ALABAMA - For millions of people around the globe, December 25th might be one of the most wonderful times of the year. For sports fans in the United Kingdom, the day after that has replaced Christmas as the date to mark in their calendars. A tradition that originated as a holiday to give gifts to people in need, Boxing Day, has become more renowned thanks to its shopping deals and, most importantly, a full slate of sporting evets.
Above all, Boxing Day has become a staple date for England's top soccer division. The Premier League garners (even more) global attention on this day thanks to being one of the very few soccer leagues in the world with games around the Christmas period.
Recognized as a national holiday in the UK since 1871, it wasn't until 1958 that soccer matches started to be played consistently on Boxing Day. But ever since, dozens of players have engraved their names in English soccer folklore thanks to prowess shown on this day.
Harry Kane, the former Tottenham Hotspur and now Bayern Munich striker, holds the record for the most goals scored on December 26 during the Premier League era (since 1992). The Englishman surpassed Robbie Fowler's 9-goal mark last year.
One of the most famous Boxing Day memories happened during the winter of 1963. All 20 teams from the English first division were in action day that, scoring a total of 66 goals (record for a single day), including score lines such as Fulham's 10-1 demolition of Ipswich Town and Blackburn's 8-2 win on the road against West Ham. That year, six players finished their respective matches with at least three goals.
Kane is just one of the many local players that have performed at a high level during the holiday games on December 26. Out of the nine players with the most goals on Boxing Day in the Premier League era, seven of them are English. Although Boxing Day has been normally dominated by local players, international players, and specifically Latinos, have also left a mark during the British holiday.
Surprisingly, the Latino with the most goals scored in Premier League history, Sergio Agüero (184, 3rd all-time in PL), failed to score a single Boxing Day goal in his four appearances. One Latin American player to do leave a mark on Boxing Day was Carlos Tévez, who scored a total of three goals on the holiday. The former West Ham, Man United and Man City striker found the back of the net for both Manchester clubs, including an 82nd -minute winner against Stoke City in 2008. Mexican Javier "Chicharito" Hernández also had a legendary moment as he completed Manchester United's 4-3 comeback win against Newcastle in Sir Alex Ferguson's last season with the club.
To keep up with the Boxing Day traditions, Latin American players have continued gifting us great goals and performances over the years. In 2023's Boxing Day, Paraguayan star Miguel Almirón scored a fantastic goal against Leicester City. Here's a look at some of the best goals scored by Latinos on Boxing Day.
Hernan Crespo (Argentina) vs Fulham, Dec. 26, 2005
The former 'Albiceleste' striker scored the winner for Chelsea in their 3-2 victory over Fulham during their title-winning 2005-06 campaign. Crespo's goal helped Chelsea win their 7th PL game in a row, opening a 9-point gap with Manchester United.
Javier Hernández (Mexico) vs Newcastle United, Dec. 26, 2012
In one of the most thrilling Boxing Day matches in recent memory, Javier Hernández scored a 90th minute game-winning goal against Newcastle to complete a sensational comeback at Old Trafford. Manchester United would go on to win the Premier League title in Sir Alex Ferguson's last campaign at the helm.
Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) vs Leicester City, Dec. 26, 2022
The former Atlanta United man had a season to remember last year with Newcastle. On Boxing Day, he scored a brilliant goal away at Leicester City. His 11 PL goals helped Newcastle quality to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2003.
Antonio Valencia (Ecuador) vs Wigan Athletic, Dec. 26, 2011
The always reliable Ecuadorian fullback scored one of the most brilliant goals of his career in Man United's 5-0 win over Wigan on 2011. Valencia would go on to score a total of 22 PL goals for the Red Devils while lifting two league titles.
Philippe Coutinho (Brazil) vs Swansea City, Dec. 26, 2017
In what was his last goal for Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho scored a fantastic long-ranged strike to open the scoring in his team's 5-0 dominance over Swansea City. A few weeks later, he completed a record move to Barcelona, putting an end to a fantastic spell with the Merseyside club with 152 PL appearances under his belt, scoring 41 goals.
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