The Premier League's best ever 'streets won't forget' players
- Some players have the ability to influence games with their devastating technical ability
- However, their individual talent doesn't always make them an elite footballer
- Plenty of the Premier League's best ever 'streets won't forget' players have now retired
By Mitch Wilks
Winning as a team is great, but sometimes you just can't beat a bit of individuality. Even if that individuality only works out one time in ten.
Individual brilliance is what football lacks a little these days among all the focus on boring tactical jargon like gegenpressing, inside forwards and half-spaces.
The famous meme 'the streets won't forget' recognises an elite genre of ballers who exclusively fall under the bracket of crowd-pleasing entertainers.
Grab your white sock tape and your pint of Barclays, because 90min has collected 40 players from the Premier League that the streets won't ever forget...
40. Rory Delap
Starting the list with perhaps the least typical 'streets won't forget' player in the running.
Rory Delap became a cult hero for one thing and one thing only - his absurdly long throw-ins. Genuinely no need for it. Bring them back.
39. Eidur Gudjohnsen
It feels a little sneaky including the Icelandic forward, but his CV allows him to qualify.
Gudjohnsen has been around the houses in England, playing for Chelsea and Tottenham, but also plying his trade for the likes of Bolton and Stoke. Scored plenty of goals, including an obscene bicycle kick against Leeds in 2003. Baller.
38. Alvaro Negredo
The Spaniard only spent one season at Manchester City in 2013/14, but he made the stay an impactful one.
Showed up, bagged 23 goals in all competitions and didn't score after January, then left as a fan favourite at the end of the season. Also nicknamed 'beast' among some fans, which further ticks the boxes.
37. Juninho
Truthfully, Juninho is probably too good to qualify for a list like this. Yep, too good at football to make a football list.
He's still going in though, because his first stint with Middlesbrough in 1995 remains iconic to this day and earned him immediate club legend status. The Brazilian ripped it apart for the Teesiders.
36. Nani
Another probably too good to be in this list, but playing under the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo meant Nani was never truly appreciated.
Unapologetically skilful, loved a long shot and regularly used celebrations that would drive Sir Alex Ferguson up the wall at the thought of them causing injury. See also: plenty of white sock tape.
35. Pajtim Kasami
The Swiss midfielder largely goes under the radar, but met the threshold for 'streets won't forget' status with a serious effort.
Kasami scored one of the greatest volleys in Premier League history against Crystal Palace in 2013, plucking a long ball out of the air with his chest and smashing it into the back of the net while moving away from goal.
34. Papa Bouba Diop
Passing away in 2020 at just 42, nobody will forget Papa Bouba Diop's Premier League legacy.
The Senegalese midfielder was always keen on a long shot and became a cult hero following stints with Fulham and Portsmouth. A foot like a traction engine.
33. Bafetimbi Gomis
Bafetimbi Gomis spent just three years at Swansea yet boasted one of the most famous celebrations in Premier League history.
After one of his fairly frequent goals for the Welsh side, the Frenchman would crawl on the floor like a lion in front of home or away supporters. A unique way to celebrate a strike, that's for sure.
32. Niko Kranjcar
Ah yes, the son Harry Redknapp never had.
Where there was a job opening available for Redknapp, there was a transfer for Kranjcar. The Croatian was versatile and a tidy hand for a few skills and the occasional long range stunner, winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008.
31. Kevin-Prince Boateng
Another one that boasts a properly wild CV, Kevin-Prince Boateng has played in just about every corner of the world.
For someone that was so good at places like AC Milan, he failed to knuckle down at Tottenham. He never truly hit the heights in his sole season at Portsmouth either, but bagged a vital penalty at Wembley to send them to the FA Cup final amid financial disarray.
30. Geovanni
The tricky Brazilian played for Manchester City right before their financial takeover and became a cult hero for bagging the only goal in a 1-0 win in the Manchester derby in 2007.
Moved to Hull the following season and absolutely tore the Premier League to shreds, and scored a ridiculous long range effort against Arsenal, before fading into absolute obscurity by 2010.
29. Elano
Another Brazilian who had the ability to produce worldies, Elano particularly enjoyed the chance to fire a free-kick beyond the opposition goalkeeper.
Two years after he arrived at Man City, he left. But he will live long in the memory of the club's supporters and was one of the first stars at the Etihad.
28. John Carew
John Carew was a dynamo for Aston Villa during the late noughties, with the forward scoring ten or more goals in three consecutive seasons at the end of the decade.
