“I don’t give him too much information offensively. Somebody like Hatem, you have got to let them have their world – it’s his world when he has the ball.”
Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew unveiled the secret behind getting the best out of a player like Hatem Ben Arfa after the Frenchman scored an absolute gem against Bolton yesterday. Give him the ball and let him do his thing.
That goal got us thinking about other memorable individual efforts. The result? This list.
George Best v Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 1981
YouTube credit: thecelebratedmisterk
Diego Maradona v England, 1986
YouTube credit: tommygrealy
Ronaldo v Compostela, 1996
YouTube credit: alvrub2011
George Weah v Verona, 1996
YouTube credit: 23khufu23
Steve McManaman v Celtic, 1997
YouTube credit: pireshuang
Michael Owen v Argentina, 1998
YouTube credit: historyinthefaking
Ryan Giggs v Arsenal, 1999
YouTube credit: BestofManUnited
Zlatan Ibrahimovic v NAC Breda, 2004
YouTube credit: ZlatanZindabad
Lionel Messi v Getafe, 2007
YouTube credit: TRIBALFOOTBALLDotCom
Grafite v Bayern Munich, 2009
YouTube credit: HHArabHH
Notable mentions: Lothar Mattheus v Yugoslavia, Roberto Baggio v Napoli, Thierry Henry v Spurs, Gareth Bale v Inter Milan (excuse the backing track).
What are your thoughts? Have we missed any?
