Sports
The best volley goal ever after John McGinn’s wonder goal
Unless you have deliberately avoided social media over the weekend, you cannot have failed to see John McGinn’s goal for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday.
The Scottish midfielder drilled home a sublime volley, left-footed, from the edge of the penalty area off the underside of the crossbar past the despairing dive of Cameron Dawson.
And it got us thinking – what are the best volleys we have seen live, in the flesh?
Paul Scholes’s rocket against Aston Villa and Wayne Rooney’s howitzer at Newcastle are two that spring to mind in the Premier League era – but we have delved into our memories to find a couple of more obscure ones.
Here’s our selection…
James Whaling – John McGinn (ASTON VILLA vs Sheffield Wednesday)
I was lucky enough to be at Villa Park on Saturday to watch what is unquestionably the best goal I have seen live.
I was in the away end in a supporting capacity rather than a working one, and the reaction of the Sheffield Wednesday fans around me told you all you need to know about how good this goal was.
Having taken the lead only four minutes earlier, it was a strike which would ordinarily knock the stuffing out of travelling fans, but the sold-out away end instead looked at each other in a daze of bewilderment.
“Fair play,” was the overriding message.
As a Wednesday fan, I’m not happy with either attempt at a clearing header, but once the ball goes out to McGinn, I’m thinking: “Go on, hit it. Have a go.”
Ninety-nine times out of 100 that ball flies into the Holte End, but it was as sweet a strike as you could wish to see. The fact it cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the roof of the net made it all the more pleasing on the eye.
I think what separates this goal from other volleys I have witnessed, I’m thinking back to a couple of Chris Brunt efforts down the years, is the swazz, as the kids say.
The ball started so far outside Cameron Dawson’s left post, it had no right to curl back in to that degree and end up in the back, or roof, of the net.
Thankfully, Wednesday re-took the lead and hung on for the three points – making the goal even better from my point of view!
Matt Lawless – Paolo Di Canio (WEST HAM vs Wimbledon)
Take a bow, John McGinn. Take a bow. His volley was so, so good I will show it to my 10-year-old son on loop. If ever there is a lesson to be learned about mastering technique, that’s it right there.
But the finest volley I have seen in the flesh? There’s only one winner: Paolo Di Canio. You know the one.
Trevor Sinclair flights it diagonally across the field before West Ham ’s maverick Italian connects with a chop to direct it past Wimbledon’s Neil Sullivan. Poetry in motion.
Jake Polden – Zoltan Gera (FULHAM vs Manchester United)
It’s not very often you beat Manchester United – not back in 2009 anyway – and it’s very rare you do so after scoring a goal as stylish as the one Zoltan Gera netted in Fulham’s 2-0 win at Craven Cottage some nine years ago.
Fulham were helped on the day by Paul Scholes being sent off early into the match after handling the ball on the line, and Danny Murphy netted the subsequent penalty.
But the Champions League winners from the year before were still very much in the fixture before Gera chested the ball down, charged through the middle of the park and played it out wide to Andy Johnson.
Continuing his run, the Hungarian entered the box where he received a bobbling return ball, and with his back to goal flicked it into the air before performing a spinning round-the-house kick to smash it past Edwin van der Sar.
Ibrahim Mustapha – Aaron Ramsey (ARSENAL vs CSKA Moscow)
Arsenal’s run to the Europa League semi-final in 2018 ultimately ended in disappointment as they came unstuck against eventual winners Atletico Madrid.
However, on their route to the last four they faced CSKA Moscow in the quarter final. A 6-3 aggregate win saw the Gunners progress thanks mainly to a comprehensive 4-1 home win in the first leg.
The highlight of the game was Aaron Ramsey’s sensational goal to put them 3-1 up after just 25 minutes.
Mesut Ozil spotted his teammate making a late run, beating the Russians’ half-hearted offside trap by scooping a perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area.
The unmarked Welshman leaped high into the air and ingenuously flicked his right boot behind himself to direct the over the head of the despairing Akinfeev.
Mark Jones – Emre Can (Watford vs LIVERPOOL)
We all know that any true volley can’t be allowed to hit the ground even once before the ball is struck. If anyone tries to tell you anything else they are an outright liar, let’s be honest.
That’s why McGinn’s was so good after all, and so in that spirit I’ve had to rule out a few Steven Gerrard strikes as he loved to let the let the ball bounce up before he smashed it in. Robbie Fowler in the League Cup final of 2001 did similar, but that’s just not allowed.
Dietmar Hamann’s 2003/04 goal of the season against Portsmouth was a strong contender in the true volleys category, but for the sheer “what the hell has he just done there” factor it’s going to be Emre Can at Vicarage Road in May 2017.
The whole ground took an audible intake of breath when it went in, and while the Liverpool supporters’ celebrations were tinged with a kind of wide-eyed wonder, Watford’s fans could do nothing but stand and applaud.
