GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week

Ronaldinho is still doing ridiculous things.

Image via goal.com.

The goals were flying in during a week that featured domestic cup competitions, top-flight league play, and the FIFA Club World Cup. The festive period in England started off with a bang, as clubs began a series of three matches in just seven days. The action came to a boiling point in Germany, as the final round of Bundesliga matches were played before the winter break. Several big names displayed their talents once again, and a few old faces showed they still have plenty to offer. From Ross Barkley’s winner in Wales to Ronaldinho’s magic in Morocco, check out the latest edition of GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

 

23. Di Maria Cuts Inside and Uncorks One With His Left

Date: 12/22/2013
Match: Valencia v. Real Madrid
Competition: La Liga match
Ground: Mestalla, Valencia, Spain

Great close control with the chest, some neat footwork to cut inside the box, and a left-footed finish that left us clapping. Angel Di Maria is having a hard time finding consistent playing time at Real Madrid, but he increased his case for a place in Ancelotti's starting 11 with this effort.

22. Palacio's Back Heel Winner in Milan

Date: 12/22/2013
Match: Inter Milan v. AC Milan
Competition: Serie A match
Ground: San Siro, Milan

This audacious finish from Rodrigo Palacio was a goal worthy of any derby winner. The back heel flick four minutes from time leaves Abbiati with absolutely no chance. Great goal, and more importantly three crucial points for Inter.

21. Pedro Rios' Dazzling Run

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Atletico Madrid v. Levante
Competition: La Liga match
Ground: Vicente Calderon, Madrid

Atletico won the match, which they're making quite the habit of, but this solo run from the halfway line by Pedro Rios was nothing short of spectacular. How about the smash into the side netting to cap off the move?

20. Adnan Januzaj Shows His Skills

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Manchester United v. West Ham
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

Manchester United's 18-year-old Belgian wunderkind is really starting to make a name for himself with the defending champs. He makes James Collins look like an absolute fool here, before he fires this low effort into the back of the net. Just stop taking diving lessons from Ashley Young, cool?

19. Mario Gotze Keeps Bayern Rolling

Date: 12/17/2013
Match: Guangzhou Evergrande v. Bayern Munich
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup
Ground: Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco

Man, Dortmund sure could use this guy right about now. Another chance for Bayern to show their class, another wonderful strike from super Mario.

18. Thiago Thumps it Home

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Bayern Munich v. Raja Casablanca
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup
Ground: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

This wonderful first time smash from Thiago helped Bayern on their way to rounding out a phenomenal 2013, by capturing the FIFA Club World Cup. Think they're running out of trophy case space at the Allianz?

17. Alvaro Negredo's Wonderful Assist

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Fulham v. Manchester City
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Craven Cottage, London

Assist of the year contender right here, people. How many players can pick out, and execute, a pass like this with the inside of their boot let alone the outside? This sensational pass was deserving of the James Milner finish.

16. Ronaldinho With a Touch of Brilliance

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Guangzhou Evergrande v. Atletico Mineiro
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup
Ground: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

This was Ronaldinho's second free kick golazo at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, and what a beauty it is. What else is there to say, this dude is an absolute magician with the ball.

15. Emmanuel Adebayor Volleys Spurs into the Semis

Date: 12/18/2013
Match: Tottenham v. West Ham
Competition: Capital One Cup
Ground: White Hart Lane, London

This is a fantastic sliding volley from a man desperate to get back in form. Keep banging 'em in like this, Ade, and the Spurs may right the ship this season.

14. Patrice Evra's Surprising Finish

Date: 12/18/2013
Match: Stoke v. Manchester United
Competition: Capital One Cup
Ground: Britannia, Stoke-on-Trent, England

It's not every day Patrice Evra bags a goal, and with the right foot no less. This is an absolute cracker, though. United will play Sunderland in the Capital One Cup semis.

13. Luis Suarez Volleys Liverpool Ahead

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Liverpool v. Cardiff City
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England

Just a little volley golazo to open the scoring at Anfield. Henderson finds Suarez, who else, with a delightful little side-footed pass, before the new Reds captain fires home on the volley. This man has a nose for goal like few in the game, past or present.

