“Is this his last kick of a football for Chelsea? You can’t believe it. It all comes down to this. One kick of the ball from Didier Drogba.”
A harrowing silence ensues. The net ripples.
“It’s the greatest night in Chelsea history. Champions of Europe at last.”
Didier Drogba’s penalty that secured Chelsea their first and only Champion’s League trophy to date has to go down as one of the greatest moments in modern footballing history.
The Ivorian – on his last appearance for the club – almost single handedly rescued the Blues from the brink of defeat to hand the club, the fans and Roman Abramovich the trophy they had been waiting for a lifetime.
Drogba was and still remains Chelsea’s greatest ever. He won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and, of course, that Champions League trophy during his two-stints at Stamford Bridge, making him one of the club’s most coveted players of all time.
351 goals for club and country. But which 10 are the best? Here, on what is his 39th birthday, we take a closer look…
10) Galatasaray 3-2 Real Madrid, 2013
The big man proved he still had it with this sublime back heel finish vs. Real Madrid in the knock-out stages of the Champions League back in 2013.
3-0 down from the first leg, Drogba and the Turkish outfit did their best at a thrilling comeback, but it wasn’t to be, with a late Ronaldo goal ending all hopes of a revival.
9) Chelsea 2-1 Hull City, 2010
Did he mean it? I’m convinced he did. This audacious finish gave Carlo Ancelotti a winning start to his Chelsea career as Drogba’s last minute chip secured all three points for the home side in what was a tense opening day fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Some would say the Ivorian was aiming for Kalou in the middle, but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
8) Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea, 2012
It would seem rude not to put an international goal in this list considering Drogba is his country’s all time top scorer with 65 goals.
Many of them weren’t the stunning strikes he was used to scoring, but this goal vs Guinea was an absolute trademark header from the big man, who rifled Yaya Toure’s cross into the top corner.
7) Marseille 1-0 Montpellier
There was a reason Chelsea paid £24million for Drogba, and this is why. Voted Ligue 1’s Goal of the Season, this terrific volley secured Marseille victory in a tense 1-0 victory over Montpellier and added to Drogba’s tally of 19 for the season in his only term with the club.
6) Chelsea 2-1 AC Milan, 2009
A goal that may fall into the category of insignificant in terms of importance considering it was a pre-season friendly in America, but this was still a fantastic strike.
The sheer audacity as Drogba picks the ball up 30-yards from goal and nonchalantly hammers it into the top corner without so much as even a look up is outstanding.
5) Everton 2-3 Chelsea, 2007
Pick that out. This thumping half volley secured Chelsea a dramatic late victory at Goodison Park in what was a thrilling fixture.
Drogba won the Premier League Golden Boot that season, but perhaps this was the pick of the bunch.
4) Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United, 2007
Mr Cup Final himself at it again as he played a brilliant one-two with Frank Lampard, only to dink the ball over Edwin Van de Sar and all but seal the FA Cup for the Blues.
It was the first cup final goal ever scored at the new Wembley Stadium, and it was certainly one to remember.
3) Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea, 2006
The Blues came from behind to clinch the 2006 Carling Cup final with this textbook header from the striker. Possibly the best big game player there has ever been, this was one of nine cup final goals he scored for Chelsea, which is an astonishing record, and something that no player has yet to replicate in world football.
2) Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool, 2006
That is absolutely outrageous. The control, the swivel and the strike. Quite how Didier Drogba managed this I’ll never know, as his 18-yard wonder strike left Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina wondering what on earth had happened.
1) Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea, 2012
Yes, the penalty is arguably the greatest moment in Drogba’s career, but the best goal? It has to be the one that earned him that spot kick. The Blues looked down and out in the Champions League final, but thanks to this bullet header in the 88th minute, the game went to extra time and penalties – we all know what happened next.