Glass Football Against Blue Background

Revealing the Best of the Best of Chelsea’s Goal of the Season Winners

As the campaign draws to a close, thoughts turn to Chelsea’s end-of-season awards.

Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer are just two of the trophies that will be dished out, while the club will also anoint its Goal of the Season – permed, in recent years, from the results of a fan vote.

In 2024/25, cases can be made in particular for Cole Palmer’s ingenious lob against Wolves all the way back in August 2024, while Nicolas Jackson’s strike against Newcastle in October will also be on the radar.

The winner will join a rollcall of stunning goals scored during the Premier League era by Chelsea players, and – as is the case with all artforms – determining the best is very much a question of subjectivity.

But, for our money, here’s a rundown of the five best Goal of the Season winners in Chelsea’s modern history.

#5 – Michael Essien (vs Arsenal, 2006/07)

There are few things more satisfying in football than a thunderbolt shot from outside the penalty area that nestles in the back of the net… particularly when it’s your team doing the scoring.

Michael Essien made a habit of scoring worldies during his days with Chelsea, although this swerving strike has to be right up there with the best of them.

Arsenal were leading 1-0 at Stamford Bridge back in December 2006, and all three points looked set to be heading north as the game ebbed into its final throes.

Frank Lampard received the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box, spun and laid the ball off to Essien, who was positioned around 25 yards out from goal.

He fired off the perfect knuckleball strike with his laces; the slow motion replays confirming that, as the ball left the Ghanaian’s boot, it was heading handsomely wide of the post.

But then the curve took hold, and while Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann dived, it was a futile gesture from the German: there was no fathomable way that Essien’s shot could or would be stopped.

#4 – Eden Hazard (vs Tottenham, 2015/16)

Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham back in May 2016 was one of the Premier League’s greatest games – four goals, 29 shots, 15 corners and 12 yellow cards barely telling the tale.

The game is also famous for Mark Clattenburg’s remarkable claim that he let Spurs ‘self destruct’ as their title hopes were crushed by Eden Hazard’s world-class equaliser.

The Belgian received the ball on the halfway line, drove forward and beat a couple of Tottenham players, before laying off a pass. He continued his run, got the ball back and curled home the most sumptuous strike into the top left-hand corner.

Stamford Bridge erupted; it’s a shame that Hazard’s outrageous goal is often forgotten amidst a game often labelled the ‘Battle of the Bridge’.

#3 – Ramires (vs Barcelona, 2011/12)

Leading 1-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were still something of an underdog to advance from their Champions League semi-final with Barcelona at the Nou Camp in April 2012.

Those chances looked even more remote when Sergi Busquets levelled for the Catalan side, before Gary Cahill limped off injured and John Terry was sent off for an off-the-field clash with Alexis Sanchez.

Andres Iniesta put Barca 2-1 ahead on aggregate, and ten-man Chelsea looked to be exiting the competition.

Step forward Ramires, the mercurial Brazilian who showed flashes of brilliance throughout his time at Stamford Bridge. But none of them were quite as brilliant – or pertinently timed – as his glorious chip that silenced the Nou Camp.

The Blues, somehow, went on to draw the game 2-2… completing a remarkable 3-2 aggregate win, which is surely one of the best in the club’s history.

#2 – Moises Caicedo (vs Bournemouth, 2023/24)

Yes, the goalkeeper was nowhere to be seen. But Moises Caicedo’s goal from the halfway line against Bournemouth in May 2024 takes some topping.

A through ball was cut out by the Cherries shot stopper, who was only able to half clear. The ball found its way to the feet of Caicedo, who – from a full 50 yards – lofted a shot over the covering defender and into the back of the net for his first Chelsea goal.

#1 – Mateo Kovacic (vs Liverpool, 2021/22)

To win the ultimate Chelsea Goal of the Season, any strike has to bring plenty of technical ability and wow factor to the table.

And that’s exactly what Mateo Kovacic delivered in spades back in January 2022, with a volley that was as technically challenging as any as you’ll ever see.

Here’s the key to it: when Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s punch reaches Kovacic around 25 yards from goal, he’s in the wrong position to volley it back – watch how he adjusts his feet before connecting with the ball in one fluid motion.

Gary Neville’s reaction on commentary says it all…