“Football, bloody hell!” – Sir Alex Ferguson summed up how we feel watching the beautiful game in just two words.
Football leaves you lost for words. Be it last minute goals that raise your heart rate, or long range shots that leave your mouth wide open, the game of football never disappoints.
However, there were times that fans had their heads in their palms, in absolute dismay when goal-scoring chances were missed at important moments. The ability to take a goalscoring chance and succeed can make or break a player’s career these days.
Mario Gotze wouldn't be the hero that he is, if not for that fantastic finish against Argentina in 2014.
An important missed chance, though, could be equally remembered by fans and pundits alike.
These are the most important goalscoring chances that were missed in recent history that broke the hearts of many fans around the world
#1 John Terry – Champions League Finals 2008
Pictures of a teary-eyed John Terry on that ill-fated rainy night in Moscow are still fresh in the hearts of many Chelsea fans. Finding themselves in the Champions League finals for the first time in the club’s history, Chelsea faced favourites, Manchester United.
After an intense 120 minutes, the game could not produce a result which led to a penalty shoot-out.
Manchester United’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo missed the first penalty of the game, after he stepped up as the third Manchester United player to take a spot kick. After Lampard and Ashley Cole converted their penalties, it was John Terry’s turn to win it for Chelsea.
However, it was not meant to be, as the Chelsea captain slipped during his run up, sending his kick wide.
It was probably the worst moment in what has otherwise been an illustrious career for John Terry at Chelsea.
#2 Arjen Robben – Champions League Finals 2012
In 2012, Bayern Munich hosted Chelsea in the finals of the Champions League at the Allianz Arena. The final would turned out to be a memorable one for The Blues as they finally got their hands on the most coveted trophy in club football, four years after the heartbreaking final in Moscow.
The game went into extra time after Didier Drogba leveled the score with a stunning header. However, the striker almost gifted Bayern Munich the game in extra time after committing an unnecessary foul on Franck Ribery in the penalty box.
Arjen Robben stepped up to take the penalty but Petr Cech saved the attempt. Not only did it mean that Chelsea were given hope to hold on until the penalty shoot-outs, the miss also broke the spirit of the German giants, who did almost everything right up to that point.
#3 Gonzalo Higuain – 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Copa America
After a series of hard-fought victories over Switzerland, Belgium, and Netherlands in the knock-out stages of the World Cup, Alejandro Sabella’s Argentinian team made it to the finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
The Albiceleste had already exceeded the expectation of their fans, but the player were ready for one last push to win the most coveted trophy in world football.
After an intense start to the game, striker Gonzalo Higuain found himself with a golden one-onone chance. However, Higuain, who had acres of space panicked and sent his shot wide.
Had the striker taken this chance, Argentina would have probably gone on to win the World Cup.
Bonus: Two years later, Higuain found himself with an almost identical chance against Chile’s Claudio Bravo, however his attempted lob over the keeper was wide and Argentina went on to lost their third final in as many years.
#4 Fernando Torres – Chelsea vs Manchester United 2011
This is a missed opportunity that needs no introduction. Probably the moment that unfortunately and unfairly, defines Fernando Torres’ football career came in September 2011 when Chelsea took on Manchester United.
Chelsea found themselves trailing by 3 goals at half time, however, Torres’ gave The Blues hope with his 46th-minute goal.
Chelsea were looking good on the ball, and Torres found himself one-on-one with David De Gea. The striker beat the goalkeeper, but his shot did not meet the back of the net and found its way to Stretford End instead.
Although this miss did not come in a game as important as the others in this list, it was a moment that sent Torres’ career on a downward spiral.
The striker has never been able to find the form that he had during his time with Liverpool ever since.
#5 Roberto Baggio – 1994 FIFA World Cup Final
After two fiercely contested finals between South American giants Argentina and European giants West Germany in 1986 and 1990, the 1994 finals in USA saw another South American giant take on a Europen giant.
The Samba kings Brazil took on Italy in what would be the first World Cup final to be decided on penalty shoot-outs.
After a goalless 120 minutes, Italy’s Franco Baresi stepped up to take the first penalty. The legendary defender missed his kick while Brazil also missed their first kick of the shootout.
However, after a series of conversions, Massaro missed Italy’s fourth penalty. Brazil’s captain Dunga converted their fourth penalty leaving Roberto Baggio to take the all important 5th penalty for Italy.
The then Ballon d’Or winner shocked the world by kicking the ball wide over the crossbar giving Brazil their 4th World Cup – the first nation to do so.
Bonus: Lionel Messi – 2016 Copa America
While it is absolutely unfair to single-handedly hold Lionel Messi’s penalty responsible for Argentina’s loss in the Copa America, the Barcelona forward has made his way onto the list for two reasons.
Firstly, as the captain of the team and the player to take the first penalty, Messi was meant to set the tone for the shootout. Arturo Vidal’s missed penalty couldn’t have made it easier for Messi. However, the little magician put the penalty over the crossbar.
The second reason for his inclusion in the list is thanks to the mess that followed. Just moments after the loss, Lionel Messi said he done with the national team sending the internet wild.
The missed penalty would go on to be the starting point of what was a messy summer break for Lionel Messi.
