11 Jan 2024 13:37:58
Question for edds and posters.
Who's the best header of the ball you've seen (attacking wise) . I'd have to go with Cristiano Ronaldo. The height, accuracy and technique he mastered is insane.

{Ed001's Note - surely you need a requirement to put your head in where it hurts? He won't do that. Yes he has a fantastic leap, yes he is accurate but he is not going to risk damaging his pretty face to win a header. Just to put this name out there, as he is before my time, but I was often told John Charles was the best header of a ball ever - and he never lifted his arms when he jumped. Another old-time player is Billy Liddell, who could head the ball with such power that he could burst a ball.

I honestly don't know who is the best I have seen, because the ones I have only seen small amounts of seemed the best - the Mick Harfords, Iain Dowies etc. Actually being an ugly bugger might be an advantage as you are not worried about messing up your face. Duncan Ferguson was decent too. But I am going to say Tim Cahill. Not the tallest but the timing of his jumps was exceptional.}

1.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:43:07
Miizer your post really intrigued me mate and I googled top headers in football and it gave me the top 20 all time heading scorers and I was actually shocked by quite a few in there. In order it’s

Ronaldo, Mulller, Gonzalez, pele, de Jong, lewandowski, llorente, falcao, bas dost, Aduriz, dzeko, mandzukic, klose, cavani, crouch, benzema, Ramos, jimimez and silmani.

2.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:44:46
For liverpool John Barnes, fowler and jota the best headers of a ball from an attacking sense that I've seen. none of them too big either!
Shearer was excellent in air, scored some great goals . They say andy gray was brilliant in air as well but I don't remember him.

{Ed025's Note - you obviously never seen Bob Latchford Digger..

3.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:45:27
John Charles.

4.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:43:27
Edd001 give over ? Ronaldos scored incredible headed goals that other players that you've mentioned wouldn't even reach. The leap is an incredible attribute and Ronaldos mastered it. Also to be fair to him, he has put his head in many times coming out badly and scarred. That juventus header. You show me a better header than that. Ronaldo busts a gut to get on the end of chances. In his prime I never seen a better header of the ball and again I'll state attacking wise.

{Ed001's Note - why ask my opinion? Just wasted my time bothering to think of alternatives for you to just talk ignorant crap about players you haven't even seen.}

5.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:08:28
Bob Latchford there's a blast! Dixie Dean too another Evertonian. My vote goes to Jota ?.

6.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:11:51
Duncan Ferguson is the best header of a ball I have seen, Gary Speed was also very good with his head.

{Ed025's Note - you never seen me in my prime Thunderbird, scored many a great header mate and could rise like a sock-eyed salmon..

7.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:22:34
I think I'd go with Sergio Ramos. I know he was a defender but scored a hell of a lot of headers and the bloke would've headed a brick in if he'd had to. Very over rated as a defender but nobody I'd rather have attacking a corner.

{Ed025's Note - he was brave MK, not Tim Cahill brave but very decent mate..

8.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:32:44
Razor Ruddoch when he wore the Predator Headband .

{Ed025's Note - he reminded me of Rab-C-Nesbitt when he wore that Mcgoveb.. :)

9.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:34:49
What about Hendo when he dropped his captains arm band and morals and HEADED to Saudi for a big bag of money.

{Ed025's Note - love it JK.. :)

10.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:40:48
Bob Latchford. He was awesome in the air.
A handful on the deck too.

{Ed025's Note - my favourite player of all time Flash..

11.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:41:21
crouchy wasn’t bad but don’t know how much of that was down due to his height rather than his heading ability. Still though more than half of his 104 PL goals were headers which is a great stat!

12.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:43:08
Sorry lads but without doubt Andy gray.

{Ed025's Note - certainly right up there ace..

13.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:46:22
No never seen Latchford play ed25, no.9 was he?

{Ed025's Note - yes Digger and what a centre forward mate, had it all and was lethal in front of goal..

14.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 21:03:53
While I wouldn’t go as far as to the best, Sami Hypia always impressed me in the air. You’d to give John Terry a shout as well I suppose.

15.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 21:06:55
Tim Cahill is a good shout for sure. Always thought Mane was great in the air for being a smaller lad.

16.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 22:16:38
Interesting how some of the smaller lads are quality.

Cahill was brilliant and I would argue Jota is up there as well.

I have to go with the person who scored the best headed goal I’ve ever seen live, and that’s Suarez for the one against West Brom. Edge of the box, bullet header, top bins. Magnificent.

17.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 22:23:53
Fernando Llorente was a decent header of a ball.

18.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 23:08:18
Keith Houchen.

19.) 12 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 22:57:34
Weakest part of my game. Ed001 used to say Morton could never track the flight of a ball in the air. I was the exact same. Wherever the ball landed, I just wasn't there. Even when I was absolutely trying to be. I think I used just get bored or something when it was in the air.

I was ok from corners and stuff but could not judge those blasted kick outs for some reason.

20.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 01:38:17
Harry Friggin Maguire, the goat, the cement head, hands down nest ever.

21.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 03:26:04
Oliver Bierhoff or Klose for goalscoring but Jan Koller always looked like a nightmare for defenders but overall Luca Toni for me.

