Soccer is the most popular sport in the world for many reasons, with one of those being that it has always been defined by its most dramatic moments, where champions are made and hearts are broken in the dying seconds of a match. The greatest moments in football history often come from those heart-stopping goals scored when hope seems lost and the final whistle is right around the corner.
These last-minute goals represent the spirit of the beautiful game, whether it’s a striker finding the bottom corner in stoppage time or a dramatic winner in injury time that decides a championship. From Champions League finals to final matchday relegation battles, these last-minute goals show how a single strike can change the entire course of soccer history.
In no particular order, here are the nine most unforgettable last-minute goals in soccer history.
What are the best last-minute goals in soccer history?
1. Andrés Iniesta – Spain vs Netherlands (2010 World Cup Final)
Spain and the Netherlands battled through a tense World Cup final that remained goalless after 90 minutes and looked destined for a penalty shootout.
However, in the 116th minute of extra time, Andres Iniesta received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and struck a low shot past the Dutch goalkeeper into the bottom corner.
This dramatic goal secured Spain’s first-ever World Cup trophy and cemented Iniesta’s place in tournament history. It is said to be one of the best World Cup goals.
2. Mario Götze – Germany vs Argentina (2014 World Cup Final)
Similar to the 2010 World Cup Final, the 2014 World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina was heading to a penalty shootout after a goalless 90 minutes.
In the 113th minute of extra time, Andre Schurrle crossed from the left wing, where Mario Gotze controlled the ball on his chest before unleashing a perfect left-footed volley into the net.
This winning goal delivered Germany’s fourth World Cup title and their first since reunification in 1990. This is one to the best World Cup finals ever.
3. Sergio Agüero – Manchester City vs QPR (2012)
In stoppage time on the final matchday of the 2011/12 Premier League season, Manchester City trailed QPR 2-1 with Manchester United poised to claim the title. Edin Dzeko equalized in the 92nd minute before Aguero scored the most dramatic goal in Premier League history in the 94th minute to take the title away from Manchester United.
Aguero’s close-range finish secured City’s first league title in 44 years and sparked Martin Tyler’s legendary “AGUEROOOOO!” commentary.
4. Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund (2013 UCL Final)
During the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley, Bayern Munich faced Borussia Dortmund with the match tied 1-1 in the final minutes of the game and heading into extra time.
In the 89th minute, Frank Ribery played a back-heeled pass to Robben, who burst past the defense and scored with a low shot past the goalkeeper from close range.
This winning goal redeemed Robben after his penalty miss in the previous season’s final and delivered Bayern their fifth European Cup. Ribery and Robben were one of the most formidable duos in soccer history.
5. Didier Drogba – Chelsea vs Bayern Munich (2012 UCL Final)
The year before Bayern won the Champions League, they also made it far into the finals of the tournament.
Chelsea trailed Bayern Munich 1-0 in the 2012 Champions League final at Bayern’s home stadium with time running out, but in the 88th minute, Juan Mata delivered a corner kick that African legend, Drogba met with a powerful header, sending the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into the top corner.
The dramatic equalizer forced the match to a penalty shootout, where Chelsea triumphed to claim their first Champions League trophy ever.
6. Fernando Torres – Chelsea vs Barcelona (2012 UCL Semi‑Final)
The Camp Nou was tense. Barcelona were pushing hard for the goal that would send them through, while Chelsea clung on with 10 men.
In their Champions League-winning campaign, Chelsea needed to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Barcelona in the second leg of their 2012 Champions League semifinal at the Camp Nou. In the 92nd minute, with Barcelona pressing for a decisive goal, Torres broke clear on a counter-attack and rounded goalkeeper Victor Valdes before slotting into an empty net.
This crucial away goal secured Chelsea’s passage to the final and eliminated the defending champions in dramatic fashion.
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Manchester United vs Bayern Munich (1999 UCL Final)
Manchester United trailed Bayern Munich 1-0 in the 1999 Champions League final with seconds remaining in injury time.
Teddy Sheringham equalized from a corner kick in the 90th minute before United won another corner just moments later.
Solskjaer turned in the winning goal in the 91st minute, completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in football history and securing United’s historic treble.
8. Troy Deeney – Watford vs Leicester City (2013 Championship Playoffs)
Back in the second leg of the 2013 Championship playoffs, Watford led Leicester City 2-1 when Leicester were awarded a penalty in the 97th minute.
Anthony Knockaert’s penalty was saved by Manuel Almunia, who also denied the follow-up attempt.
Within seconds, Watford launched a counter-attack that ended with captain Troy Deeney smashing the ball home, sending fans onto the pitch in wild celebrations and securing their place in the playoff final.
9. Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid, Champions League Final (2014)
In 2014, Real Madrid had waited 12 years to reach another Champions League final when they faced city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Atletico led 1-0 and were just minutes away from their first European Cup when Ramos rose to meet a corner kick in the 94th minute.
His bullet header found the bottom corner past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, forcing extra time, where Real Madrid went on to win 4-1 and claim their long-awaited “La Decima.”
10. Sergi Roberto – Barcelona vs PSG (2017 UCL Round of 16)
Barcelona vs PSG in 2017 was pure chaos. After losing 4-0 in Paris, Barça needed a miracle. At the Camp Nou, they fought back to 5-1, but still needed one more in stoppage time.
In the 95th minute, Neymar floated a ball into the box and Sergi Roberto stretched to score. The stadium erupted.
Barcelona had pulled off the impossible, winning 6-1 and 6-5 on aggregate.
That strike turned Roberto into an instant hero. It wasn’t just a goal, it was the birth of “La Remontada,” one of football’s most unforgettable comebacks.
