Christ, where do you even start with this? Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. He does so after scoring (at least) 257 goals. He just had to score, right?
Yes, you know it. Scroll the movie.
If you had written the story that led to that moment in a Hollywood blockbuster, you would appear out of the building for being too unrealistic.
Manchester City, the noisy neighbors, the underdogs, had not won the league title in 45 years. Just across the city was Man Utd, the establishment club that had dominated the rivalry and won the Premier League four times in the last six years.
The two were neck and neck on their way into the final day of the season, with only the goal difference separating the two. With seven goals in between, however, City knew that a victory would put them on top again.
Man City’s greatest player ever?
(? via @aguerosergiokun) pic.twitter.com/rq3u0VxLUx
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) March 29, 2021
Before the match against QPR, it should not have been too much of a struggle for Roberto Mancini’s league leader. But they made it difficult for themselves: on their way into stoppage time, they were 2-1 down and looked to give in to their neighbors, who – after doing their part – were already celebrating in Sunderland.
When Edin Dzeko equalized with 92 minutes on the clock, a packed Etihad held his breath and prayed.
And then, with the last kick on the ball, they won the league and an earthquake followed.
pic.twitter.com/H19avlVrXN
– Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2017
You could almost guess at what Aguero was up to when Shaun Derry came in off the bench.
Balotelli had not set a Premier League goal all season to this point, but the Italian kept the ball for his beloved life. Even when he went to the ground he did not give up; he stretches out a right leg and pushes it back in Aguero’s way.
This is the point where a normal deadly creature would rush at it, jerk it, lose its balance or split it in the rack. The whole season rested on what he did next, and the next few seconds lasted longer than the previous 45 years together.
It will be emotional …?
? #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5rehttps://t.co/4COpSpmz7a
– Manchester City (@ManCity) March 29, 2021
Aguero took the ball over Nedum Onuoha and waited for his chance. When it came down to it, he put his head down and absolutely rattled the ball past Paddy Kenny.
If the scenes that followed do not send a shiver down your spine, football is not for you.
Everything about it was iconic, from the shirt’s swinging party to Tyler’s rough, spent delivery from the comment booth.
“AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!”
– Martin Tyler
Has there ever been a more memorable comment? ? ️? pic.twitter.com/flGqqB8dP9
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) March 29, 2021
The other 256 goals were fantastic, but the statue built in Aguero’s glory outside the Etihad has only one in mind.
It’s the most famous moment in Manchester City’s history, and the most famous moment in Premier League history, nothing else comes close.
