90 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Maxi Rodriguez
Argentina v Mexico
Germany 2006 | Last 16
Zentralstadion, Leipzig
“You only ever used your left foot to get into your car!” Oswaldo Sanchez told Maxi Rodriguez when they next met.
In the city home to the BMW and Porsche automobile manufacturing plants, the Argentina winger had driven a left-foot volley past the Mexico goalkeeper with supersonic speed.
“When I saw it coming towards me, I was going to chest it on to my right foot, my stronger foot,” explained Rodriguez. “But I could see there was a defender on that side, so I brought it down on to my left.
“I knew I’d caught it perfectly as soon as I’d hit it. I watched it all the way and, when it beat the keeper and flew in, I just went crazy. I’d never scored a goal like that with my left. Goals like that just come out of the blue.”
Rodriguez’s extra-time stunner parked Argentina in the quarter-finals.
