Five of the most beautiful actions in football history that unfortunately didn’t end in a goal!

They could have been the most beautiful goals in the history of football, but fate willed it otherwise. Let’s take a look at a list of five of the most beautiful football moments that unfortunately didn’t end with the ball in the net.

Lighting up the net with the ball in the goal is the main goal of what is still the biggest phenomenon within all sports disciplines so far. But we can also appreciate the moments that did not end in a goal and yet deserve their place in the limelight of football history.

That’s why we’ve put together a ranking of five such football events that are worth watching, and not just if you’re a football fan. If they had ended in a goal, they would surely be among the most beautiful goals in history.

#5 One of Cristiano Ronaldo’s most beautiful goals was thwarted by teammate Nani

The year was 2010 and 26-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was just rolling into his first season for a star-studded Real Madrid team. At the World Cup in South Africa, the Portuguese had been knocked out in the eighth round by the Spanish national team and then faced the same team in a friendly in the autumn.

In that match, the Portuguese at least eased the pain in the hearts of their fans by beating their eastern rivals 4-0. That day, the only Portuguese who went on a downright rampage was the star Ronaldo.

After a beautiful individual action, he bathed the stopper Piqué at 0:0 and beat the helpless Casillas with a beautiful lob. But the beautiful goal was ruined by teammate Nani, who took Ronaldo offside on the goal line.

#4 Hans-Günter Bruns and his solo cross

It could have been one of the most beautiful goals in football history, but the millimetres ultimately decided that the ball didn’t end up in the net. In the 1983/1984 season, a match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach took place in the German Bundesliga.

Hans-Günter Bruns, a player of the visiting team, made one of the most daring, but also the most beautiful football events in history. His solo effort across the pitch bounced off both posts and ended up in the arms of the Munich goalkeeper. How unlucky!

#3 Ronaldinho was also only human

In the first decade of this century, Ronaldinho entertained the entire footballing world with his incredible footballing feats and it was no different in the 2006/2007 season. At the end of February, a duel between home side Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao took place in the Spanish La Liga.

Barcelona dominated this duel with a clear 3: 0 result, but it could have been an even more joyful victory. The Brazilian magician Ronaldinho performed one of his memorable football stunts, but his dribble through the opponent’s defence and a beautiful long ball unfortunately ended up on the crossbar. But the Brazilian took it all, as was his wont, with a smile.

#2 Ronaldo and Zidane’s collaboration didn’t end in a goal

The 2003/2004 season in the Spanish La Liga and the match between home team Real Valladolid and the star team Real Madrid. 15 minutes before the end of regulation time, the score was 2-2.

But that’s when the galactic duo of Ronaldo Nazário and Zinedine Zidane stepped in. Ronaldo, with his back to goal, passed the ball to his teammate in an unbelievable way, who with a classic “Zidane kick” got rid of the defender and then the goalkeeper, but his shot unfortunately went over the bar. Ronaldo finally saved the result in the last minute.

Galácticos at their best. On the pitch, Real Madrid fans could see the most beautiful football actions of their stars, but unfortunately the results were not always the same. Real Madrid finished second behind Barcelona that season and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.

#1 Pelé showed a stunt at the World Cup in Mexico that fans have never seen before

The 1970 World Cup in Mexico and a star-studded Brazil led by Pelé showed the best football in football history. But a resilient Uruguay stood in their way of winning the coveted World Cup gold in the semi-final clash.

Brazil won the match 3-1 and although one of the tournament’s biggest stars, Pelé, did not score, he produced a memorable moment that football fans had never seen before. After a pass from Tostao, he signalled to the Uruguayan goalkeeper to take the ball, but he did not touch it and the goal was exposed in front of him.

Unfortunately for football, Pelé missed the goal, but the Canaries were not sorry. In the final they beat Italy 4-1 and Pelé scored the first goal of the game. Brazil won the whole tournament and became world champions for the third time.

Source: Wikipedia, Twitter accounts – Emmy, Mother Soccer, Ball Knowledge, Yo 14.Tú? and Christian Martinoli