Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dele Alli, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jamie Vardy… who scored the best strike of 2016?
HENRIKH MKHITARYAN'S audacious goal against Sunderland on Boxing Day was a thing of beauty.
But the year’s best? With 2016 coming to an end, SunSport’s football writers offer you their Goal Of The Year from matches they were covering.
Neil Custis: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Man Utd) v Sunderland, Dec 26
THE reaction of the crowd tells you what has just been witnessed.
An early goal brings that roar, a late winner and the volume goes up as fans hug each other and punch the air.
On Boxing Day at Old Trafford the reaction to Herikh Mkhitaryan’s effort was something very different, it was the loudest gasp you will ever hear.
It was a mass reaction to a magic trick performed by the Armenian with a flick of his right heel.
The ball behind him, the chance seemingly gone, he performed a scorpion kick volley like you have never seen. Truly magical.
Neil Ashton: Dele Alli (Spurs) v Crystal Palace, Jan 23
THIS was a game of Headers & Volleys - at the elite level. Christian Eriksen’s cushioned header from a cross was met by the feet of Dele Alli.
With Palace captain Mile Jedinak for company, Alli flicked the ball over his head and volleyed his effort beyond Wayne Hennessey. Quality finish.
Dave Kidd: Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales) v Belgium Jul 1
ROBSON-KANU hasn’t started a match since a free transfer from Reading to West Brom but this moment of genius immortalised the Wales striker.
His Cruyff turn took out three Belgian defenders and created the decisive goal in a 3-1 quarter-final victory at Euro 2016 - a rare combination of beauty and significance.
Mike McGrath: Jesse Lingard (Man Utd) v Palace, May 21
HIS volley was sweet enough to win any FA Cup final – a perfectly executed strike into the top corner.
Overshadowed by the departure of Louis van Gaal, who was unusually out of his seat celebrating this beauty.
It was unlike much of LVG’s dreary football.
Charlie Wyett: Jamie Vardy (England) v Germany, Mar 26
VARDY'S first international goal was exquisite.
With the Three Lions trailing 2-1 in Berlin, Nathaniel Clyne crossed from the right and Vardy showed remarkable confidence by wrapping his heel around the ball and flicking it past Manuel Neuer first time.
Mark Irwin: Leo Messi (Barca) v Arsenal, Feb 23
MESSI had never scored against Petr Cech in eight previous games but the world’s best player ended that run in unforgettable style as Barca raced from one end of the pitch to the other in less than ten seconds.
The ball was moved on by Pique, Iniesta, Neymar, Suarez and Neymar again before Messi swept his shot home to send Arsenal towards another early Champions League departure.
Phil Thomas: Romelu Lukaku (Everton) v Chelsea, Mar 12
FOR sheer enjoyment Anthony Martial’s semi-final winner for Manchester United was tops.
But for brilliance, Romelu Lukaku’s stunning sixth-round solo was breathtaking.
The fact it was against Chelsea made it even better.
Paul Jiggins: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) v Tottenham, May 2
IF THE goal itself – a beautiful curling effort - was not good enough, it also has wider significance.
It handed Leicester the Premier League title and proved to Chelsea stars’ shame, they did not try a stroke under previous boss Jose Mourinho earlier in the season.