Just like that, we’ve now witnessed the game’s greatest overhead kick.
It cannot be beaten in terms of technique or execution.
For 0.86 seconds, all of Goodison Park was spellbound as the ball flew from Alejandro Garnacho’s foot into Everton’s goal.
It was better than Dimitar Berbatov against Liverpool. Better than Andy Carroll against Crystal Palace. Better than Emre Can against Watford. Better than Cristiano Ronaldo against Juventus. Better than Gareth Bale against Liverpool. Better than Wayne Rooney in the Manchester derby, not least because he actually shinned that one.
I tried the odd overhead kick in my time. Of course I did. But I knew my limitations as a striker. I’d sooner head home than pretend I was some sort of trapeze artist.
Alejandro Garnacho’s wonderful overhead kick opened the scoring for Man United at Everton
Garnacho’s strike was the best overhead kick in the history of the game, it cannot be beaten for technique or execution
It is superior to former Manchester United man Wayne Rooney’s effort from 2011, which he actually shinned
But Garnacho had the balls to try it less than three minutes into this match.
You get to Carnegie Hall with practice. But this isn’t something you work on in training. It’s a spur-of-the-moment thing and Garnacho connected so seamlessly as he was retreating towards his own goal, adjusting his body to meet the ball.
His confidence must be through the roof to ever entertain the idea of such a spectacle.
It is no wonder he copied Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘siuuu’ celebration in the aftermath. He earned it.
Even I was excited by it, and that’s saying something, because I’m hardly the biggest Manchester United fan!
Make room on your mantelpiece, Mr Garnacho. The Premier League Goal of the Season award is heading your way in May.