Even the keepers in Brazil are great at scoring goals
It all goes back to our distant, more dangerous past.
We gasp when we are shocked in order to take in a quick, deep burst of extra oxygen to help deal with surprising events – for instance if a caveman came face-toface with a sabre-toothed tiger or unexpectedly offered to buy his wife a swanky new animal-hide outfit.
The sudden opening of the mouth makes it more vulnerable, so quickly covering it may have evolved as a protective gesture.
It also conceals our emotions from others to avoid showing we are scared or disgusted, possibly as a learned form of politeness in the modern age. WITH our TV screens awash with football for the next few weeks, a question sprang to mind that I hope you can answer.
I wonder which professional goalkeeper has scored the most goals in his career?
If he’s a high-scorer I also wonder if he has a Scottish granny! – J.
Obviously a goalie scoring for his team is a pretty rare occurrence, so you’d imagine even the most prolific keeper’s tally would be in low digits.
But you’d be wrong! The record is held by Brazilian Rogério Ceni, who has scored a whopping 131 goals (61 free-kicks, 69 penalties and one from open play) netting his 100th for Sao Paolo in 2011.
Meanwhile, Paraguayan stopper José Luis Chilavert became the only goalkeeper to score a hat-trick with three penalties for Vélez Sársfield.
Not content with this achievement, the following year he notched up another first when he and his opposite number, Argentine Roberto Bonano from River Plate, both scored in the same match.
The fastest goal for a goalkeeper was scored on November 2, 2013, Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic who netted in just 12 seconds.
He also scored the longest goal in football history with the 100-yard belter in the match versus Southampton.