The soccer goals that live on might do so because they are just near impossibilities – like many scored by the Brazilian ‘hitman’ Roberto Carlos. Others survive in our memories because of the importance of the goal or the timing.

I’ve chosen five top notch soccer goals to highlight because they are memorable for me. You’ll all have your own opinions and your own favorites, and they’ll probably all be different from mine – that’s the beauty of football.

I’ll have to say before anybody comments that I know these goals were not all scored during World Cup Soccer; some are from qualifying games and from other championships, but they’re just awesome soccer goals nevertheless.

I’ll do it reverse numerical order:

5. Paul Gascoigne (England)

This is one of those occasions that shows how fast a game can change. The game was England against Scotland in the 1996 Euro Championships. England were 1-0 up, and Scotland won a penalty. Arguably the penalty should have been scored and the game tied. Soccer doesn’t work like that. Seamen, the England goalkeeper, saved the penalty with his elbow conceding a corner kick. The corner produced nothing more than a free kick for England, which saw a long ball flicked on for Gazza, who chipped up past his marker and volleyed a goal. England 2 – Scotland 0. Here’s how the action played out.

4. David Beckham (England)

Now this goal demonstrates the benefit of never giving up. The game was England against Greece in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup Finals. England had to at least draw the game for automatic qualification. In a sub-par performance England were losing 2-1 at full time, and entered injury time perhaps with World Cup dreams in tatters. In the 93rd minute Beckham did this. England 2 – Greece 2. Never had so many Englishmen celebrated so hard for drawing a match against a team expected to be severe underdogs!

3. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)

As soccer goals go, this is verging on the unbelievable. In fact this goal is from a Spanish league match – Real Madrid versus Tenerife – rather than a Brazil international. It’s a great great goal though. Scored running at full pelt from the touchline. I’ll write nothing more other than watch and marvel.

2. Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Just to balance out the two England soccer goals above, there was an international match between England and Argentina in the World Cup Finals of 1986, remembered for all the wrong reasons – the mysterious Hand of God! But to be fair to Maradona (like he wasn’t with England!) his second goal was an absolute gem. Half the length of the pitch solo effort past four or five defenders, suckered the keeper into dive, and then slotted it in – great solo effort, great goal. Here’s a reminder.

1. Roberto Carlos (Brazil)

This is possibly the best free kick I have ever seen. He scored it during Tournoi de France in 1997. A pretty unbelievable free kick, deliberately kicking the ball at least a yard wide of the goal from way out – look at his run up! Bent the ball all the way back in, and literally left everybody rooted to the ground in disbelief. Awesome! Here it is in all its glory.

Let’s all hope the soccer goals to be scored in the 2010 World Cup Finals can match the quality of some of these!