Captain of the Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has said the team is determined to become the best women’s football team in the world.
Ajibade spoke yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a reception hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of the Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Nigerian ladies clinched their 10th continental title after a hard-fought campaign, further cementing their status as Africa’s most successful women’s team.
Ajibade, in an emotional speech, said the team’s goal goes beyond continental glory.
“We’re not content to rest on our laurels. Our vision is bold. We want to become the best women’s football team in the world,” the Atletico Madrid star said.
She described herself as “a proud daughter of Nigeria” and paid tribute to the dreams of young girls across the country who look up to the team.
“This victory is not just a trophy. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” she said.
Ajibade, who spoke on behalf of the team, coaches, and technical crew, thanked the Federal Government for its support and appealed for continued investment in women’s football.
President Tinubu, in his address, conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew.
The President also approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments to each team member under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme and a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player, while members of the technical team received $50,000 each.
He praised the Falcons for lifting the nation’s spirit and inspiring unity through their performance.
“You have inspired millions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achievable,” Tinubu said.
“You have inspired me too. You represent the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to encourage you and the next generation.”
The President said the Falcons’ WAFCON victory was not just a sporting feat but a symbol of the courage, discipline and resilience that define Nigerians.
“Your victory represents more than a sporting accomplishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, discipline, and consistency,” he said.
The reception was attended by top government officials, sports administrators, and stakeholders in the football community.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
The Falcons, who came from two goals down to seal the win in Rabat, clinched their 10th WAFCON title—further cementing their status as the most successful team in the history of the competition. Reacting to the victory, Oseni described the performance as “a warrior’s triumph that speaks volumes about the indomitable Nigerian spirit.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele in Ibadan, the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said the team’s resilience should serve as a symbol of hope and unity for the entire nation. “They refused to surrender. That comeback from two goals down defines who we are as Nigerians—strong, focused, and unstoppable when united,” he said.
The Falcons had gone behind in the 13th minute when Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak capitalised on a loose ball to fire past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. The hosts doubled their lead through Sanaâ Mssoudy before halftime, putting Nigeria on the back foot before the break.
However, second-half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the game on its head, securing victory for Coach Justin Madugu’s side and avenging their 2024 semi-final loss to the North Africans. Oseni also hailed Madugu’s tactical brilliance, describing him as “the architect of a new chapter in women’s football in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker who also chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) joined other national figures, including President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, in celebrating the Falcons. The President had earlier taken to his verified social media accounts to praise the team’s performance, declaring, “Mission X: Complete!” while Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, described it as a flawless display of Nigerian spirit.
Oseni urged the Falcons not to rest on their laurels but to build on the momentum ahead of their title defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This is just the beginning. You have inspired millions of girls across the continent. Keep flying the flag and keep making Nigeria proud,” he added.
He also called on sports authorities and private stakeholders to invest more in women’s football, noting that the team’s success was proof of the untapped potential in the sector. “We have global stars in the making. Now is the time to give them the platform and support they truly deserve,” the lawmaker submitted.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons produced a thrilling comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday, clinching their record-extending 10th continental title.
The win was sweet revenge for Justin Madugu’s side, who were eliminated by the Atlas Lionesses in the semi-finals of the previous edition.
Despite a bright start by the Falcons, it was the Moroccans who struck first in the 13th minute. A loose ball fell kindly to tournament top scorer, Ghizlane Chebbak, who rifled her effort past Chiamaka Nnadozie to hand the hosts an early lead.
Nigeria tried to respond through Ijamilusi Folashade, but her tame effort was easily gathered by Moroccan goalkeeper, Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Fatima Tagnaout released Sanaâ Mssoudy, who drove into the box and fired a low, left-footed strike beyond Nnadozie to make it 2-0.
Morocco maintained their advantage into the break as both sides went into the dressing room with the scoreline firmly in the hosts’ favour.
The Super Falcons returned with renewed purpose in the second half, stepping up their intensity and putting the Moroccan defence under sustained pressure.
Nigeria nearly pulled one back when a collision between Er-Rmichi and defender Nesryne El Chad almost gifted the Falcons a goal, but the Moroccan defence cleared their lines in time.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 63rd minute when a ball hooked back into the area by Ijamilusi struck the arm of defender Nouhaila Benzina, resulting in a penalty. Esther Okoronkwo stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to halve the deficit.
Eight minutes later, Okoronkwo turned provider, sprinting down the right flank before cutting back a well-timed pass for Ijamilusi, who made no mistake from close range to level the tie at 2-2.
The Falcons completed their sensational comeback in the 88th minute when Jennifer Echegini reacted quickest to a deep free-kick, stabbing home from close range to spark wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
The victory sees Nigeria reinforce their dominance in African women’s football, securing their 10th WAFCON title and reasserting their status as the queens of the continent.
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