15 unremarkable footballers who had one major career-defining moment

Not every footballer becomes a legend, but some carve their names into history with a single unforgettable moment. This list highlights 15 players whose overall careers were unremarkable, but who delivered a moment of magic that will be remembered forever. From last-minute winners to title-clinching performances, these players proved that sometimes, one moment is all it takes.

On-loan Carlisle United goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored a dramatic 95th-minute goal against Plymouth Argyle to keep his club in the Football League on the final day of the 1998–99 season. Despite a career spent mostly in the lower leagues, this one goal, scored during just one of three appearances for the club, made him a legend. Channel 4 programme 100 Greatest Sporting Moments places his goal as the 72nd greatest sporting moment ever. It was also ranked seventh in The Times's list of the 50 most important goals in football history.

Kostas Manolas was a solid but unspectacular defender, yet his header in the 82nd minute of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg has gone down in history. AS Roma’s historic 3-0 win over Barcelona overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit, sending Roma through on away goals. Manolas’ celebration and Peter Drury's "Roma have risen from their ruins" commentary became legendary. The Greek later moved to Napoli, but never repeated such a moment on the biggest stage.

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Eder was a journeyman striker who never stood out at club level, but his extra-time winner against France in the Euro 2016 final secured Portugal’s first-ever major trophy. The forward, who was only on the field because of an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo, had scored just three international goals prior to that match. His big moment came in the 109th minute, a powerful strike from outside the box sealing his status as a national hero.

A left-back who played most of his club career for mid-table teams in Serie A, Grosso became an Italian national hero in 2006. He scored the decisive penalty in the World Cup final shootout against France, securing Italy’s fourth title. Earlier in the tournament, he also scored a crucial semi-final goal against Germany. He never hit such heights again.

Jared Borgetti was a prolific scorer in Mexico, but had a modest club career outside his home country. His most famous moment came in the 2002 World Cup group stage against Italy, where he scored one of the greatest headers in tournament history. Twisting his body mid-air, he looped a header over Gianluigi Buffon to give Mexico the lead. The goal is still widely regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest World Cup moments.

Dudek had an up-and-down club career but delivered one of the greatest goalkeeping performances in history in the 2005 Champions League final. He made a stunning double save against Andriy Shevchenko and then stopped two penalties in the shoot-out as Liverpool completed their famous comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan. The Pole never really had a chance to build on this performance; he lost his place in the team almost immediately to the incoming Pepe Reina and later became a backup at Real Madrid.

Macheda’s Manchester United career never took off, but his dramatic last-minute winner against Aston Villa in April 2009 was crucial in United’s title-winning season. A curling finish in stoppage time from the then 17-year-old gave United a 3-2 win and shifted momentum in the title race. Despite his early promise, he never made the grade at Old Trafford and bounced between clubs in England, Italy and Greece.

Hal Robson-Kanu was without a club during Euro 2016, yet he scored one of the tournament’s most memorable goals against Belgium in the quarter-finals. His Cruyff turn inside the box took out three defenders before he slotted home, helping Wales secure a 3-1 victory. It was a stunning moment for a player who spent most of his club career in England’s second tier. Wales reached their first-ever major semi-final, and Robson-Kanu’s goal became legendary.

Angelos Charisteas had a journeyman club career but became a national hero when he scored the winning goal in Greece’s shock 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Euro 2004 final. Having already scored against France in the quarter-finals, his powerful header in the 57th minute secured one of the biggest upsets in football history. But despite his international heroics, his club career never hit the same heights, with a nomadic existence in Germany and the Netherlands.

Wherever he's been, Divock Origi has never been a consistent starter, but his two goals against Barcelona in Liverpool’s 4-0 semi-final comeback made him a club legend. His early opener set the tone, and his instinctive finish from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner sealed the incredible turnaround. Origi then scored in the final against Tottenham, securing Liverpool’s sixth European title. Despite a mostly underwhelming time at Anfield, these moments cemented his place in Liverpool folklore.

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Jensen, a defensive midfielder with limited goal-scoring ability, shocked everyone by scoring the opening goal in Denmark’s 2-0 win over Germany in the Euro 1992 final— only his second goal for Denmark in 69 appearances. Denmark had only qualified after Yugoslavia’s withdrawal, making their triumph one of football’s greatest underdog stories. Besides a four-year spell at Arsenal, Jensen mostly played in his native country.

Mario Götze is undoubtedly a talented footballer. However, his career has been mostly overshadowed by injuries. That didn't stop him securing his place in history, though. The German scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina: a superb chest control and volley in the 113th minute gave Germany their fourth World Cup title.

Wiltord was never France’s top striker, but his last-minute equaliser in the Euro 2000 final against Italy forced extra time. His goal came in the 94th minute, a dramatic moment that later helped France become European champions, courtesy of David Trezeguet’s Golden Goal. While he had a decent club career, this was, without doubt, Wiltord's biggest contribution to French football.

Ahn Jung-hwan was a solid but unspectacular forward, yet he became a national hero when he scored South Korea’s Golden Goal against Italy in the 2002 World Cup Round of 16. His extra-time glanced header eliminated Italy and sent South Korea to the quarter-finals. The goal also ended his club career at Italian side Perugia, as the owner released him in anger.

Wout Weghorst has never been considered a top-tier striker. However, his quickfire brace in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, just ahead of a move to Manchester United, had fans pausing for thought. Coming on in the 79th minute with Argentina cruising 2-0, Weghorst's powerful header reduced the deficit. Then, in the 100th minute, the Netherlands executed a clever free-kick routine, with Weghorst finishing clinically to force extra time. The goal stunned Argentina and nearly led to one of the tournament’s greatest comebacks, with the Dutch going out on penalties (despite Weghorst scoring his spot-kick).

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