Roberto Baggio At 50: 10 Perfect Goals

1. FIORENTINA Vs. Napoli (Serie A, 1989/90)

By the late '80s, Baggio's name was being used more and more frequently alongside that of Napoli's greatest ever player, Diego Maradona, and when Fiorentina faced off against the Partenopei in September 1989, the flowering forward demonstrated first-hand to El Diez that the comparisons were justified.

As Baggio effortlessly skipped past the staggered Napoli midfield before wrong-footing a confounded Giuliano Giuliani and gracefully sliding the ball into the net, Maradona must have felt like he was replaying his memories: the goal had all the hallmarks of his legendary strike against England at World Cup '86.

Maradona may have had the 'hand of God', but for former Fiorentina manager Aldo Agroppi, the angels sang in Roberto Baggio's legs. That resplendent September afternoon in Naples, their chorus was as immaculate as ever.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.