To be a goalkeeper, you have to be a bit unusual by nature.
It's the only position the football pitch where you're required to throw your body in the way of a ball that's been struck with ultimate venom behind it, hitting the ground hard in the process. And that's before you consider coming for crosses and corners, and diving at people's feet to stop a shot.
Still, it always feels on another level of wacky when you see a goalkeeper make their way up the pitch in an attempt to bag a cheeky goal. That feeling is multiplied by 100 when they actually score.
Sometimes keepers don't only score a goal, but they score absolute belters. With that in mind, here's a list presenting the best goals that have ever been scored by goalkeepers.
12. Tim Howard vs Bolton Wanderers, 2012
The big American is first on the list with a ridiculous strike. No, not Hulk Hogan.
For this one, Tim Howard clears the ball as it rolls back to him in his 18-yard box, only for it to travel most of the pitch before looping over Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan with a wicked bounce. It was a magnificent punt that a heel Randy Orton would be proud of, but Howard was quick to show sympathy for fellow keeper Bogdan after the match.
11. Peter Schmeichel vs Everton, 2001
The Great Dane was known for his incredible distribution and his intimidating size, which he used to fill the goal as one of the greatest keepers ever.
However, he used his size to his advantage at the other end of the pitch in 2001, heading into Everton's box for a corner and smashing home a terrific volley from a loose ball in front of him. It wasn't enough to give Aston Villa any points from the game, but it was Schmeichel's ninth goal of a career that would see him finish with 10 in total.
10. Massimo Taibi vs Udinese, 2001
From one of Manchester United's greatest ever goalkeepers to one of their worst.
While Italian Massimo Taibi left Manchester with an awful legacy, he made up for it upon his return to Italy in 2001, scoring a bullet header against Udinese in the dying embers of the game. The goal salvaged his side Reggina a point as the game finished 1-1.
9. Asmir Begovic vs Southampton, 2013
In similar style to that of Tim Howard's, a clearance from Asmir Begovic just minutes into the game between Stoke and Southampton saw the ball taken by the wind and travel the length of the pitch.
Southampton keeper Artur Boruc was caught in no man's land and left red-faced as the ball bounced and looped over him, much to the Potters' delight.
8. Alberto Brignoli vs AC Milan, 2017
In 2017, newly promoted Serie A side Benevento looked destined for another defeat after being winless in their opening 14 games of the season, until their goalkeeper saved the day.
Alberto Brignoli ventured up for a corner in injury time, and scored an absolute bullet header to draw his side level with AC Milan, securing them a point in a 2-2 draw. Serious striker's effort, that.
7. Jorge Campos vs Cruz Azul, 1997
This one, along with Jorge Campos' entire career, is just ridiculous.
The Mexican shot stopper is best recognised for his flamboyant kits throughout the 90s, but people are often quick to forget that Campos was insanely gifted. Capable of playing as a keeper and a striker, the 5'6 Mexican came out from the sticks and was put up front by his coach to grab a goal, and that he did.
Campos bagged a sweet bicycle kick goal against Cruz Azul, one of many delights in his one of a kind career.
6. Jose Luis Chilavert vs Ferro Carril Oeste, 1999
Jose Luis Chilavert enters the list with not one, , not two, but three goals, over in Argentina.
He remains one of two keepers ever to score a hat-trick, and was another example of the batch of eccentric goalkeepers that seemed to exist in the 90s, bagging 67 career goals. In this case, he bagged three penalties in one game, scoring a trio of goals as Velez Sarsfield won 6-1.
5. Rogerio Ceni vs Corinthians, 2011
The only keeper to score more career goals than Chilavert? Rogerio Ceni.
The Brazilian veteran amassed over 1,000 appearances for Sao Paulo during his storied career, scoring 131 goals. Yes, 131 goals. You heard that correctly.
Here he is bagging his 100th career goal, a peach of a free kick against Corinthians.
4. Marwin Hitz vs Bayer Leverkusen, 2015
German goalkeeper Marwin Hitz makes the list with an effort that any striker dreams of bagging.
In the Bundesliga, Augsburg were 2-1 down in injury time versus Leverkusen, before the ball fizzed into the path of Hitz who swivelled and struck the ball home on the bounce like a veteran goal poacher.
What a hit(z), son.
3. Martin Hansen vs PSV, 2015
Another incredibly athletic effort, Martin Hansen's last minute equaliser is seriously impressive.
A low free kick makes its way into the box, which Hansen is first to react to, flicking home from the penalty spot with some sort of outlandish backwards heel kick to salvage ADO Den Haag a 2-2 draw.
Incredible reactions, and a technique you could almost imagine being used in a UFC octagon.
2. Rene Higuita vs River Plate, 1995
The poster boy for silly buggers goalkeeping techniques in the 1990s, Rene Higuita let everyone know that he was more than just a stuntman with this strike.
Taking a free kick for his side Atletico National, the maverick Colombian smashed the ball top bins in Roberto Carlos-esque fashion, giving his side a 1-0 win in the Copa Libertadores semi final.
1. Oscarine Masuluke vs Orlando Pirates, 2016
Finishing first in our list, South African shot stopper Oscarine Masuluke was robbed when this finish only came second in the 2017 FIFA Puskas Award.
In the last minute of the game, Orlando Pirates' keeper punches clear, only for Masuluke to leap up on the edge of the box and fire a spectacular overhead kick over everyone and into the back of the net.
The best part is the fact that he has a celebration prepared, in case, you know, he scores some sort of outlandish overhead kick goal in the last minute or something silly like that...
Source: 90min
