In the 27 seasons of the Premier League, we have seen some fantastic players who have left a mark not just on the English game but the world game.
We have witnessed incredible Premier League goals across the seasons, but a few have stood out and will probably be replayed and watched by fans years from now.
Let’s take a look at the 5 most iconic Premier League goals ever scored:
#5 Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio was a mercurial talent who lit up the Premier League with his eccentricities as well as his incredible talent. Di Canio played for a few clubs in England with his best stint coming at West Ham United, where he is still a hero for a majority of the Hammers.
The Italian scored 51 goals in 141 games for the English side and a goal that he scored which is still fondly remembered came in 2000, when he scored an exquisite scissor kick against Wimbledon, which went on to win the BBC Goal of the Season.
Di Canio was stationed on the far post and when a cross was drifted from deep, the Italian, almost instinctively, went for a first-time shot, lashing it beautifully into the bottom corner.
#4 Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor is a passionate footballer, and one who can score plenty of goals when he’s on form. The Togo international spent a few great seasons with Arsenal before moving to Manchester City.
Adebayor, who had been targetted with personal abuses by Arsenal fans after his move to City, had the perfect way to shut them up, by scoring against them, when he nestled in a perfect header, and then running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Gooners.
This was an iconic moment in not just Adebayor’s career, but also Manchester City, as they were quickly rising to the top and ready to fight the big boys of English football.
For sure, it deserves a place in the iconic Premier League goals because it will forever be remembered for what transpired after the strike.
#3 Wayne Rooney
Just a year before Sergio Aguero’s iconic Premier League goal that resulted in City lifting the Premier League trophy, Manchester United were the top dogs, winning the title with a gap of nine points with Chelsea and Manchester City.
In that season, Wayne Rooney had a lean period, and Dimitar Berbatov was Manchester United’s key striker, ending the season with 20 goals – the most in the league.
But Rooney possibly had the most decisive touch of the season when he scored an incredible bicycle kick against Manchester City at Old Trafford, winning the game for United, and giving them the advantage in the title race.
Rooney, who had a mediocre game until then, rifled in a bicycle kick from Nani’s cross, which sent Old Trafford into delirium. This was one of many iconic goals that Rooney has scored in his career, but probably the most important one of his illustrious career.
#2 Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp is perhaps one of the best foreign players to ever grace the Premier League and is a cult hero at Arsenal, where he helped the team win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups. Bergkamp scored 120 goals for the Gunners in 11 seasons for the North London club.
One of the most iconic Premier League goals that the Dutchman scored in Arsenal colours came against Newcastle United back in 2002 at St. James’ Park, which was also voted by fans as the best Premier League goal of all time.
Bergkamp received a pass from Robert Pires, flicked it with his left foot around a defender and scored with his right. The goal was praised by then Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson, who called the goal “a beautiful thing”.
#1 Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero will go down in the annals of Manchester City as one of their greatest players and goalscorers of all-time. The Argentine joined City in 2011 and has scored over 230 goals for the club, winning four Premier League titles for the club, including their first in 44 years in 2011-12.
Aguero scored a last-minute winner against QPR in the final game of the season to narrowly inch and defeat city rivals Manchester United by goal difference.
City were drawing 2-2 against QPR and were just seconds from losing out on the league, but up stepped Aguero, who picked the ball up from midfield, passed it ahead for a flick on and put it past the QPR goalkeeper to win one of the most important matches in recent history.
The season’s final Premier League goal was iconic not just for the significance and what was at stake, but also Aguero’s dogged determination to win the game in his very first season with the club.