There's few more beautiful sights in football than a player finding the back of the net after defying gravity – but who did it best?
Premier League fans have been treated to hundreds of amazing goals since the competition's inception back in 1992, with some of the best players in the world producing moments of wizardry that defy belief. There is one specific type of goal that elicits more joy than any other, though, because of the technical ability and sheer audacity that is required to pull it off.
Instant hero status is bestowed on those that manage to execute a perfect overhead kick. They are rarely seen during normal passages of play, not least because of the inherent risk of embarrassment that comes with the shot selection.
But there is no defence against it when its done right. For a player to get a strong enough connection to beat a goalkeeper with their back to goal everything has to be perfect, from their positioning and timing to their concentration and general poise.
The English top-flight has probably seen more of these wondrous goals than any other league in Europe, and picking out the best of them for a top-10 list is no mean feat. But every so often a return to the archives becomes a necessity.
There will always be those who take to the skies in a bid to write their name into Premier League folklore, and GOAL is here to rank the greatest overhead kicks in the competition's history to date…
10Sebastian Haller (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2021)
West Ham supporters never really saw the best of Sebastien Haller, who arrived at the London Stadium from Eintracht Frankfurt in a club-record £45 million ($57m) deal back in July 2019. A modest return of 14 goals from 54 appearances highlights the fact that the Borussia Dortmund striker wasn't settled in England, but one of those efforts still ranks among the best of his entire career.
It came when Crystal Palace visited West Ham in December 2021, as David Moyes' side found themselves in dire need of inspiration after falling behind to a first-half header from Christian Benteke. Haller provided it as he swivelled in mid-air to meet a Vladimir Coufal cross from the right wing, with his powerful effort nestling perfectly into the top corner.
Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita could only watch on helplessly as it flew past him, and it earned West Ham a valuable point in their pursuit of European qualification. Moyes described Haller's strike as a "wondergoal", which was more than fitting, and served as a reminder of his superb natural instincts in the box.
Advertisement9Gary Cahill (Aston Villa vs Birmingham City, 2006)
Gary Cahill is best remembered as a quick, reliable defender who rose to the top because of his impressive ability to the read the game. But the former Chelsea and Bolton star also had an eye for goal. He bagged 28 Premier League goals in total, including a sublime bicycle kick to open his account when he was on the books of Aston Villa.
Villa hosted Birmingham City in April 2006 with both sides struggling at the wrong end of the table, and Villa ended up taking the spoils with a 3-1 victory, as Cahill grabbed their all-important second goal after an incredible leap.
The ball was headed in his direction after an ugly goalmouth scramble, but Cahill's finish was a thing of beauty as he rose to turn home an unstoppable first-time volley. It was a piece of athleticism that no one knew he had in his locker at the time, but it set the tone for him to go on and become a genuine goalscoring centre-half.
8Rory Delap (Southampton vs Tottenham, 2004)
When most football fans hear the name Rory Delap, they think of Stoke City's throw-in specialist who successfully riled up legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on multiple occasions. But the Ireland midfielder was also very capable of conjuring up something spectacular.
Delap delivered his career-best strike for Southampton against Tottenham at St Mary's in March 2004, after going exactly two years without a goal. No one expected to see Delap running into the box to try and latch on a loose ball, but that's exactly what he did, and he had the speed of thought to adjust his body for a bicycle kick after realising it was dropping behind him.
Delap couldn't have hoped for a cleaner connection as his shot then rocketed past Kasey Keller in the Spurs net. It proved to be the difference between the two sides and ensured that Delap will always have a special place in the hearts of Saints' supporters.
7Andy Carroll (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2017)
Andy Carroll was once considered to be the brightest talent in English football. The Newcastle academy graduate was unplayable on his day, a big brute of a centre-forward who caused nightmares for defenders in the air, but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.
After a failed spell at Liverpool, Carroll joined West Ham on a permanent deal in 2013, and went on to score a respectable 34 goals for the club. His standout effort came in a 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace in January 2017, which to this day probably remains the best goal ever scored at the London Stadium.
Michail Antonio stood up a cross for Carroll to meet at the back post and he turned his body perfectly to execute an acrobatic overhead kick, which was barely visible as it flashed into the net. The crowd was left stunned, but it came as no surprise to then-West Ham boss Slaven Billic, who said after the game: "He does it in training, although he is normally hitting the post! I am afraid he will get injured when he does it in training."