Manuel Negrete

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Lore & Background

Negrete's rise began in 1980 when he joined Pumas, quickly becoming a recognizable figure due to his distinctive playing style. His most defining moment arrived during the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where he participated in five games and scored a legendary goal against Bulgaria in the round of 16. In the 35th minute of that match, Negrete received a high ball outside the penalty area, controlled it, let it bounce once, and combined with Javier Aguirre. After Aguirre returned the ball on the first touch while keeping it airborne, Negrete unleashed a scissor kick into the bottom right corner, beating goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov to secure a 2–0 victory. Decades later, in April 2018, fans and journalists voted this strike as the greatest goal in World Cup history on FIFA's website.

In Their Own Story

The scene unfolded during the 1986 round of 16 against Bulgaria. Negrete controlled a high ball well outside the box, letting it bounce exactly once before setting up with Javier Aguirre. The combination was fluid and precise; Aguirre returned the pass on his first touch without letting the ball hit the ground. Seizing the moment, Negrete launched into a scissor kick that rocketed toward the bottom right corner of the net. Goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov had no chance as the ball found the back of the net in the 35th minute. This goal propelled Mexico to a 2–0 win and cemented Negrete's legacy. The strike was so remarkable that it remained a topic of admiration for years, eventually being crowned the World Cup's greatest goal by a global vote on FIFA's website in April 2018.

Reader's Guide

Manuel Negrete’s international career peaked at the 1986 World Cup, where he played five matches and scored the tournament's most celebrated goal. His club journey took him from Pumas, with whom he won the Mexican Primera División in 1980–81 and multiple CONCACAF Champions' Cups, to Europe with Sporting CP and Sporting Gijón. Domestically, he also secured a league title with Atlante in 1992–93. Individually, Negrete was named Golden Ball of the Mexican Primera División for the 1984–85 season and received a South American Player of the Year nomination in 1986. Following his retirement from playing, he returned to Mexico to lead a quieter life, working as a coach for Pumas youth teams and later serving as an assistant at Club León before becoming head coach after Mario Alberto Garcia's departure.

Did You Know?

• Negrete's goal against Bulgaria in the 1986 World Cup was voted the greatest goal in World Cup history by fans and journalists on FIFA's website in April 2018.
• He scored his famous goal using a scissor kick after controlling a high ball, letting it bounce once, and combining with Javier Aguirre.
• Negrete played five games at the 1986 World Cup, scoring one of the tournament's most memorable goals in the round of 16.
• He won the Mexican Primera División Golden Ball award for the 1984–85 season.
• After retiring, Negrete became head coach of Club León following the departure of Mario Alberto Garcia.