One of the many 'streets won't forget' players to have donned the claret and blue of Villa, he is still much loved in the Midlands.
27. Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda's career will only be remembered for one goal.
The Manchester United youth product netted a stoppage-time stunner during the 2008/09 season against Villa on his senior debut - a goal that helped the Red Devils win the Premier League title ahead of rivals Liverpool.
It was the highlight of his career, despite him only being 17 at the time.
26. Manolo Gabbiadini
Nobody talks about how good Manolo Gabbiadini was for Southampton.
Built like a man mountain, the Italian forward was always the man for a goal in the big moments and bagged a brace at Wembley in a 3-2 League Cup final defeat to Manchester United in 2017. Departed as quickly as he arrived, which stopped him from ever being more than a highlight reel player.
25. Youri Djorkaeff
Inconsistent? Sure. Difficult for managers to find his best position? Perhaps, but who's bothered when you have a player as skilful as Youri Djorkaeff?
He spent two years with Bolton from 2002 to 2004 off the back of winning the World Cup and the Euros with France. In a strange mid-life crisis for Sam Allardyce, he built a side blessed with off the charts levels of flair that involved Djorkaeff. Just go and watch his goals for the Wanderers, it's the best thing you'll do all week.
24. Amir Zaki
Having impressed with the Egyptian national team and in his native league in the mid-2000s, Wigan snapped up Amir Zaki on loan in 2008.
In a whirlwind season, there were thrills and spills. Zaki went on a tear early in the season after scoring on his debut and earned a comparison to Alan Shearer from club chairman Dave Whelan, before falling off and being lambasted by Steve Bruce for being unprofessional. All the components needed to be a Premier League icon.
23. Graziano Pelle
Before Gabbiadini, there was Graziano Pelle.
Ripped the Barclays apart for two seasons with Southampton, who unfortunately fell victim to the financial power of the Chinese Super League when they snatched him in 2016. Pelle was a serious bagsman.
22. Sebastian Larsson
James Ward-Prowse may well be the second coming of Sebastian Larsson.
The Swede kept the Barclays alive in the 2000s with his set pieces, scoring three free-kicks in one season for Birmingham in 2007. Continued to only produce set pieces and wonder goals after signing for Sunderland in 2011, which football needs more of.
21. Mark Viduka
The Australian forward announced himself in English football with some fine goalscoring campaigns at Leeds United, continuing his impressive form after a move to Middlesbrough.
Mark Viduka once scored four goals in a ridiculous 4-3 win over Liverpool during his days at Elland Road.
20. Maynor Figueroa
The Honduran defender earned icon status with Wigan from 2008 to 2013, operating like prime Paolo Maldini throughout their highs and lows.
Figueroa had an absolute rocket of a shot on him and scored from his own half against Stoke in 2009. He's since wound things down in the MLS, but is still playing regular football at 38 years old.
19. Hugo Rodallega
Another heroic name from Wigan's emphatic run in the Premier League before they came crashing down, Hugo Rodallega's exploits put the club on the map in Colombia.
A right foot that belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame, Rodallega exclusively scored bangers for Wigan. It didn't go so well following a transfer to Fulham, but we can look past that.
18. Pavel Pogrebnyak
Up there with one of the coolest names in the sport, 'the Pog' made a short but sweet - and instant - impact with Fulham that can never be forgotten.
Signed in January. Bagged on his debut. Bagged again. Oh, want three in three? Have a perfect hat-trick to make it five in three. January signings are a curse? Yeah right.
17. Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun was a different beast under Rafa Benitez at the end of the 2000s, scoring some crucial goals for the Reds despite seemingly not being a specialist in any given area.
He somehow ended up playing for Arsenal and Chelsea as well, although he is most fondly remembered at Anfield.
16. Wilfried Bony
'Come on Wilfried Bony, score some goals for Swansea' took hold of the internet for a brief period, with the centre-forward making his name in Wales.
He scored at a frightening rate for a short spell in the 2010s, but firmly flopped after a lucrative move to Man City.
15. Yannick Bolasie
Yannick Bolasie did very little of note after moving to Everton for £25m in 2016, but that's fine, because he was a cheat code at Crystal Palace.
The winger played football at Palace like it was a video game, regularly sending defenders to A&E with sore ankles with absurd flicks and tricks. He literally invented the 'Bolasie flick'.
14. Mousa Dembele
Mousa Dembele was arguably better than a 'streets won't forget' footballer, but his silky skills and effortless dribbling makes him a good fit for the category.
