Fatawu, Beckham and More - The Greatest Halfway-Line Goals In Football History Ranked

Ranking These Outrageous Efforts From the Halfway Line

In football there are many ways of scoring goals, from leaping above defenders to score headers, to beating a defender and placing the ball in the bottom corner. But occasionally we see the ball nestling in the back of the net from a halfway line effort which takes some real audacity and confidence from a player to attempt.

In this article, we are going to look at and rank some of the most outrageous successful halfway line attempts across the years from Beckham against Wimbledon right through to Abdul Fatawu’s effort this weekend against Ipswich Town.

Top 10 Halfway Line Goals Of All Time (Ranked)

10. Ryujiro Ueda vs Yokohama FC 2011

This is possibly the craziest goal from this whole ranking as somehow Ueda managed to score from the halfway line using his head! The goalkeeper launched a goal kick and Ueda won the header which bounced just outside the 18-yard box and over the goalkeeper into the back of the net. It will be no surprise that it’s the record for the longest headed goal in football history!

9. Harry Kane vs Darmstadt 2023

This goal for Harry Kane was part of hattrick of goals in an 8-0 win for Bayern Munich against Darmstadt in the Bundesliga. In the 68th minute of the contest, Kane found himself in possession with space around him just inside his own half and went for goal, finding the back of the net past a retreating goalkeeper.

8. Rivaldo vs Atletico Madrid 1998

This might be the easiest looking halfway line goal you have ever seen. But what else would you expect from such a legend of the game! Rivaldo picked up the ball on the halfway line, took two touches out of his feet and sent a looping effort beyond the goalkeeper and into the net. Pure Class!

7. Charlie Adam vs Chelsea 2015

Even Charlie Adam shocked himself when he scored this goal claiming “I never knew I had that much power”. Adam picked the ball up in his own half before unleashing an effort that Thibaut Courtiois could only get a hand to before seeing it fly into the back of his net. Truly Astonishing!

6. David Beckham vs Wimbledon 1996

Probably the most famous goal on this list as it was this goal that arguably made David Beckham a household name. At just 21-years-old, Beckham had the confidence to attempt such a shot that ended up arching over goalkeeper Neil Sullivan and into the net.

5. Wayne Rooney vs West Ham 2017

Wayne Rooney certainly loved a halfway line goal against West Ham with this being the second in his career! What made this one so special is that he hit it first time following a clearance from the goalkeeper and it sailed over two defenders and into the bottom of the net. Definitely an effort that needed perfect technique.

"And Wayne Rooney from the halfway line…" 😲

Happy birthday to one of the greatest players in Premier League history. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/sywa0HK9F1

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) October 24, 2025

4. Abdul Fatawu vs Ipswich Town 2025

Just this weekend Fatawu scored this outrageous effort in a 3-1 win for Leicester. It was a complete solo effort as he cut out a stray pass from Ipswich, nutmegged an oncoming defender and then noticing the keeper out of his box, unleashing a dipping effort over the keeper and into the back of the net. Superb!

Absolutely RIDICULOUS goal from Leicester City's Abdul Fatawu

Puts the ball through a players legs and then lobs the keeper from his own half! 🤯@LCFC | @EFL pic.twitter.com/fxHrWlXOMl

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 13, 2025

3. Nayim vs Arsenal 1995

Former Spurs player Nayim scored this incredible last-minute effort against Arsenal to win the Cup Winners Cup for Real Zaragoza. In the final seconds of the game with penalties approaching, Nayim chested the ball down and after spotting David Seaman slightly off his line, hit a looping half volley over the keeper and into the net. Unreal Scenes!

2. Kemar Roofe vs Standard Liege 2020

This is a Europa League record for the furthest goal in the competition. Roofe picked the ball up in his own half before holding off two defenders and unleashing a strike from about 60 yards beating the goalkeeper. The conditions of the pitch were horrendous which makes taking this shot on even more audacious.

1. Dejan Stankovic vs Schalke 2011

This is the best of the bunch by far! Manuel Neuer played a diving header clearance just outside of his box that landed straight onto the right boot of Stankovic 45 yards out with a side volley that sailed into the back of the empty net. An incredible connection!

This Dejan Stanković goal still blows my mind 🤯 pic.twitter.com/f8tW5BFIwQ

— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) November 7, 2025