15 Iconic images of modern day football stars

Football players are remembered for their moments of magic or their moments of chaos on the pitch. Some players will go down in the history of their clubs as legends, while some will go down in the history books for moments that will haunt them throughout their life.David Beckham was a figure of hatred in England following the 1998 FIFA World Cup but he redeemed himself with his goal against Greece that took England to the 2002 World Cup finals. But some people don’t get the chance to make amends, like Zidane. Then there are some like Styllian Petrov, Fabrice Muamba, Eric Abidal and the late Tito Vilonavo who will be remembered for their courage and spirit to fight against all odds.Looking into the past two seasons in the World of football people will remember Robert Lewandowski for his four goals that drowned Madrid or Mario Gotze for his goal that won Germany the World Cup.Here we look at the Iconic Portraits of some of the best players to have played the beautiful game in the recent past.Honourable Mentions:Roy Keane’s goal against Juventus (1999), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s goal vs Bayern Munich (1999), Raul silences Nou Camp (2000), Ronaldo’s goal vs Germany (2002), Ronaldinho’s goal vs Chelsea (2005), Wayne Rooney’s goal vs Manchester City (2011), Arjen Robben’s penalty miss vs Chelsea (2012), Sergio Ramos’s goal against Atletico Madrid (2014), Robin Van Persie’s goal against Spain (2014) and Miroslav Klose’s goal vs Brazil (2014)

#1 Zinedine Zidane Head-butts Marco Materazzi

It was the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a game that was the final game for one of football’s greatest players ever – Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane had come out of retirement to play at the tournament and the tournament had his name written all over it, he had almost single handedly pulled France through to the final in Germany and it was his moment to shine once again.

The Frenchman was awarded the Golden Ball prior to the final in Berlin and seven minutes into the match Zidane put France ahead from the spot. The trophy was there for him to lift until one moment of chaos ruined everything. In the 110th minute of the game, Zidane head-butted Italy’s Marco Materazzi and was shown a straight red.

Apparently Materazzi had verbally abused Zidane’s sister and that provoked him into doing what he did, but his country had forgiven him for his actions, they had hailed him for giving them hope at the World Cup, but the question is how can Zidane live with himself?

A moment so iconic, that a Bronze statue of it was made and put on public display in Paris.

#2 Andres Iniesta Goal vs Netherlands

Andres Iniesta has always been able to produce moments of magic out of nowhere; he is a man capable of scoring the most important goals, like the one he scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2009.

But the most important goal and moment of his career came during the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Prior to the World Cup the Spaniard had an injury plagued season which put his participation at the World Cup in doubt, but Del Bosque believed in him and took him with the squad. After much effort from the physiotherapists at Barcelona and Spain he returned to the team in time for the opening game but he was taken off in between after he was injured as Spain succumbed to a defeat against Switzerland and subsequently he missed the crucial game against Honduras.

Iniesta returned to the team for the later stages and when the stage was set for the biggest game of his career he rose to the occasion.

Spain were playing Netherlands in the final of the World Cup and the game had gone goalless and it looked like penalties would decide the winner, but in the dying minutes of the game Iniesta latched on to a pass from Cesc Fabregas and scored the goal that won Spain the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

#3 Steven Gerrard Goal vs Olympiacos

Liverpool went into the final group stage game of the 2004-05 Champions League needing to win by a margin of two goals or more to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.

Things didn't go as planned for Liverpool as Olympiakos scored against the run of play to take the lead at Anfield through a free kick by Rivaldo.

A below par Liverpool side still managed to put two goals into the back of the Olympiakos net and were struggling to find a third to keep them in the competition.

In the 86th minute Neil Mellor headed down a ball into the path of Steven Gerrard who was lurking outside the penalty box. Gerrard drove a first touch low volley into the Olympiakos net which made commentator Andy Gray, who was a former Evertonian, produce a memorable commentary to go with the goal.

So what is the significance of the goal? Liverpool would go on to win the Champions League that season in another thrilling game that had Steven Gerrard’s name written on it.

