Nothing, no one and there wasn’t a goal in Europe this season that wasn’t something we haven’t seen before. All except for one – Papiss Demba Cisse scoring an incredible volley in Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Chelsea, making his goal the best of the 2011-2012 season.
Special Case – Inigo Martinez, Real Socieded
Long range, really long range lobs usually have to do with keeper’s being placed badly than with some extra special skill, but for Martinez to score to of these in one season… Well, he deserves a special mention and inclusion. The second of them, against Real Betis, was actually done in the 90th minute, to win the match.
Special Header – Jone Samuelsen, Odd Grenland
Scoring with your head doesn’t usually get you included in these kind of lists and end-of-year summaries, but Samuelsen hit the ball with his head in his own half, scoring from 55 meters out. Gotta get a thumbs up or something.
Special Goalkeeper – Tim Howard, Everton
Special circumstances and actually, Howard simply got lucky there. But you don’t see keepers score a goal from their own box every week. Not even every season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
Ronaldo’s best match and best goals came in Real Madrid’s impressive win in the derby over Atletico Madrid, coming at a time when Barcelona were closing in and the Clasico was looming ahead. Ronaldo scored there too.
Free Kick of the Season – Marek Zienczuk, Ruch Chrozow
Dani Alves, Barcelona
Alves isn’t one to score many goals (15 in 208 matches for Barcelona), but this one against Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey was probably the best of his career.
Christopher Drazan, Rapid Wien
Very similar to Dani Alves’ goal from another player who rarely scores goal, but with a better build up play from the corner kick to set up the score.
Simao Sabrosa, Besiktas
The Portuguese colony in Besiktas has yet to produce a title for the team with the best fans in Istanbul, but there’s no doubt the Simao’s goal in a match against Fenerbahce is the best thing to come out of the Iberian invasion.
Miroslav Stoch, Fenerbahce
A perfect volley from the corner for Fenerbahce’s Slovakian winger, which looks almost like it’s video-edited when viewing in real time because of the angle.
Hatem Ben Arfa, Newcastle
Hatem Ben Arfa doesn’t score many goals (33 in 212 matches) for being an attacking midfielder, but it seems that each one he does put in the net was finer than his previous strike. Very few great dribbles and slaloms were worthy of this list this year. Only Ben Arfa actually made it in.
Maicon, Inter
Like almost all of Inter players, Maicon has been declining since Jose Mourinho left. Maybe it’s the natural fall that comes with age, or maybe it’s just a matter of waiting for the right coach to steer the team and some of its player in the right direction. Maicon did score only two goals this season, but his amazing strike in the Milan derby which also denied AC from winning the title won’t be forgotten for quite a while.
Peter Crouch, Stoke
Crouch is usually known for his aerial ability and his slender frame that goes along with his towering figure, but now and then he stuns everyone, including Manchester City in this instance, with a rocket of a long range strike.
Papiss Cisse, Newcastle
Papiss Cisse spent only half a season in England with Newcastle, but he hardly missed an opportunity to score. The Senegalese striker finished with 13 goals in 14 matches, non better in all of Europe than his un-describable strike against Chelsea with the inexplicable curve.