Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard: Where does Dan Burn’s header rank among the greatest in UEFA Champions League history?
Published 06/11/2025 at 11:44 GMT
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Where does Dan Burn's spectacular header against Athletic Club rank in the pantheon of great UEFA Champions League headed goals? We took a look back at some of the greatest, including goals from Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. You can watch and stream the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Gerrard, Ronaldo, Messi: Where does Burn's header rank among the greatest?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Dan Burn opened the scoring in spectacular style for Newcastle in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Athletic Club on Wednesday.
In the 11th minute of the match, England defender Burn connected with a Kieran Trippier free-kick, and bent a beautiful header from distance into the far corner.
TNT Sports expert Joe Cole said it was one of the "best headers I've ever seen".
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described the goal as an "incredible finish", while TNT Sports cameras caught Alan Shearer - Newcastle's all-time leading goalscorer - warmly applauding the defender; a header that he would surely be proud to have on his own highlight reel.
But where does the goal rank among the best headers in Champions League history? And which is your favourite?
Steven Gerrard v AC Milan (Champions League final, 2005)
While perhaps not the most spectacular goal of Steven Gerrard’s outstanding career, his guided, inch-perfect header past a flat-footed Dida in the 2005 Champions League final is arguably the most important.
Gerrard’s header saw Liverpool, who were 3-0 down against a star-studded AC Milan side, kick into gear, and it abruptly changed the atmosphere at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.
Two minutes later, Vladimir Smicer added Liverpool's second, and on the hour, Xabi Alonso remarkably brought Liverpool level.
Some spaghetti-leg antics from Jerzy Dudek in the penalty shootout saw Liverpool complete a remarkable comeback and be crowned European champions.
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard lifts the European Cup on an incredible night in Istanbul in 2005
Image credit: Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo v Roma (Champions League quarter-final, 2008)
In a pantheon of sublime career goals, Cristiano Ronaldo’s bullet header against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final is truly unique.
With the scores locked at 0-0 after 36 minutes in the Italian capital, Paul Scholes clipped a tantalising ball into the box.
Despite not being in the television frame when the cross was hit, nor in the box, Ronaldo thundered into view, hung in the air and powered a header against the ground and beyond the goalkeeper.
"Look at that," said TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole, while watching the goal back. "Hang time as well. He nearly knocked out the fullback, he spun him around!"
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Cristiano Ronaldo scores his famous header for Manchester United against Roma in 2008
Image credit: Getty Images
Lionel Messi v Manchester United (Champions League final, 2009)
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona were leading 1-0 in the 2009 Champions League final, when pint-sized Argentina icon Lionel Messi peeled away from his marker Rio Ferdinand, leaped into the air and craned his neck to meet Xavi’s sumptuous cross.
Having seemingly hung for an age, Messi directed the ball over the towering figure of Edwin van der Sar and into the top corner to essentially seal the first of his three Champions League titles with the Catalan giants.
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Indeed, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner later named the header against United in Rome as his career favourite.
"I had many goals that are perhaps even more beautiful and of enormous value, also because of their importance, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United was always my favorite," Messi said earlier this year.
Didier Drogba v Bayern Munich (Champions League final, 2012)
With two minutes remaining and Chelsea trailing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, Didier Drogba stepped up to power a header beyond the impregnable Manuel Neuer and claw Chelsea into extra-time.
It was a moment of inspiration and necessity, with Chelsea having looked the inferior side for much of the 90 minutes.
Drogba took centre stage again soon after, netting the Blues’ decisive fifth spot-kick and sealing their first ever Champions League triumph.
On the header, former Chelsea star Cole told TNT Sports: "It was not as good as Dan Burn’s, but in terms of importance [it was the best Champions League header]. Chelsea had not been up the pitch at all."
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UCL Rewind: The moment Drogba secured Chelsea’s first Champions League triumph
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