Reflecting on the 19-year-old’s audacious finish against Everton on Nov. 26 at Goodison Park, Gary Neville shared on Sky Sports, “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a stadium where I’ve seen an overhead kick that good … and I was there for Wayne Rooney’s against Manchester City.”
The game marked Everton’s first after the initial announcement of a 10-point deduction against the club, stirring a loud, defiant home crowd eager to push their team to victory against the Red Devils. However, within the first three minutes, Garnacho transformed the stadium into the quietest place on Merseyside.
United right-back Diogo Dalot delivered a hopeful ball from the right wing into the box, and the Argentina international took a few steps back to find his angle and the ball. Not only did he find it, but he obliterated it, releasing a breathtaking bicycle kick that soared over Jordan Pickford and into the top right corner. It was the football version of Picasso’s Guernica: fiery and beautiful simultaneously.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes dubbed it “out of this world” post-match. While bicycle kicks have been seen before, this one was special because Garnacho had to track back, away from goal, to meet a cross coming from the opposite direction.
“Probably he’s watching too many Cristiano clips! We all know that he’s a big fan,” Fernandes joked.
A goal-of-the-season winner and one that would undoubtedly make Ronaldo proud.
“I can’t believe it,” Garnacho told Sky Sports. “I didn’t see how I scored; I just heard the sound and thought, ‘Oh my God’. It’s the best goal I’ve ever scored, of course.” Sometimes, it’s best to let the scorer highlight the brilliance of a goal.
What the Argentinian winger didn’t mention is that he leapt about five feet in the air with his back to the goal, executing an acrobatic overhead kick to send Diogo Dalot’s cross into the top corner.
For a moment, everyone inside Goodison Park was stunned; few could believe what they had witnessed. After a brief silence, the away end erupted, savoring one of the few bright spots in Manchester United’s season.
Few players have the audacity to attempt such feats, but Garnacho’s impeccable technique and youthful fearlessness make him stand out, even in an underperforming team.