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Famous FIFA World Cup Goals: Manuel Negrete’s Acrobatic Classic
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Mexico's Manuel Negrete, wearing number 22, lands after scoring a dramatic scissor-kick goal against Bulgaria at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, with players and a cheering crowd in the background.
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Famous FIFA World Cup Goals: Manuel Negrete’s Acrobatic Classic

Written by
Gitanjali Roy
Gitanjali Roy is deputy managing editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media.
Gitanjali Roy
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History
Mexico's Manuel Negrete, wearing number 22, lands after scoring a dramatic scissor-kick goal against Bulgaria at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, with players and a cheering crowd in the background.
Negrete's scissor kickMexican footballer Manuel Negrete's sensational scissor kick against Bulgaria at the 1986 FIFA World Cup was later voted the best goal in World Cup history.

The 1986 FIFA World Cup makes its third appearance in Britannica’s series on famous World Cup goals. Argentine superstar Diego Maradona dominated the tournament, scoring the infamous “hand of God” goal and the “goal of the century” in quick succession during a quarterfinal match against England. But it was another sensational goal, perfectly executed by Mexico’s Manuel Negrete, that fans later voted the best goal in the history of the World Cup. In the 34th minute of a round of 16 match against Bulgaria, Negrete passed to teammate Javier Aguirre and then launched himself sideways to scissor kick Aguirre’s return volley and score a dazzling goal. Mexico won the match 2–0 and advanced to the quarterfinals, in which it lost to West Germany on penalty kicks. (Watch Negrete’s stunning goal here.)

Gitanjali Roy
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