9. Paul Caligiuri (USA) v Czechoslovakia
Caligiuri netted a mere consolation for the Americans in their 5-1 hammering at the hands of the Czechs — the USA’s first World Cup goal for 40 years.
As the Eastern European side eased off, it allowed Caligiuri to pick the pocket of an opposition defender before playing a neat one-two, skipping past another defender and rounding the Czech goalkeeper before sliding the ball in.
A nice way to mark such a milestone goal for the Americans.
8. Kevin Sheedy (Ireland) v England
It would be remiss not to include one of the Irish heroes on this list and Sheedy’s goal was of a much higher standard than Niall Quinn’s finish against the Dutch.
It was an example of Jack Charlton’s favourite tactic of launching the long ball forward, and after a bit of bobbling around, the ball eventually fell to Sheedy who made it into the English box and whistled a low shot past Peter Shilton.
7. Jürgen Klinsmann (West Germany) v Yugoslavia
A player later famed for his diving celebration was also quite handy at heading the ball while in a diving motion too. In a superb game which the Germans won 4-1, Klinsmann netted the second when he glided across the box before launching himself towards Andreas Brehme’s cross and squeezing it into the far corner from an almost impossible angle.
6. Enzo Scifo (Belgium) v Uruguay
Having already won their opening group game against South Korea, Belgium knew a win over Uruguay would guarantee them a place in the knock-out stages of the competition. Already 1-0 up, Enzo Scifo ensured that the Belgians could relax a little more when he doubled their lead with this stunning long-range strike.
5. Roger Milla (Cameroon) vs Romania
The name most synonymous with Italia 90 outside of Ireland is certainly Roger Milla following his dancing celebrations at the World Cup.
Milla wasn’t just known for his dancing however, and following his introduction from the bench just before the hour mark against the Romanians, he netted both of Cameroon’s goals in a 2-1 win.
His second of the two was a thunderous right-footed effort into the near top corner after he latched onto a knock-down and raced clear into the area.
4. Claudio Caniggia (Argentina) v Brazil
Diego Maradona was still the icon of the Argentinian game in 1990, but it was 23-year-old Caniggia who was the Argentine’s danger man as they reached their second successive World Cup final.
While Maradona was nowhere near the form he showed in 1986, he was still able to muster up some magic to put Brazil to the sword in the round of 16. With 10 minutes left, the Napoli legend got the ball on the half-way line before drawing the entire Brazil defence towards him and laying it off to Caniggia who rounded Cláudio Taffarel and rolled the ball into the net to give Argentina a 1-0 win.
3.David Platt (England) v Belgium
The making of an English legend as Platt executed a stunning volley with just one minute left before the end of extra-time. A penalty shootout was on the cards before Platt was brought on as an extra-time substitute and he did what was required to send England into the quarter-final.
Not a bad way to score your first goal for your country.
2. Lothar Matthäus (West Germany) v Yugoslavia
Despite being a predominantly defensive midfielder, Matthäus was quite a free-scoring player throughout his career. Known for his thunderbolt strikes, this goal combines beautiful footwork, pace and a cracking finish in the same game in which Klinsmann scored the iconic diving header.
The Inter Milan midfielder picked up the ball inside his own half before racing into space, rounding a Yugoslavian defender, and then finding the bottom corner with a thumping strike from 25 yards out.
1. Roberto Baggio (Italy) v Czechoslovakia
One of the most celebrated footballers of the modern game was frequently left out of the Italian starting team as manager Azeglio Vicini opted for Gianluca Vialli up front instead.
Baggio, in what was his first competitive fixture for the Azzurri against Czechoslovakia, played a quick one-two with Giuseppe Giannini on the left wing before beating numerous defenders, entering the Czech penalty area, and feinting to his left before curling the ball in with the inside of his right.
A goal of sheer beauty.
