Trubin scored a last minute goal for Benfica
On a chilly Lisbon evening on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the Estádio da Luz buzzed with electric anticipation.
Benfica were locked in a tense Champions League clash with Real Madrid, needing not just a win, but a goal difference swing to advance to the knockout playoff round.
By the 90th minute, the scoreboard read 3–2, a thrilling victory on paper, but not enough to secure their place. The crowd’s hope teetered on a knife’s edge.
Then, in the 98th minute, the unthinkable happened. Anatoliy Trubin, the Ukrainian goalkeeper, stormed into Real Madrid’s penalty area for a free kick.
Rising above the defenders, he powered a stunning header into the net, sending the stadium into delirium.
Benfica’s win was now complete, their qualification guaranteed and Trubin, usually the last line of defense, had become the savior of the club in the most dramatic fashion.
It was a moment that captured the magic, audacity, and sheer unpredictability of football. But Trubin is far from the only goalkeeper to etch his name into history with a last-gasp goal for his team.
Across decades and continents, other goalkeepers have stormed the opposition box and scored crucial, dramatic goals when their teams needed it most.
Alisson Becker – Liverpool vs West Brom (2021)
Liverpool faced West Brom at The Hawthorns and with the game tied at 1-1 and seconds to play, Alisson Becker came up for a 95th-minute corner and powered a towering header to win the game 2–1.
The goal secured vital points in Liverpool’s quest to secure Champions League football the following season and marked the first competitive goal ever scored by a Liverpool goalkeeper.
Jimmy Glass – Carlisle United vs Plymouth Argyle (1999)
Long before social media made moments viral, Jimmy Glass became a cult hero by scoring in the 94th minute to keep Carlisle United in the English Football League.
His dramatic volley from a late corner preserved his team’s league status, arguably one of the most meaningful keeper goals ever.
Alberto Brignoli – Benevento vs AC Milan (2017)
Serie A’s Alberto Brignoli produced a stunning stoppage-time equalizer against AC Milan. His header in the 95th minute earned newly promoted Benevento their first-ever Serie A point, a moment of pure underdog drama and jubilation.
Mart Poom – Sunderland vs Derby County (2003)
Estonian keeper Mart Poom sprinted forward and scored a powerful injury-time header to secure a draw for Sunderland away at Derby County, adding an emotional twist by scoring against his former club.
Oscarine Masuluke – Baroka vs Orlando Pirates (2016)
In South Africa, Oscarine Masuluke pulled off a remarkable 96th-minute overhead kick to snatch a last-gasp equalizer, earning global acclaim and even a Puskás Award nomination.
FKA/JE
