When you break down soccer to its simplest form, it’s all about scoring goals. Score more than the other team and you win.
Not all goals are created equally. While it’s easy to pick out the strongest, toughest, most impactful goals from the biggest matches, we here at The18 have picked out our favorite goals of 2018 for you to enjoy.
Now, these aren’t all necessarily the best goals of the year (see: No. 17), just our favorites. Some were epic World Cup golazos. Some were literally from the training ground.
You probably aren’t even reading this intro anyway, so let’s get right to our favorite goals of 2018.
The18’s Favorite Goals Of 2018
#18. Akron’s 34-Pass Goal vs. Stanford
This is Akron @ZipsMSoc pic.twitter.com/2MVxU4eMhc
— Akron Zips M Soccer (@ZipsMSoc) December 1, 2018
Colin Biros finished the move, but it was all about team play as Akron strung together 34 passes to score a late winner against Stanford, which going into the match hadn’t allowed a goal in NCAA tournament play in three years.
#17. Freddy Adu Lighting Up Las Vegas
HERE IT IS @FreddyAdu’s first goal with Lights FC, a beautiful lefty finish to put is up 2-0 in a must-win match. #LVvCOS | @PlazaLasVegas pic.twitter.com/JGjrzeihVY
— Las Vegas Lights FC (@lvlightsfc) June 3, 2018
This is the best goal you’ll see all year by a former over-hyped phenom who is now pushing 30.
#16. Iniesta’s Still Got It
We miss seeing Andres Iniesta pull the strings for Barcelona, but it’s nice to know we can still watch him eviscerate opponents in Japan. This was his first goal for Vissel Kobe.
#15. DeAndre Yedlin vs. Man City
DeAndre Yedlin scores his first Premier League goal and it's a nice one! pic.twitter.com/kyyluClVdp
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 1, 2018
An American scoring against the best team in the Premier League? Yes please. Hard to believe this was Yedlinny's first goal in the Prem.
#14. Zlatan’s MLS Debut
Voted MLS goal of the season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his debut in the U.S. with two goals to rally the LA Galaxy to a win over new rival LAFC. But it was his first goal in MLS that will go down as the day the USA was renamed USZ.
#13. Darwin Quintero Hat Trick vs. Toronto
It’s always good to score against the reigning MLS champs. Even better when it’s a hat trick. But to do it with such flair? All three of these goals are just nasty from the Colombian; it might just be the greatest hat trick in the history of MLS.
#12. Toni Kroos vs. Sweden
#MundialTelemundo ¡En el último suspiro @ToniKroos con un golazo mantiene con vida a #GER! pic.twitter.com/jgf4hczlYT
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 23, 2018
This was the moment where we thought everything was going to turn around for Germany. In hindsight, we were very wrong, but this was one helluva memorable goal
#11. WTF Ayoze Perez
We could watch this a million times and still not understand how Ayoze Perez did this. We don’t even care that it wasn’t in a real match.
#10. James Rodriguez vs. Some Schmucks In Red, White & Blue
36' MADRE MÍA, LO QUE ACABA DE HACER JAMES RODRÍGUEZ
QUÉ. CLASE. DE. GOLAAAAAAZO.0-1 #USACOL
EN VIVO https://t.co/VHiB6dVGxB pic.twitter.com/DEwN2x637K
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 12, 2018
We’re not sure who James and Colombia were playing in this match, but this goal was an absolute beauty.
#9. Cavani To Suarez To Cavani
What a connection between Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani!
Cavani lasered a cross field pass before this.Via: @TelemundoSports pic.twitter.com/5wDtpltP1z
— The18 (@the18com) June 30, 2018
In the World Cup Round of 16, Edinson Cavani ripped a cross-field pass on a rope to Luis Suarez. The Barcelona striker then returned the favor with a perfect cross into the box for Cavani to head home. Cavani added another in the second half as Uruguay knocked Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal out of the World Cup.
#8. Coutinho From Outside The 18
Explain yourself, @Phil_Coutinho!! #BarcaGirona pic.twitter.com/5HkOfFyc9F
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 24, 2018
Honestly there are about a bajillion Barcelona bangers from which to choose. Why did we pick this one? Because we were there.
Sweet sequence I shot of El Mago - Phil Coutinho's goal tonight. pic.twitter.com/JoMkhLah2Q
— Bryce B (@BBadss) February 24, 2018
#7. Tobin Heath Goes Joga Bonito On Brazil
Silky smooth.@TobinHeath isn't playing fair. pic.twitter.com/ybMi4rYtME
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) August 3, 2018
Tobin Heath is the most Brazilian player to ever suit up for the U.S. (men or women). This assist for Julie Ertz shows why she’s impossible to defend.
#6. We Love Nacho
#MundialTelemundo ¡Un verdadero golazo! Así narró @AndresCantorGOL el tanto de @nachofi1990 que tiene en ventaja a #ESP sobre #POR pic.twitter.com/m8VcRZzAyQ
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2018
You can never turn down a good plate of nachos (fresh jalapeños only, please; none of this pickled crap). This was the most memorable goal from the World Cup’s most entertaining group-stage match, a 3-3 draw between Spain and Portugal.
#5. Amazing Arsenal Team Goal
We here at The18 love team goals. This is one of the best ever.
#4. Gareth Bale Bike
Gareth Bale's goal is better with Titanic music pic.twitter.com/Tp3xOKXui1
— khaos (@khaosGG) May 26, 2018
You couldn’t ask for a better goal in a Champions League final. But we’ll still ask for a better one in 2019.
#3. Chucky Lozano vs. Germany
#MundialTelemundo En voz de @AndresCantorGOL así vivimos el gol de @HirvingLozano70 para el 1-0 de #MEX sobre #GER pic.twitter.com/lEFVHW9SEu
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 17, 2018
Mexico absolutely deserved its 1-0 win over defending champion Germany at the 2018 World Cup, and Hirving Lozano was a huge reason why. This goal cemented Chucky’s status as one of the biggest stars in Russia this summer.
#2. Ronaldo Wins Over Turin
One of the world’s best players had opposing fans applauding him after this incredible effort. The response was so heartfelt, Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus in the offseason.
#1. Benjamin Pavard’s Rocket
#MundialTelemundo @BenPavard28 le pegó como venía y con un golazo empata el marcador #FRA 2-2 #ARG pic.twitter.com/Dn9cPvDX2p
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 30, 2018
France’s 4-3 win over Argentina in the Round of 16 was the most open, entertaining match of the World Cup. The eventual champion Les Bleus actually trailed before Pavard unleashed this absurd goal to even the match at 2-2. Who knows how the match (and the tournament) would have turned out had Pavard not struck gold?