Scoring own goals happens to be one of the worst experiences for any player in their career. These blunders stick in everyone’s mind and often appear in highlight reels. While scoring for your team is a big deal, messing up like this is every player’s nightmare.
In this article, we look at the 11 worst own goals in football history. Each one is more surprising than the last. We’ve got defenders accidentally blasting the ball into their own net and crazy mix-ups between goalkeepers and defenders. These moments really show just how tough the game can be.
Before we move on, it's worth mentioning that for every goal, there are players who score big against the other team, which is how it should be. Check out our list of hat-trick heroes. Let’s revisit the own goals that redefined embarrassment and made the headlines across global football news platforms.
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11 Worst Own-Goals Scored in Football History
1. Andrés Escobar (Colombia vs. USA, 1994 World Cup)
2. Chris Brass (Bury vs. Darlington, 2006)
3. Frank Sinclair (Leicester City vs. Middlesbrough, 2002)
4. Jamie Pollock (Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers, 1998)
5. Lee Dixon (Arsenal vs. Coventry City, 1991)
6. Djimi Traoré (Liverpool vs. Burnley, 2005 FA Cup)
7. Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace vs. Portsmouth, 2004)
8. Jonathan Walters (Stoke City vs. Chelsea, 2013)
9. Festus Baise (Sun Hei vs. Citizen AA, 2011)
10. Peter Enckelman (Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City, 2002)
11. Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien (Germany, Bundesliga, 2002)
11. Rolf-Christel Guie-Mien (Germany, Bundesliga, 2002)
While playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, Guie-Mien tried to stop a cross but accidentally sent the ball flying into the top corner of his own net. It was an impressive shot, just not in the way he intended. The commentators were shocked, and the clip spread like wildfire long before viral videos became popular.
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10. Peter Enckelman (Aston Villa vs. Birmingham City, 2002)
It was really just a mix-up instead of a mistake. When Olof Mellberg sent a simple back-pass, Enckelman totally missed it. The ball ended up in the net, and Birmingham City fans went wild. The moment remains iconic in Birmingham derby history, and in compilations of goals for football gone terribly wrong.
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9. Festus Baise (Sun Hei vs. Citizen AA, 2011)
A defender in the Hong Kong Premier League amazed everyone with a wild back-heel kick that flew right past his own goalkeeper. At first, folks thought it was an incredible goal, until they figured out he scored on the wrong side. Festus Baise’s effort remains an internet sensation, frequently ranking in lists of football’s funniest own goals.
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8. Jonathan Walters (Stoke City vs. Chelsea, 2013)
Imagine scoring two own goals in one game. Jonathan Walters had quite the game against Chelsea in the Premier League. He scored two goals for the wrong team and even missed a penalty. That day, luck wasn't on his side. But surprisingly, he left the field with a bit of a smile.
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7. Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace vs. Portsmouth, 2004)
Popovic’s backheel into his own net was so well done that it would have been the talk of the town if it had happened at the other end. In a shocking moment, his slick finish caught everyone off guard, even his own goalie. It’s easily one of the most stylish yet unfortunate own goals in football news history.
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6. Djimi Traoré (Liverpool vs. Burnley, 2005 FA Cup)
Djimi Traoré’s own goal during an FA Cup third-round clash remains one of the most inexplicable mistakes in goals football lore. While trying to spin around in his own six-yard box, he accidentally sent the ball into his own net. As a result, Liverpool was knocked out of the tournament, and many fans look back on it as one of the club's most humiliating losses.
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5. Lee Dixon (Arsenal vs. Coventry City, 1991)
Lee Dixon was usually solid in defense, but he grabbed attention when he lobbed the ball over goalkeeper David Seaman from 25 yards away, while having no one on his back. What was meant to be a back-pass turned into an unexpected goal for the other team. A real head-scratcher in football top bloopers.
4. Jamie Pollock (Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers, 1998)
Described by many as the “greatest own goal ever scored,” Jamie Pollock showcased bizarre skills in a match that was crucial to City’s relegation battle. After he controlled the ball and got past a defender, he scored with a clever header over his own goalkeeper. In a twist, QPR fans ended up naming him their Player of the Century for helping them get promoted.
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3. Frank Sinclair (Leicester City vs. Middlesbrough, 2002)
Frank Sinclair had a strange knack for scoring own goals, but his infamous moment against Middlesbrough tops them all. During a regular play, he made a simple back-pass to his goalie, but instead, the ball rolled right into the goal. It was one of those mistakes that had fans shaking their heads in disbelief.
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2. Chris Brass (Bury vs. Darlington, 2006)
Chris Brass had a wild moment that ended up in blooper reels. He tried to clear the ball with an overhead kick but ended up kicking it right into his own face. The ball bounced off and went into the net. To make things worse, he broke his nose while doing it. A true own goal disaster!
1. Andrés Escobar (Colombia vs. USA, 1994 World Cup)
One of the most heartbreaking moments in football happened during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Colombian defender Andrés Escobar tried to block a low cross from the US team but ended up scoring an own goal instead.
Colombia lost the match 2-1, and just a few days later, Escobar was tragically murdered when he returned home. It’s believed that his death was connected to betting losses related to that game. His death remains one of the darkest stories in all football history.
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Own Goals and Everything in Between
Own goals are paradoxical. They're both sad and funny, bringing out some of the lowest lows and the highest highs. Whether it’s a player having a rough game, a goalie making a blunder, or just plain bad luck, these moments are what make football so dramatic. For every great moment in football, there are plenty of funny mistakes.
To see more real-life examples, check out this comprehensive breakdown of unforgettable own goals blunders. In all football, from amateur leagues to the World Cup final, no player is immune to the horror of an own goal.
These tough moments, while hard to watch, make the sport so exciting. They show us that even top players can mess up, and often it’s those mistakes that we remember the most.
So the next time you hear the crowd gasp or groan, remember: it could just be another chapter in the unpredictable, unforgettable history of own goals in football.
People Also Read About Own Goals
Who has the most own goals in football history?
Richard Dunne holds the record for the most own goals in football history, with a total of 10 own goals during his career. He set this record while playing for different teams, including Manchester City and Aston Villa.
What is the record for own goals?
Richard Dunne leads the pack with 10 own goals throughout his career, giving him the not-so-great title of having the most own goals in football history.
Has any player scored two own goals?
Jamie Carragher from Liverpool was the first player to score two own goals in a Premier League match against Manchester United back in 1999. Then, in 2003, Michael Proctor did the same while playing for Charlton in a 3-1 loss to Sunderland.
How many own goals has Dunk scored?
Here's a quick breakdown of the players with the most own goals: Richard Dunne leads with 10, followed by Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher, Phil Jagielka, and Lewis Dunk, all with 7. Then there’s Jonny Evans, Séamus Coleman, Frank Sinclair, Ryan Shawcross, and Wes Brown, each with 6.
How many own goals has Maguire?
Harry Maguire has scored one own goal in the Premier League throughout his career. It happened while he was playing for Manchester United.
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