Sometimes, a football goal is more than just a goal.
Sometimes, it instantly reminds fans of a legendary moment from the past.
That’s exactly what happened when Musa Al-Taamari scored his stunning goal against Lyon — a finish that immediately brought back memories of Marco van Basten and his iconic volley against the Soviet Union in the Euro 1988 final.
The similarities were impossible to ignore.
The angle.
The technique.
The confidence.
The beauty of the strike.
For many football fans, it felt like watching a modern echo of one of the greatest goals ever scored.
Van Basten’s goal in 1988 became legendary because it combined elegance with impossibility. It was the kind of shot most players would never even attempt. Decades later, Musa Al-Taamari produced a moment that gave fans the same feeling — that rare football moment where instinct, technique, and courage come together perfectly.
What makes the comparison even more special is the journey of Musa Al-Taamari himself.
Coming from Jordan and building his career step by step through different leagues and challenges, Taamari has become one of the most recognizable Arab footballers in Europe. Moments like this show why so many fans admire his determination and creativity on the pitch.
Football has a beautiful way of connecting generations.
One legendary volley in 1988.
Another unforgettable strike decades later.
Young Real Madrid star Arda Güler produced one of the most incredible moments of the season with a stunning long-range goal against Elche.
Arda Guler long range goal cartoon Real Madrid Puskas Award
The Turkish talent noticed the goalkeeper off his line and decided to try something extraordinary. From a huge distance, Güler struck the ball perfectly, sending it flying into the net and leaving everyone in disbelief.
Goals like this don’t happen often. When they do, football fans immediately start talking about the Puskás Award, the prize given to the most beautiful goal of the year.
A Goal Worth the Puskás Award?
Many fans believe this incredible strike could already be a contender for the Puskás Award.
Long-range goals always capture the imagination of football lovers. They combine vision, courage, and a little bit of madness.
That’s exactly why this moment inspired a funny football cartoon imagining the ball traveling all the way into space before coming back down into the goal — with the legendary Puskás himself appearing at the end to celebrate.
Football Meets Cartoon Comedy
Football has always inspired creativity. From iconic celebrations to unbelievable goals, the sport often feels like a cartoon itself.
This animation exaggerates the moment in a playful way, showing just how unbelievable Arda Güler’s strike really was.
For fans of football and animation alike, it’s the perfect mix of sport and humor.
The Benfica curse is one of the most famous stories in European football history. Since 1962, when Béla Guttmann left the club after winning two European Cups, Benfica have failed to win another Champions League title. Some call it coincidence. Others believe it’s one of football’s strangest curses.
But what really happened?
Who Was Béla Guttmann?
Béla Guttmann was a Hungarian coach who led Benfica to back-to-back European Cup titles in 1961 and 1962. At the time, breaking Real Madrid’s dominance was considered almost impossible. Yet Guttmann built a young, dynamic team that conquered Europe.
After the second European Cup victory, Guttmann reportedly asked for a pay rise. The club refused.
He left the club and allegedly said:
“Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champions.”
That sentence became known as the origin of the Benfica curse.
How Many Finals Has Benfica Lost Since 1962?
Since Guttmann’s departure, Benfica have reached multiple European finals — and lost every single one.
They lost European Cup finals in:
1963
1965
1968
1988
1990
And later lost Europa League finals in:
1983
2013
2014
Each defeat strengthened the legend of the curse.
In 1990, before the final against AC Milan, Eusébio even visited Guttmann’s grave asking for forgiveness. Benfica still lost.
Was it bad luck? Financial power gaps? Or something psychological?
Is the Benfica Curse Real?
There is, of course, no supernatural explanation.
Modern football has changed dramatically since the 1960s. Financial power, broadcasting rights, and squad depth have transformed the Champions League. Clubs from Portugal operate with far smaller budgets compared to England, Spain, or Germany.
But the story of the Benfica curse persists because it represents something deeper: how one moment in history can shape decades of narrative.
In sports, belief matters.
The Curse of the Bambino: A Similar Story
Benfica’s story isn’t unique in sports.
In 1919, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. The owner needed money to finance a Broadway theater production.
After that decision, everything changed.
The Yankees became a dynasty.
Boston went 86 years without winning a championship.
Fans called it “The Curse of the Bambino.”
In 2004, the Red Sox finally won again — breaking the so-called curse.
The parallel is striking.
One decision.
Decades of consequences.
Why the Story Still Matters
Whether you believe in curses or not, the Benfica curse has become part of football folklore.
It is a story about:
Leadership decisions
Pride and ego
Financial limitations
Psychological pressure
And the weight of history
Every time Benfica reach Europe’s later stages, the narrative returns.
Can they finally break it?
Will the Benfica Curse Ever End?
Boston waited 86 years.
Benfica have been waiting since 1962.
Football has surprised us before.
Curses in sports may not be real — but history can feel heavy.
The real question is not whether it’s a curse.
It’s when — or if — Benfica will lift the Champions League again.
Alejandro Garnacho's spectacular overhead kick brought to mind numerous memorable goals, reminiscent of the brilliance seen in Rooney's remarkable strikes
Ferenc Puskas scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary. He became an Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup where he was named the tournament's best player.
