Classic Goals | Christian Vieri 1999
Relive this stunner from Inter-Parma, a goal that even Roberto Baggio applauded
For today’s classic goal, we go back to Week 3 of the 1999/2000 season when Marcelo Lippi’s Inter welcomed Alberto Malesani’s Parma to San Siro. As if those two iconic managers weren’t enough, the sides were filled with names that will be hugely familiar to anyone with more than a passing interest in Calcio.
Even with Roberto Baggio and Ronaldo missing this encounter with injuries, the starting XI for the home side still had stars including Angelo Peruzzi, Laurent Blanc, Christian Panucci, Luigi Di Biagio, Paulo Sousa and Ivan Zamorano, Meanwhile, the visitors paired Hernan Crespo and Marco Di Vaio in attack with Ariel Ortega just behind them, Diego Fuser and Dino Baggio in midfield, protecting a defence that had Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram lining up in front of a young Gigi Buffon.
The Nerazzurri struck early when Vieri chested down the ball, his perfectly weighted pass prodded home gleefully by Zamorano, only for Crespo to bring Parma level almost instantly. However, it was then that the man wearing no.32 for Inter would score arguably the very best goal of his career, stunning the capacity crowd with a truly sensational strike.
Sousa collected the ball and fired it forwards along the ground. In one swift movement, Vieri flicked it back inside with his heel, a move which left Thuram utterly dumbfounded. The Italy international then dispatched a thumping left-footed effort into the top corner, a shot which even Buffon had no chance of saving, and the striker streamed off to celebrate as San Siro rose to join him.
Just watch the video below, and remember that the man “marking” Vieri (Thuram) is one of the very best defenders of his – and indeed any other – generation. The goalkeeper (Buffon) is arguably the very best to ever stand between the posts. And there is Christian Vieri, rendering both of them completely helpless as he nets a truly sensational goal. In the stands, even Baggio stood to applaud.
Inter would go on to score three more times that afternoon through Francesco Moriero, a second for Zamorano and a Thuram own goal, but the game will always be remembered for Vieri’s unstoppable strike.
Full highlights: