‘It was like Messi': Tottenham's Van de Ven runs 90 meters for stunning Champions League solo goal

AP , Wednesday 5 Nov 2025

With a mazy 90-meter run and clinical finish, Micky van de Ven might have already scored the goal of the season in the Champions League.

UEFA
Tottenham Hotspur's Dutch defender #37 Micky van de Ven (R) runs the length of the pitch and shoots to score their third goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Tottenham Hotspur and FC Copenhagen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. AFP

 

The Tottenham defender collected the ball on the edge of his own area and set off on a dazzling run that saw him burst through two FC Copenhagen players, go round another near the halfway line, then surge into the area before curling a left-footed shot inside the near post.

The 64th-minute solo goal made it 3-0 to Tottenham and was Van de Ven’s sixth goal already this season.

Not bad for a center back.

“To be honest, I saw a little gap in front of me so I was like, ‘OK, I start dribbling now and see if they catch up,’” the Netherlands international said. “I saw the space every time, more and more, and I felt like I’m through now and I go for goal.

“I just felt I could keep going and going. And I did.”

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was fulsome with his praise.

“That could be goal of the season, definitely,” Frank said. “It was like Lionel Messi transformed into a center back.”

Tottenham wound up winning 4-0.

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