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Alejandro Garnacho scored his stunning acrobatic try in the third minute of the game.
CNN –
The moment was over in a flash, but Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning bicycle kick goal against Everton on Sunday will be remembered for decades to come.
The 19-year-old’s acrobatic performance set Manchester United on their way to a 3-0 win, but after the final whistle it was all about that goal.
It happened in the third minute of the game after Diogo Dalot sent a cross into the Everton penalty area. The pass was seemingly too deep for Garnacho, but the attacker managed to get his feet together, leap into the air and hit the ball with an overhead kick that flew past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and into the far corner of the net.
The Manchester United youngster could hardly believe what he had done as he joined millions of people around the world in celebrating one of the best goals in the club’s history.
“I honestly can’t believe it,” Garnacho told Sky Sports after the game.
“I didn’t see myself scoring, I was just listening and thinking, ‘Oh my God.’ Of course, one of the best goals I’ve ever scored and I’m very happy.”
Garnacho is already considered one of the most exciting attacking prospects in world football and is being compared to five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo after making his debut with Manchester United’s senior team in 2022.
The youngster even nodded to his former teammate and performed Ronaldo’s “Siu” celebration after scoring the goal. He also posted a picture on his Instagram Story comparing his effort to Ronaldo’s overhead kick for Real Madrid against Juventus in 2018.
After Sunday’s impressive performance, the Argentina international also drew comparisons to another great Manchester United player, Wayne Rooney.
Garnacho’s overhead kick bore striking similarities to Rooney’s iconic overhead kick goal against Manchester City in 2011, but United coach Erik ten Hag was quick to play down any comparisons and urged the young player to continue to improve.
Martin Rickett/PA/AP/File
Garnacho’s goal bears striking similarities to Wayne Rooney’s goal against Manchester City in 2011.
“Don’t compare, I don’t think that’s right,” Ten Hag told reporters after the game when asked about comparisons to Ronaldo and Rooney.
“They all have their own identities, but for Garnacho to follow this path he still has a lot to do. He has to work very hard, and work consistently.
“So far he’s not, but he definitely has great potential and [is able] do some amazing things. And it’s not the first time we’ve seen this [talent]we’ve already seen glimpses.”
While his manager didn’t get too carried away, many have debated whether Garnacho’s performance is already the Premier League’s target for the season.
It will almost certainly be about winning this year’s Puskás Prize, awarded to the best goal in world football.
“It gets better every time you see it. Pure quality. Very few players in the world can do that,” said Roy Keane, former Manchester United captain and Sky Sports pundit, when analyzing the goal.
This opinion was shared by another former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville.
“I’ve never seen a goal as good as the one from an overhead kick. “That was the most beautiful overhead kick,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
Garnacho will be hoping to continue his brilliant form in Manchester United’s next game against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.
While there is certainly more to come from this exciting talent, he will do well to score better in his career.