Standing ovation for the perfect overhead kick and Marco van Basten's Golden Boot

Archive piece celebrating Van Basten's 1986 Golden Boot award at age 22, earned after a stunning overhead kick against Den Bosch that impressed even Maradona.

VI's archive celebrates Marco van Basten's 62nd birthday by revisiting his Golden Boot triumph as European top scorer in 1985/86. At just 22, the Ajax forward won the award after scoring 37 goals that season, capped by a spectacular overhead kick against FC Den Bosch that drew standing ovations at the gala in Paris. The goal was replayed on the big screen at the Lido nightclub on the Champs-Élysées, prompting roaring applause from the assembled football elite. Franz Beckenbauer presented the award to Van Basten, who became only the third Dutch winner after Kees Kist (1979) and Wim Kieft (1982). The piece captures the glamour of the era's award ceremony, attended by legends including Johan Cruijff, Piet Keizer and Ruud Gullit, and notes that even Diego Maradona expressed admiration for Van Basten's technique.