The Most Unforgettable FA Cup Moments Ever Voted By Fans

Ryan Giggs’ jaw-dropping solo goal against Arsenal in 1999 has officially been crowned the greatest moment in FA Cup history. The iconic strike, scored during a dramatic semi-final replay, saw the Manchester United winger glide past four Arsenal defenders before beating David Seaman to seal a famous 2-1 victory. That goal sent United through to the semi-finals and straight into football folklore.

The moment topped a poll of two thousand football fans, finishing ahead of Wimbledon's legendary upset against Liverpool in the 1988 final. Leicester City’s emotional first-ever FA Cup triumph in 2021 completed the top three, proving that modern-day magic can still rival the classics.

Fans also voted for a host of unforgettable moments that helped shape the tournament’s reputation. Paul Gascoigne’s outrageous free kick against Arsenal in 1991 featured highly, alongside Wigan’s shock win over Manchester City in 2013 and Chelsea's dramatic victory over Manchester United in the first FA Cup final staged at the new Wembley Stadium.

We commissioned the research and now launch a fun FA Cup quiz to test how well fans really know the competition's long and storied history. You can take part here

Jake Ashton,  for OLBG said fans continue to talk about the magic of the cup for a reason.

What the Expert Says

“Just recently we saw history being made again when Macclesfield knocked out holders Crystal Palace, showing there is still plenty of life left in the tournament,” he said. “Some of these moments genuinely made your jaw drop, whether it was a giant killing, a freak result or an individual goal that felt impossible.”

- Jake Ashton, - Your Betting Odds Guide 👍

Outside of Giggs’ iconic run, the highest ranked goals in the list included Michael Owen’s sensational late double for Liverpool against Arsenal in 2001. That brace turned the final on its head and snatched the trophy away in dramatic fashion

Steven Gerrard’s thunderous long range equaliser for Liverpool against West Ham in the 2006 final also made the top twenty, placing twelfth overall.

More than half of those surveyed, fifty six per cent, named the FA Cup as their favourite domestic cup competition, ahead of all rivals. Fans said the best parts of the tournament were giant killings and shock results, with thirty four per cent voting for that. Another thirty three per cent loved seeing smaller clubs enjoy their moment in the spotlight, while twenty six per cent pointed to the competition’s sheer unpredictability.

Nearly one in five said they enjoy sitting back and watching lower league sides battle it out on television, especially when they would not normally get the coverage.

There was also overwhelming agreement on one thing. Ninety three per cent of fans believe the FA Cup final should always be shown on free to air television so everyone can watch it.

Nostalgia clearly played its part too, with the 1990s voted as the decade when the FA Cup was at its peak. Interestingly, despite that affection, not a single final from the decade made the list of the greatest FA Cup finals of all time.

That honour went to the 2006 Liverpool versus West Ham classic. Manchester United’s dramatic 1979 final win over Arsenal finished second, with the Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester City replay from 1981 completing the top three.

According to figures from OnePoll, nearly two thirds of fans believe the FA Cup remains the most magical competition in football. Three quarters also say they will make a special effort to watch this year’s final.

Jake Ashton fadds

“Naysayers will say the magic of the cup is fading, but this survey shows there is still real life in the tournament,” he said.

“Leicester’s win in 2021 ranking so highly despite being so recent proves that new memories can still stand alongside the classics.”

“Here’s hoping there are plenty more twists and turns to come as the FA Cup heads towards another unforgettable final.”