With all the furore over the “handcuffed” goal celebration used by Tim Cahill on Sunday, the real issue has not been addressed.

Last weekend the Premier League featured some pretty pathetic attempts to mark important goals. Matt Derbyshire wheeled out the tried and tested “rocking the baby” after his wife had twins - hardly original. And Yakubu’s crossed arms are just another reminder of Alan Shearer’s one-handed salute.

Fans love original, smart celebrations. To help the current crop of players who seem more concerned with which car to buy or Page 3 model to date, here is the definitive list of the 10 greatest goal celebrations ever:

'Last weekend the Premier League featured some pretty pathetic attempts to mark important goals'


10. Ray Houghton: After lobbing the ball home against Italy in the 1994 World Cup, Houghton did a crazy little “roly-poly.” It looked silly but was a reminder of the crazy things footballers do after scoring career-defining goals. Michael Thomas’s winner at Anfield in 1989 was also followed by a poor attempt at being a gymnast; somehow both goals were enhanced by the dodgy celebration. (Video evidence here.)

9. Roger Milla: Nobody knew how old Milla was but once he scored goals and wiggled his hips, no one cared. The fact that he celebrated this way four times during the 1990 World Cup only made it more famous. (Video evidencehere.)

8. Robbie Fowler: For years there were rumours circulating around Internet chat rooms that Fowler was addicted to cocaine. His “sniffing the line” celebration after his equalising penalty in a Merseyside derby against Everton is one of the most famous moments in Premier League history. And in one fell swoop he dismissed all rumours about his drug-taking habits. (Video evidence here.)

7. Eric Cantona: Only Eric the King could celebrate like he did after his sublime chip against Sunderland in 1996. Whilst Old Trafford went mental the French striker simply looked round in feigned astonishment. Brilliant. (Video evidence here.)

6. Diego Maradona: Arguably the best player ever, Maradona did not have the best of times at the 1994 World Cup. But his celebration after his goal against Greece will live long in the memory. He screamed at the camera as if he was on drugs - and in fact he was.
(Video evidence here.)

5. Craig Bellamy: The Welsh striker has not exactly endeared himself to fans of English football. However, his celebration in the Nou Camp in the Champions League last season was one of the most ironic and humorous ever to grace a football pitch. John Arne Riise probably didn’t enjoy it but it made everyone else laugh. (Video evidence here.)

4. Paul Gascoigne: Similar to Bellamy and Fowler above, the best celebrations often involve a retort to criticism which usually evolves from the media hacks. The England squad received the full treatment from Fleet Street after their “dentist chair” escapades before Euro 96 and ex-Spurs idol Gazza’s response was nothing short of genius. (Video evidence here.)

3. Temuri Ketsbaia: After scoring a late goal against Bolton, the Georgian striker simply went mental. He proceeded to remove his kit and kick the boardings repeatedly. The Premier League could do with a few more nutters like Ketsbaia these days. (Video evidence here - 6mins in.)

2. The Acrobats - Lomano Tresor, Lua Lua, Nani etc: If all football fans despair of Titus Bramble because they think they are better than the Wigan defender, then the acrobatic goal celebration works in exactly the opposite way. When a class player such as Nani scores a great goal and complements it with 33 somersaults, finally we feel these pampered stars deserve all the money they receive. (Video evidence here.)

1. Marco Tardelli and Fabio Grosso: If I was to score a crucial goal in a World Cup semi-final or final, I like to think I would celebrate like Tardelli and Grosso. Somehow only an Italian can celebrate like this but it doesn’t make it any less brilliant. (Video evidence here and here.)

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