22.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 05:25:28
Alisson Becker is the best header of a ball just ask West Brom
Not a bad keeper either.

23.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 06:10:31
Klinsmann.

24.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 06:47:25
Mizer, I did read a while back that Jota had been working w Ronaldo on how to increase his vertical leap and heading technique. Clearly works well for him outjumping the Arsenal CB to plant one on the bar.

25.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 06:58:10
For a little guy, Luis Garcia.

26.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 00:36:12
Wasn’t there a £30k bounty on who would score 30 goals first between latchford and king Kenny.

{Ed025's Note - i think the latch won that one John..

27.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 07:08:06
Dion dublin, les Ferdinand.

28.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 08:35:39
As a boy I once watched a clip of Kevin Keegan training, working on his headers whilst he was at Liverpool.
It obviously paid off as he was also very good in the air, especially for his size.

29.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 08:47:51
Big John Tosh was decent ?.

30.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 09:30:28
Ivan Zamorano.

31.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 09:32:50
Wait, Ed025 had a prime? Was that before or after the Ice Age?

{Ed025's Note - i did have a prime Oli, late 70,s early 80,s mate and before you start it started with a 19 .. :)

32.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 11:36:21
First of all, OP, what are you on, mate? You get an excellent knowledgeable answer to your random question, and you don’t even bother? Only wanting confirmation of your own beliefs. I for one am grateful every day for the time and effort that is provided here. Discussion, and different opinions, sure, but your response is just… wow. Walk of shame for you.

But a fun random question it was. I really cannot rate one as ‘best’, but…

For effectiveness, well, I’ve only seen Alisson head the ball once. The one header I celebrated and laughed with the most.

For jaw-droppingness, I also loved the Suarez bullet one mentioned. Though, by being an utter tool, he’ll obviously never top any list here. But also on merit. He is not at the top. Mane and Jota surpasses for me. Being a shortie, they resonate with me more than Big Crouchie.

Big Sami also has a place in my heart. But, as being the best CB at Liverpool any given time, you are perhaps likely to be head and shoulders in this department.

Prior to that, my memories are a child’s. Fowler could do nothing wrong. (Neither could Shearer. )

Outside of Liverpool? Surely Tim Cahill as mentioned. Worst opponent in this regard. Henrik Larsson was not half bad I think? I remember some wonderfully timed flying headers. That Argentinian guy scored a beautiful hander?

Yeah. I don’t rate general ability. Not my expertise. So my award definitely goes to Alisson as the greatest header of the footy ball.

33.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 12:00:12
For me its also about bravery so despite his record it rules out Ronaldo (maybe I just don't like him anyhow ha) Stapleton and Hughes from Man U, Gray, Latchford and Cahill from Everton, Archibald, Klinsmann (Spurs), Shearer, Terry, Quinn (from Arsenal/ City/ Sunderland) . The 'pool never really had an out and out header (I don't remember Tosh) cos of the way we played - ball on the deck mostly. Of those I think Cahill for his timing, hang time and bravery would be the best I have seen.

34.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 14:44:35
Cahill was a great header of the ball, especially considering his size.

Les Ferdinand was another, real bullet type headers he scored, Crouch scored a right few too as did Shearer and Giroud had a great headed ability too tbh

Some great defenders to mention too, both defensive and attacking headers - Hyypia had a great header on him, Gary Pallister, Vidic and Terry too

Though I did like Fowler, still remember his headed goal against Villa, diving header at the 18yard box, crazy goal that - think he might have got a hat trick that game if memory serves.

35.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 14:57:31
Carlos puyol for a small guy he won a lot of aerial duels.

36.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 15:52:04
Wasnt Riedle quite good in the air?

37.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 15:57:49
I can't believe noone has mentioned the mighty Nat Philips. As someone once mentioned on here, he would header a jumbo jet!

I'll tell you who the worst header of the ball is though. Mo Salah. He never even challenges. I assume he gambles instead on a miscue which he'd pounce on for a goal. Which is a tactic I suppose. This probably happens about once a season.

38.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 16:45:17
I think everyone’s been mentioned ?.

{Ed025's Note - except Joey Barton Irish...and hes the biggest head the ball ever mate.. :)

39.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 16:46:14
Rudd Gullit.

40.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 19:41:21
I didn’t read all the posts as many just mentioned the same names over and over again but I didn’t see Lee chapmans name, he’s almost single handily won Leeds Utd the title back in the early 90’s every goal he scored seemed to be a header.

41.) 13 Jan 2024
13 Jan 2024 03:11:33
Cahill is a great shout, always felt he was dangerous whenever playing against us and his ability with his head was exceptional. Didn’t like him at the time for obvious reasons but looking back a hell of a player. Shearer and Zamorano have been mentioned too and they’re great shouts. It’s actually a tough question given the various factors at play. In terms of best headed goal I’ve seen I remember Luis Garcia scored an absolute pearler.

42.) 13 Jan 2024
13 Jan 2024 13:36:58
Jota!

43.) 13 Jan 2024
13 Jan 2024 14:08:33
Andy Grey (the Scottish one) who played from Everton (and Villa I think) was a good header of the ball too.