#4 Didier Drogba Penalty vs Bayern Munich

Chelsea’s first Champions League final was in 2008 and DIdier Drogba got sent off in the game for violent conduct. The Ivory Coast man would have regretted his actions in the game as Chelsea lost the game on penalties and John Terry missed the penalty that was Drogba’s to take if he had been on the pitch.

Drogba got his chance to make up for his mistake in 2012 as he helped Chelsea to the finals with goals against Napoli in the Round of 16 and Barcelona in the semifinal.

In the final Chelsea were second best throughout the game as Bayern dominated the game and with a lot of effort finally scored to take the lead, but Drogba had other plans. He scored a mind blowing header from Chelsea’s only corner of the game to take the game to extra-time.

He conceded a penalty in extra-time, but lady luck was with him at Munich as Robben missed and the game eventually went to penalty shootout.

Just like in Moscow back from 2008, Chelsea needed to score from their final kick to win the game, but this time Drogba was on the pitch to take it and the Ivorian put the ball past Manuel Neuer in goal to give Chelsea their first Champions League title.

#5 Cristiano Ronaldo Goal vs Chelsea

Cristiano Ronaldo has many big moments in his career that will make fans remember him for years to come. There is no shortage of magic moments in the two time Ballon d’Or winner’s career.

But one of his most iconic images came in the final of the 2008 Champions League against Chelsea.

In the 26th minute of the game, Ronaldo rose above the Chelsea players to connect to a cross from Wes Brown and headed it powerfully past Petr Cech.

The goal shows Ronaldo’s ability to react quicker than a lot of players and his areal ability. All this along with Michael Essien’s look in disbelief and awe adds to the intensity of the goal and the image.

#6 Lionel Messi Debut for Barcelona

Today almost every human on earth knows who Lionel Messi is, but back in 2004 when Frank Riijkard gave Messi his debut match, even Riijkard would never have guessed what the teenaged kid would go on to achieve.

Lionel Messi made his debut for Barcelona on 16th, October, 2004 at the age of 17 years and 114 days in place of legendary Deco. A moment many describe as the one that changed modern day football.

Today after over 10 years Lionel Messi holds hundreds of records to his name and at the age of 27 he has plenty of time to break and set even more records.

Fourth Ballon d’Or award is certainly not the last to his collection, there is plenty more to come from the little magician.

#7 Kaka Celebrating Champions League win

What would you do if you are the architect behind your team’s Champions League win? Most people would go and celebrate with their teammates, but not Kaka, because Kaka is not like most people.

The Brazilian took off his shirt displaying the message “I belong to Jesus” and looked at the Sky in relief and gratitude as his team AC Milan had won the Champions League.

Kaka was part of the Milan side that lost the final in 2005 and the win in 2007 was a relief for him. Not only did he win the title, he was also the top scorer that season and his impressive season gave him the Ballon d’Or that year.

#8 Fernando Torres Miss vs Manchester United

‘Fernando Torres- Liverpool’s Number 9’ - a line that football fans have heard several times a few years back. The Spaniard had spent his best playing years with the Merseyside club although he won several trophies with Chelsea.

During his Chelsea days, Torres had never found the form that made him one of the best strikers in the World. He had struggled to find the back of the net and he was slowly becoming a shadow of the striker he once was - A striker that tormented Philpp Lahm and scored past Manuel Neuer in the final of the 2008 Euro.

In the 2011-12 season during a game against Manchester United, Torres had rounded off De Gea in a manner that reminded many of the Torres of Liverpool. It looked like Torres would finally get the goal that would give him all the confidence to play well again, but the Spaniard put his shot wide of an open goal.

Torres was the subject to many internet jokes because of this and till date we have never seen the Torres that left Anfield.

#9 Sergio Aguero Goal vs QPR

This moment is arguably the greatest moment in Premier League history unless you are a Manchester United fan.

The final match day of the 2011-12 season started with both Manchester clubs on same points and City leading on goal difference. United were playing Sunderland at the Stadium of light and City were playing QPR at home.

The game was very important for QPR as well because if they lost the game and the other results don’t go their way then they would be relegated.

United had taken a 1-0 lead and the score remained the same till the final whistle, while City had shockingly gone 2-1 down with minutes to spare in the game. Edin Dzeko scored in injury time to level the game, but that was not enough for City to win the title. With seconds to spare in the game Sergio Aguero played a one-two with Mario Balotelli, evaded a challenge and scored for City. The goal set the footballing world into frenzy and Manchester City had lifted their first Premier League title.

