Best diving header? Henrik Larsson’s Euro 2004 effort against Bulgaria

When was the last time you saw a truly great diving header?

If Robin van Persie’s stunning effort at the 2014 World Cup was the first one that sprung to mind, it is probably worth reminding you that that was eight years ago now.

Of course it was truly iconic strike, especially when considering the context of it as well.

Netherlands were in the process of tearing reigning champions Spain to shreds when Van Persie soared through the sky to plant the ball in Iker Casillas’ net.

However, it wouldn’t be incorrect to claim that Van Persie’s header was a truly rare goal in a day and age when the diving header is becoming an increasingly lost art.

We all dreamed about landing one of our own as kids. The fantasy of getting on the end of the perfect cross with a perfectly timed dive was one we all shared.

As a result, we tend to romanticise these sorts of goals and, in a bid to keep true to form, we thought we would do a little bit more of that.

So, with that in mind, we thought we would throw it back even further to another truly iconic diving header, brought to us by the one and only Henrik Larsson.

Larsson truly lived the dream in a clash with Bulgaria at the 2004 European Championships as he nodded home a quite spectacular header to send Sweden on their way.

It’s a fantastic goal from whichever angle you look at it, and one truly deserving of the title of one of the best diving headers ever.

From the jump, to the connection, to the ball rocketing into the bottom corner, it all just makes for fantastic viewing.

You can see the brilliant moment in the clip below:

18 years ago today:Henrik Larsson soars like a golden fucking eagle vs Bulgaria at Euro 2004.Incredible.pic.twitter.com/EdBteNKn1N

Fantastic – one of the most perfectly