The Tottenham midfielder, who initially dazzled at Fulham, was a real game-changer for seven years in north London, although he then proceeded to make a money-motivated move to China despite still performing at a high level.
13. Tugay
Blackburn legend Tugay is a proper throwback.
The long-haired Turkey international could play anywhere in midfield and gained a reputation for not scoring that often, but making it count when he did. Exclusively worldies only throughout the 2000s.
12. Roque Santa Cruz
Sticking with the Rovers, Roque Santa Cruz is one of football's finest one season wonders.
After almost a decade on the books at Bayern Munich, Blackburn snapped up the Paraguayan who was an instant hit. Santa Cruz danced around defenders throughout the league and smashed home 19 goals and seven assists in the 2007/08 season.
It earned him a move to Manchester City, and he never put a campaign like that together again. Perfection.
11. Tony Yeboah
That fabled volley against Liverpool during the 1995/96 season was Tony Yeboah's crowning moment during his Premier League days with Leeds.
The Ghanaian is still adored by the Elland Road faithful for his memorable displays, and he remains the only player to have won successive Match of the Day goal of the month competitions...apparently.
10. Yakubu
Real ones remember - and still fear - The Yak.
Blackburn love a cult hero and Yakubu was just that for them. The Nigerian forward balled out for Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, before moving to Everton and picking shirt number 22 - a target of goals to score. Blackburn came calling in 2011, but his 17 goals weren't enough to keep them in the Premier League.
9. Allan Saint-Maximin
The most recent entry on the list, Allan Saint-Maximin only left the Premier League in 2023, but he is the archetypal 'streets won't forget' baller.
He was nothing but vibes and skills during his time at Newcastle, donning that famous headband as he ripped opposition defenders' knees to shreds.
8. Andrey Arshavin
Balled out at Euro 2008 to earn a move to Arsenal, which then looked like a fine piece of business for Arsene Wenger.
Andrey Arshavin never truly knuckled down as expected, but showed his brilliance in flashes. He put four past Liverpool in 2009 and helped turn a Champions League tie against Barcelona on its head by scoring a winner at the Emirates in 2011.
7. Demba Ba & Papiss Cisse
Okay, we're cheating a bit, but the pair are strictly a package deal for their exploits at Newcastle.
Ba and Cisse set the Premier League alight as a duo in 2011/12, scoring 29 goals between them to replace the departed Andy Carroll with ease. Endlessly fun and capable of doing absurd things, they're the Hardy Boyz of the football world.
6. Jay-Jay Okocha
So good they named him twice.
Lining up with Djorkaeff at Bolton was Jay-Jay Okocha, who regularly made a mockery of defences in the Premier League during the 2000s and perhaps has the most entertaining highlight reel to watch of all. Seriously, Sam Allardyce put that Bolton team together. Big Sam.
5. Michu
Michu walked so Erling Haaland could run. Seriously.
Haaland cites Michu as one of his inspirations growing up, which is testament to just how good he was in that one season for Swansea in 2012/13. 18 league goals and an iconic celebration that he never came close to repeating.
4. Morten Gamst Pedersen
When you saw the frosted tips, white sock tape and baggy Blackburn shirt stood over that dead ball, you knew it was over.
Blackburn love a cult hero player, and Morten Gamst Pedersen was exactly that. An icon of the Barclays, Pedersen wasn't always at the races, but when he was, that left foot was unstoppable.
3. Dimitri Payet
Dmitri Payet was just pure tekkers at West Ham. He did things with a football that should have been illegal.
The Frenchman was out of this world for the Irons in 2015/16 and no defender could stop him. It looked like he was destined to become the Premier League's next big talent, but he instead moved back to Marseille in 2017 and never found those levels again. A shame, really.
2. Hatem Ben Arfa
Anthony Martial wearing black gloves is a direct impersonation of Hatem Ben Arfa at Newcastle. It's that simple.
The Frenchman had a tough time and broke his leg in his first season with the Magpies, but bounced back in 2011/12 and brought an unrivalled flair to the Premier League. His solo goal against Bolton stood out, and his form continued into further seasons before fading into nothing in 2014.
1. Adel Taarabt
Adel Taarabt is the undisputed king of the streets.
His time at Queens Park Rangers will never be forgotten. The silky Moroccan was gliding through lines every week and brought an unapologetic level of skill to the Premier League. It fell apart post-QPR, but he somewhat found his feet again at Benfica later in his career.
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