On 19 August 1973, Johan Cruyff played in his final match for Ajax, the club that had raised him from childhood and had helped him win six Eredivisie titles, three European Cups, two Ballon d'Or awards and a host of personal accolades. 

Nine days later, on 28 August 1973, the legendary Dutch forward made his debut for Barcelona, a club where he enjoyed tremendous career success—both as a player and manager.

Seeing as it is the 40th anniversary of his Blaugrana debut, we have a perfect excuse to relive some of the best goals of his career. 

Ajax vs. Helmond Sport, 1982

After spells in Spain and the USA, Cruyff returned to childhood club Ajax in 1980. One of the most notable goals from this period of his career was the penalty he scored against Helmond Sport in 1982.

Instead of shooting, Cruyff tapped the goal to teammate Jesper Olsen, who knocked the ball back for the talismanic forward to put in an empty net. 

Belgian striker Rik Coppens had already pulled off the daring set piece 25 years earlier, and Robert Pires failed miserably attempting it 24 years later. 

The Netherlands vs. Argentina, 1974

Johan Cruyff scored 33 goals in 48 appearances for the Dutch national team. Incredibly, the Oranje never lost a match in which he scored.

The statistic is true of Holland's meeting with Argentina at the 1974 World Cup, which they won 4-0 thanks (in part) to two goals from Cruyff. When the precocious forward latched onto a through ball and effortlessly rounded goalkeeper Daniel Carnevali, Total Football looked utterly unstoppable.

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 1974

Cruyff joined Barcelona for the 1973/74 season and endeared himself to the Catalan faithful with this brilliantly taken goal in a 5-0 rout over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu (see the goal at 0:40). 

That season, he won the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year. 

LA Aztecs vs. Washington Diplomats, 1979

Following his successes at Barcelona, Cruyff signed a lucrative deal that took him to the NASL (North American Soccer League) and the LA Aztecs. He scored 14 goals in the 1979 season, including this tricky effort against the Washington Diplomats that helped him become the NASL Player of the Year.

The Dips defenders who let him run half the length of the field unopposed became his teammates the following season, when he switched to play for them.  

The Netherlands vs. Brazil, 1974

In the final game of Group A in the second round of the 1974 World Cup Final, Brazil faced the Dutch for the right to play hosts West Germany in the Final.

At Borussia Dortmund's Westfalenstadion in front of 52,500 fans and a global audience, Cruyff's outstretched boot sealed a 2-0 win over the reigning world champions.

Few of Cruyff's goals have been so significant. 

Ajax vs. Den Haag, 1972

Cruyff guided Ajax to the 1971-72 Eredivisie title thanks to 25 league goals. One of them came against Den Haag, when he beat the defender with a sublime touch and put an unstoppable curling shot past the goalkeeper. 

The video above is made all the more astounding by the pronunciation in the commentary! 

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid, 1974

Cruyff led Barcelona to their ninth La Liga title in 1973/74, helping the Catalan side finish 10 points clear of closest competitor Atletico Madrid.

One of the Dutchman's 16 league goals that season was against Atelti, and it was one of his most iconic. Somehow, Cruyff leapt in the air, twisted his body away from the goal and guided it in with his right heel.

It has become known as "The Phantom Goal," thanks to the fact that it is virtually impossible to reproduce.  

Honourable Mentions

In two separate spells at Ajax, Cruyff scored an incredible 204 goals. In one league game against AZ Alkmaar in 1970, he scored six during an 8-1 victory.

Many of his goals for the Amsterdam side were stunning, but it is difficult to track down individual clips of some of them, while information about dates and locations are sketchy for others.

Ajax TV put out a top-10 compilation of his best strikes for the club which you can see above. The chip that made No. 1 in their list is probably only beaten by his Barcelona Phantom Goal. Sit back and enjoy. 

Share your favourite Cruyff goal below...