5 insane scorpion kick volleys in football

Best Scorpion Kick goals
Has Olivier Giroud scored the goal of the year on the very first day of 2017?

The Premier League was abuzz during the festive period when the fans witnessed not one but two goals scored with a Scorpion Kick. Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan first converted a Zlatan Ibrahimovic cross against Sunderland before Olivier Giroud did one better on an Arsenal counter-attack against Crystal Palace after Alexis Sanchez spotted his run.

Both goals have been huge talking points and the comparisons haven’t stopped. But how do they compare to some other scorpion kick goals over the years? To score such a goal requires athleticism, timing, precision and maybe just a little bit of luck.

We look back at some other memorable scorpion kicks that are etched in the memories of football fans worldwide.


1) Rene Higuita lights up Wembley with an acrobatic save

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There’s a reason why Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita is nicknamed El Loco (The Madman). The South American ‘keeper took risks like no other and was one of the first to add more to the role of a ‘keeper than just staying inside his box.

Known to be one of the pioneers of the scorpion kick, Higuita taught the world how to go about it in a game against England in 1995. Jamie Redknapp’s intended cross into the box saw the ball fly towards Colombia’s goal for what should have been a routine save for any goalkeeper.

However, Higuita kept his eyes on it all the way and the last second fell forward while raising his legs to kick the ball with his heels. The crowd at Wembley did not believe what they had seen. The television audience couldn’t believe it. The commentator was incredulous and claimed it was “the most remarkable piece of goalkeeping” he had ever seen.

2) Zlatan Ibrahimovic contorts himself to score an unstoppable goal

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Scorpion Kick goal Bastia
Of course, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored a scorpion kick goal!

When Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain, not many expected him to turn that club’s fortunes around. What was a competitive league with five different clubs winning it in five different seasons suddenly became a one-horse race and the Swedish striker was a major contributing factor.

And one of his most memorable goals in his four seasons in Paris was this one against Bastia. While the cross to the big man was unintentional, there was no question about Ibrahimovic’s execution to find the back of the net.

The ball looped toward him near the edge of the six-yard box after a slight deflection off young Hervin Ongenda. Ibrahimovic, under pressure from Francois Modesto, simply lifted one leg behind him and directed a back-heeled effort toward goal – in other words a scorpion kick.

The goalkeeper could only watch on helplessly as the ball sailed into his goal while Ibrahimovic reeled away in celebration.

3) Zico’s “ best goal” he ever scored

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You don’t simply get the nickname ‘White Pele’ without doing something extraordinary on the pitch. Zico was arguably one of the finest players of his generation and the Brazilian was known not only for his creativity on the pitch but also his quality finishing.

The player-turned-coach, who last coached FC Goa in the Indian Super League, has scored some stunners in his time but he recalls his finest goal coming in his twilight years when he was with Japanese side Kashima Antlers.

“The best goal I ever scored, I scored in Japan,” Zico said. “I went ahead of the ball, it was coming from behind me and I didn’t know what to do but I threw myself forward to hit the ball with my heel. I got the ball and hit it. It was perhaps the finest piece of play in my entire life.”

The goalkeeper had come off his line and stood no chance as he watched it sail over his head and into the goal.

4) Edinson Cavani’s header transforms into a scorpion kick

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Back in 2011, Napoli had a decent side with Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi slowly coming into their own. Juventus were not yet the force they are now and a game against the Old Lady at the Stadio San Paolo saw the Uruguayan finish with a hat-trick.

While many assumed that Cavani had scored this particular goal with his head, replays showed otherwise. After Lavezzi had fed Hamsik, the Slovak midfielder had crossed the ball to the far post and an unmarked Cavani was seen throwing himself at the low cross.

The ball did end up in the back of the net but another look at the goal showed that Cavani had actually scored with his heel. He had missed the header but had the presence of mind to lift his foot and make contact.

Marco Storari and Leonardo Bonucci could do nothing to stop this goal.

5) Carsten Kammlott finds the top corner

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For Carsten Kammlott, this was a day to forget and remember – a day of mixed emotions. While his side Rot-Weiss Erfurt were on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline, it was his goal that made the headlines.

At the time, the goal was an equaliser and it should have spurred his team on to come from behind and win. And what a goal it was too.

A smart cross sent into the box saw Kammlott dive forward near the penalty spot and make contact with the back of his foot instead of going for a header. The slight miscalculation in the timing of the run was bettered only by the correction and the ball looped into the top corner past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper.

Kammlott almost had to somersault before falling to the ground to avoid any injury. Simply stunning!

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Edited by Staff Editor