12. Eliseu Gives the Osasuna Keeper Fits

Date: 12/17/2013
Match: Osasuna v. Malaga
Competition: Copa del Rey, Round of 32
Ground: El Sadar, Pamplona, Spain

Watch Eliseu deek the shit out of the Osasuna keeper with this swerving effort. The Malaga man leaves him all kinds of messed up by the time this one lands in the back of the net.

11. Pedro Cuts in and Sizzles One

Date: 12/22/2013
Match: Getafe v. Barcelona
Competition: La Liga match
Ground: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Getafe, Spain

Since when does Pedro finish like this? The Spaniard does so well to cut inside from the flank, before unleashing an absolute rocket into the top corner. What a finish.

10. Ashley Young Fires Home First Time

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Manchester United v. West Ham
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

It looks like Ashley Young has found his shooting boots, and not a moment too soon for a Manchester United side looking for consistency. This is a terrific first time effort after the neat stab pass from Rooney.

9. Andreas Pereira Puts His Name in the Headlines

Date: 12/16/2013
Match: Burnley U18s v. Manchester United U18s
Competition: FA Youth Cup
Ground: Turf Moor, Burnley, England

If Andres Pereira keeps scoring crackers like this, it won't be long before we see this young blood making first team appearances at Old Trafford. Too bad nobody was at Turf Moor to see this.

8. Juan Arango Does it Again

Date: 12/22/2013
Match: Borussia Mönchengladbach v. Wolfsburg
Competition: Bundesliga match
Ground: Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany

He may not get the same attention as the game's biggest superstars, but Juan Arango has one of the sweetest left foots around. Check out this free kick from the Venezuelan in all its glory. Don't look now, but Gladbach is currently sitting pretty in third place in the Bundesliga.

7. Yaya Toure's Free Kick Display

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Fulham v. Manchester City
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Craven Cottage, London

We're not exactly sure at what point in Yaya Toure's career he became a free kick specialist, but there aren't many players who can bang in a dead ball like this. The keeper doesn't even move, and why should he?

6. Luis Suarez Just Can't Stop Scoring

Date: 12/21/2013
Match: Liverpool v. Cardiff City
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England

We, like the rest of the football world, are running out of superlatives for Luis Suarez. Another day, another golazo for the Uruguayan. Very neat little back heel from Jordan Henderson to set up the Premier League's leading scorer, as well.

5. Ronaldinho is Still a Boss

Date: 12/18/2013
Match: Raja Casablanca v. Atletico Mineiro
Competition: FIFA Club World Cup
Ground: Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

The man, the myth, the legend, Ronaldinho is still making magic happen at this stage of his career. The keeper never had a prayer.

4. Ross Barkley's Beauty Wins it For the Blues

Date: 12/22/2013
Match: Swansea v. Everton
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales

How about this for a winner six minutes from time? An absolute beauty of a free kick from Ross Barkley keeps Everton's unbeaten run intact, and fires Martinez's men into the top four. Over the wall, off the underside of the bar and in, this is an absolute cracker.

3. Aleksandr Kolarov's Wonderful Left Foot

Date: 12/17/2013
Match: Leicester City v. Manchester City
Competition: Capital One Cup
Ground: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England

Welcome back, Aleksandr Kolarov. We've missed you and that left foot of yours. This brilliant free kick, from the former Lazio man, helped book City's place in the Capital One Cup semis.

2. Yoann Gourcuff's Thunderbolt

Date: 12/18/2013
Match: Lyon v. Reims
Competition: Coupe de la Ligue, Round of 16
Ground: Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France

This is an absolute pile driver from Yoann Gourcuff. The Reims keeper is all, "what am I supposed to do about that?"

1. Ashley Young With an Absolute Cracker

Date: 12/18/2013
Match: Stoke v. Manchester United
Competition: Capital One Cup
Ground: Britannia, Stoke-on-Trent, England

What a rocket from Ashley Young. A strike like this reminds you just what the former Villa man is capable of. Stop diving and keep scoring goals like this, Ashley.

Latest in Sports