#10 Theirry Henry Scores on second debut

Not many players get to play in stadium with their statue outside it, but Theirry Henry got the chance when he returned to the Emirates for the second time on loan from New York Red Bulls in 2012.

Arsenal were hosting Leeds United in an FA Cup tie and the game was goal less when Arsene Wenger gave Henry his second debut.

Henry received a through ball from Alex Song and put it in the back of the net in style. He raised the roof of the Emirates with the goal and then ran straight to Arsene Wenger and hugged his compatriot who served as a father figure for the striker.

Henry and Arsenal is a love story that people will never forget and the Frenchman ensured it on his second return.

#11 David Beckham Goal against Wimbledon

Back in 1996, when David Beckham was just a 21 year old, he did something that amaze viewers even today.

Manchester United were playing Wimbledon and United were leading the game 2-0, Beckham noticed that Wimbledon goal keeper Neil Sullivan was standing a long way off his goal and then he hit a shot from half-way line that floated past the goal keeper into the net.

Many other players like Xabi Alonso and Wayne Rooney have done the same later on, but Beckham was the first and that moment was his stepping stone to stardom. The goal was also later voted by the British public as the 18th of 100 Greatest Sporting moments in a poll in 2002.

#12 Luis Suarez Handball vs Ghana

Suarez is synonymous to controversy; the Uruguayan just cannot stay out of it. He has been involved in three separate biting incidents in his career, but all of them came after his infamous incident during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Uruguay were playing Ghana in the quarter final of the tournament and Ghana were the last remaining African team which meant that they had huge fan support during the game.

The score was 1-1 after regular time and the game went into extra time. Later in the game Ghana were awarded a free kick which was sent into the box and Suarez blocked Stephen Appiah’s shot on goal line before blocking Dominic Adiyiah’s header with his hands to commit a professional foul to save what could have been a game winning goal.

He was sent off for the offense but Asamoah Gyan hit the cross bar with the resulting penalty and Suarez who stayed back to see the penalty celebrated before going into the tunnel.

Uruguay won the game 4-2 on penalties and Suarez was part of one of the biggest controversies in the history of the game.

#13 Iker Casillas Save vs Netherlands

Goalkeepers rarely get the credit they deserve but they always get the stick when their team concedes a goal, but that was not the case in 2010 with Iker Casillas.

The Spanish keeper was on the top of his game throughout the final of the World Cup. He made two brilliant saves against the tricky Arjen Robben in one on one situations to keep Spain in the game. The first save was perhaps the most important one as Robben had rushed on to a throughball and Casillas didn’t have a lot of time to react. He dived one way and put his leg out wide to make himself big and Robben’s shot deflected off his feet away from goal to keep Spain in the game.

The saves proved crucial as the game was finally settled by a one goal margin in extra time.

#14 Zlatan Ibrahimovic Goal vs England

Ibrahimovic has consistently produced goals that have lifted the audience off their seats. The Swede is somewhat of a specialist when it comes to spectacular goals.

His best goal came just over two years back during a game against England. Sweden were leading the game 3-2 when a clearance from the Swedish half almost reached the England box. Joe Hart had rushed out of his area to head it away from the box. Ibrahimovic turned around and in a split second performed a bicycle kick on the bouncing ball into the England net.

The Swede was later awarded the Puskas award for the goal in 2013 and he is also amongst the nominees for this year’s award.

#15 Oliver Kahn Comforting Santiago Canizares

Oliver Kahn is known for his aggression and ruthless approach to the game, a very angry figure comes to mind when you think of the German goal-keeper, but in 2001 he did something that won the hearts of millions of football fans worldwide.

Kahn had played a crucial role in Bayern Munich’s Champions League win over Valencia in 2001, he had made three saves in the penalty shootout, but after the game the first thing he did was not celebrate with his teammates. Instead he walked over to the Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares and comforted him.

Kahn was given the UEFA fair play for his incredible gesture and the German described it as one of the most prestigious honours he received in his career.