Football is a game of breathtaking moments, stunning goals, and unforgettable celebrations. But just as goals define matches, so do missed opportunities. Some misses are understandable- tight angles, last-minute defensive pressure, or tricky bounces. However, some open goal misses are so shocking that they leave fans, players, and managers in disbelief. In this article, Win Tips will explore the top 6 worst open-goal misses in football history.
Top 6 worst open goal misses that left fans in disbelief
Below are the top 6 open goal misses by famous players in football history:
6. Diego Forlán (Manchester United vs Juventus) – 2003
Diego Forlán’s shocking miss in a friendly match against Juventus remains one of the most unforgettable moments of his Manchester United career. Despite the match being a non-competitive fixture, the miss left fans and commentators in disbelief. With Manchester United already leading 4-1, Forlán had a golden opportunity to add to the tally after capitalizing on a defensive error. A miscommunication between the Juventus defender and goalkeeper gifted Forlán the ball at the edge of the box.
With nothing but the open goal in front of him, the Uruguayan striker rushed his shot and inexplicably sent the ball wide. This moment highlighted the inconsistency that often plagued Forlán during his time at Old Trafford, despite his undeniable talent. Though he later became a prolific goal scorer for Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, this miss is still one of his most infamous moments in a Manchester United shirt.
5. Fernando Torres (Chelsea vs Manchester United) – 2011
Fernando Torres’ miss against Manchester United in 2011 is one of the most infamous moments in Premier League history. After his high-profile transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011, Torres struggled to justify his £50 million price tag, enduring one of the worst goal droughts of his career. His struggles came to a head in a crucial league clash at Old Trafford.
With Chelsea trailing 3-1 in the 83rd minute, a perfectly timed through ball from Ramires sliced open Manchester United’s defense, leaving Torres one-on-one with goalkeeper David de Gea. The Spaniard effortlessly dribbled past De Gea, leaving himself with an empty net to score in. However, instead of slotting the ball home, he somehow managed to send his shot wide of the post. The stunned reaction from fans, commentators, and even Torres himself cemented this as one of the most embarrassing misses in Premier League history. This moment became symbolic of Torres' struggles at Chelsea, despite eventually regaining some form and helping the club win the UEFA Champions League in 2012.
4. Yakubu Ayegbeni (Nigeria vs South Korea) – 2010
Yakubu Ayegbeni’s miss against South Korea in the 2010 FIFA World Cup is still remembered as one of the worst misses in the tournament’s history. Nigeria entered their final group stage match needing a victory to keep their hopes of qualification alive after suffering defeats to Argentina and Greece. The stakes were high, and every goal-scoring opportunity was crucial.
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In the second half, Nigeria had the perfect chance to level the game when Yusuf Ayila delivered a precise low cross from the left flank. The ball found Yakubu unmarked inside the six-yard box, with the South Korean goalkeeper already out of position. With nothing but an open net ahead of him, Yakubu somehow managed to push the ball wide of the post, leaving fans and commentators in utter shock. The miss overshadowed Yakubu’s otherwise successful international career and became the defining moment of Nigeria’s disappointing World Cup campaign. Despite later converting a penalty in the same match, the damage had already been done, and Nigeria crashed out of the tournament. To this day, Yakubu’s miss remains one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history.
3. Timo Werner (Germany vs North Macedonia) – 2021
Timo Werner’s infamous miss against North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers left fans and pundits baffled. As Germany, a historically dominant force in international football, struggled to find their rhythm under Joachim Löw, this match proved to be a major setback in their campaign.
After Ilkay Gündogan converted a penalty to equalize the game, Germany had the perfect chance to take the lead. Gündogan once again played a crucial role, breaking through North Macedonia’s defense and delivering a precise pass to Werner, who was in an excellent position inside the box. However, what should have been a simple tap-in turned into a moment of disaster. As the ball reached Werner, he mistimed his touch, and instead of a clean strike, the ball awkwardly ricocheted between his feet before rolling wide of the goal. It was a shocking miss that summed up Werner’s struggles in front of goal during his time at Chelsea and the German national team.
2. Marc Guiu (Chelsea vs Servette) – 2024
Marc Guiu’s missed opportunity in Chelsea’s Conference League qualifiers against Servette was a moment of pure frustration for both the player and his manager, Enzo Maresca. After enduring two seasons of underwhelming performances, Chelsea had to fight their way through qualifiers to secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League. With the team in a rebuilding phase, new signing Marc Guiu, who had impressed in pre-season after arriving from Barcelona, was given the chance to lead the attack.
Guiu, known for his instinctive goal-scoring ability, found himself in a golden position to score his first competitive goal for Chelsea. As part of his trademark pressing style, he intercepted a misplaced back-pass from the Servette defense and had only the goalkeeper to beat. The Swiss goalkeeper had already made a mistake by rushing out, leaving the net completely unguarded. It looked like a certain goal, but what followed was a moment that left Chelsea fans in disbelief.
1. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (PSG vs Strasbourg) – 2019- The worst open goal misses
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s inexplicable miss for Paris Saint-Germain against Strasbourg in 2019 is widely regarded as one of the worst open goal misses in football history. The Cameroonian forward, who was mainly a backup option behind stars like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, had an opportunity to become the hero in a match that could have secured PSG the Ligue 1 title that day. Instead, he became the subject of worldwide ridicule.
The moment unfolded when Christopher Nkunku found himself through on goal and produced a clever chip over the advancing Strasbourg goalkeeper. The ball was already rolling toward the net, destined to cross the line and put PSG ahead. Choupo-Moting, standing near the goal line, inexplicably decided to intervene. Instead of letting the ball roll into the net or applying a simple touch to confirm the goal, he somehow managed to stop the ball dead on the goal line. His misjudged touch denied PSG a crucial goal, leaving fans, teammates, and even the Strasbourg defenders in absolute shock.
The miss was so astonishing that it instantly went viral, with the BBC labeling it as the "worst miss in football history." PSG eventually failed to win the game, settling for a frustrating 2-2 draw, delaying their title celebrations.
Conclusion
These shocking moments remind us that even the best footballers can have inexplicable lapses in front of goal. Whether it was a friendly match or a crucial qualifier, each of these misses left fans stunned and often had lasting consequences for the players involved. The Top 6 worst open goal misses showcase not only the unpredictability of football but also the immense pressure that comes with playing at the highest level. While some of these players managed to redeem themselves later in their careers, their infamous misses will forever be etched in football history as some of the most unbelievable blunders the sport has ever seen.
