2016 has been frequently rubbish. If you liked cinema, music or anything at all really, then some of the biggest and most respected names in the business died this year.
We no longer have to deal with facts, since we live in a post-truth world, and 2017 is shaping up to be, at the very least, terrifying.
If there was one bright spot in the year, it was that there was plenty of footballing goodness to enjoy, and some absolute moments of magic on the field. Here's a look back at a few of 2016's best goals that took place outside of the Premier League, in no particular order.
Lionel Messi vs. United States
It's hard to pick a Messi goal from the year, given he normally provides over 60, but his record-breaking free kick against the USA - which made him his country's top goalscorer ever - was a bit special. Honorable mention also goes to this bit of Messi magic.
Oscarine Masuluke vs. Orlando Pirates
The goalkeeper coming up for the last minute corner almost never works, but that's perhaps because few 'keepers have the technique and ability to do something along the lines of Masuluke's spectacular effort.
Mesut Ozil vs. Ludogorets Razgrad
With the game in the balance in the Champions League against Ludogorets, Mesut Ozil produced a moment of magic and gave Arsenal a 3-2 win, scooping it over the keeper and sitting two defenders down on their behinds along the way.
Robbie Benson vs. Legia Warsaw
Bensons scored some huge goals for Dundalk on their European adventure this seaosn, but the screamer against Legia Warsaw was something very special indeed.
PICK IT OUT
Golazo de Robbie Benson que da esperanzas al humilde #Dundalk. Gana 0-1 a #Legia pero necesita al menos otro. #UCL pic.twitter.com/X8kYf3vRZ4
— Golocio (@golocio) August 23, 2016
Radja Nainggolan vs. Wales
He was given far too much space, sure, but he still picked out the top corner with an absolute belter. On the topic of Euro 2016, honorable mention to Xherdan Shaqiri's stunner against Poland.
Kevin Prince Boateng vs. Villareal
Las Palmas made headlines with one of the goals of the year that had five-a-side teams the world over trying to emulate this miraculous passage of play.
Artiz Aduriz vs. Marseille
The Basque forward made a beautiful connection with this volley against Marseille in February, which was only topped by his five goal haul in a single game in the same competition later in the year.
Diego Perotti vs. Viktoria Pilzen
A lobbed Rabona is a difficult skill to pull off, and while we're still not 100% sure he meant it, it looked pretty darn good.
Xabi Alonso vs. Werder Bremen
Two reasons for including this:
1) It's Xabi Alonso and he's brilliant.
2) It's freakishly similar to a goal he previously scored for Bayern back in 2015.
Darío Benedetto vs. Quilmes
The words "traction engine" and "foot like a," are thrown around a lot these days...
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