some of the greatest that have been scored in the competition’s illustrious history.
THREAD: Great Champions League volleys! ?⚽️
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
1⃣ Zinédine Zidane's iconic effort in 2002 final ?@realmadriden | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Uwdswp6N0b
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
On the grandest stage of them all in the Champions League final, Zidane did this. What a player.
3⃣ Michael Essien with ???? in 2009 ?@MichaelEssien | @ChelseaFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Z3IQuuT6aL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
Michael Essien may have struggled with injuries that hampered his career, but that didn’t make him any less of a baller during his days at Stamford Bridge.
3⃣ Michael Essien with ???? in 2009 ?@MichaelEssien | @ChelseaFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Z3IQuuT6aL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
For whatever reason a goal is all the more satisfying when it cracks the woodwork. Case in point: this rocket of an effort by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
5⃣ Outrageous volley by Klaas Jan Huntelaar in 2014 ?@KJ_Huntelaar | @s04_en | #UCL pic.twitter.com/2iGQKF5mEa
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
Luis Suarez in that Barca side was an absolute force.
7⃣ Great technique by Luis Suárez in 2016 ⚡@LuisSuarez9 | @FCBarcelona | #UCL pic.twitter.com/FXnTet6pC7
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
9⃣ 2017: Edin Džeko's immaculate strike in a six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge ?@EdDzeko | @ASRomaEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/E2uaXtMcoa
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
If you’re on the hunt for some Milan-themed excellence, we’ve got you covered with this attempt from Jean-Pierre Papin in 1993.
1⃣1⃣ ??????! Jean-Pierre Papin finds the back of the net with this incredible volley in 1993 ?@JP_Papin | @acmilan | #UCL pic.twitter.com/CMZpLT1TL1
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
It’s safe to say Borussia Dortmund’s midfield maestro Lars Ricken probably didn’t strike many balls better than this one against Juventus.
1⃣3⃣ 1995: Lars Ricken with ??????? wonder goal against Juventus ?@BlackYellow | #UCL pic.twitter.com/yEywTDCFOY
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 2, 2021
Featured image credit: Getty
