All hail Peter Crouch. Who'd a thunk it? The 6ft 7ins "freak" (as fans chant at him) teeing himself up for the goal of the Premier League season. But it's not the first time he's scored in such style.
Crouch's sensational strike against Manchester City was not that much of a surprise to those who have watched him play football regularly. He scored two magnificent scissor kicks for Liverpool against Galatasaray and Bolton at the Kop, their identical relation proving neither was a fluke.
Saturday's was the best of his career however. The ball looked to be about four feet off the ground when Crouch struck it, which for many footballers would be considered as too early. But the 31-year-old displayed the intelligence to take it early in order to execute the perfect loft and power to leave Joe Hart with no chance of denying his international team-mate.
It is a strike to join the pantheon of great volleys, so it is time to recall some of the finest golazos yesteryear...
Mark Hughes v Spain, 1985
Hughes excelled at the spectacular. One of Manchester United's most memorable goals was his stoppage-time volley against Oldham to keep a domestic double alive in 1994, but it was nine years earlier when he announced his trademark on international duty. Agile, brave and technically faultless, it gets better every time it is aired nearly 30 years on.
Marco van Basten v USSR, 1988
When Total Football succeeded. Marco van Basten doubled Holland's lead in the Euro 88 final with a remarkable volley which he met from Arnold Muhren's looping cross, to give the Dutch their only silverware to date. Even the Netherlands' manager Rinus Michels, who coached Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Johnny Rep and Ruud krol at the 1974 World Cup, was overwhelmed.
Matt Le Tissier v Newcastle, 1993
In a game remembered for that goal, Le Tissier also did this. Nonchalant.
Eric Cantona v Wimbledon, 1994
When Cantona was serving his eight-month ban for assaulting a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park, Nike splashed a billboard outside of Old Trafford which read: "We'll never forget that night at Selhurst Park... when you buried that volley." Crouch's goal at the weekend was a great replica of Cantona's in south London, executed a year before at the same ground in which he would prompt the mother of all eruptions. Like Crouch's, its two-touch feat warrants greater appreciation.
Tony Yeboah v Liverpool, 1995
Back when the Premiership was a budding brand, Yeboah was a poster boy for the recently-incepted league. Like Ravanelli pulling his shirt over his head in celebration, Shearer's goals or Cantona's swagger, a Yeboah blaster became synonymous with English football's wannabe image. Superior to his half-volley cracker against Wimbledon later that season, watch the ball gather pace.
Gaizka Mendieta v Barcelona, 1999
Before David Beckham and Paul Scholes combined for the corner-volley routine at Bradford, Gaizka Mendieta had already executed it against Barcelona. Little Sergi was on the line to jump in vain, but had Crouch himself been hugging the post the speed of the Spaniard's hit may have taken his head off.
Zinedine Zidane v Bayer Leverkusen, 2002
One of the greatest goals ever. In the Champions League final, the greatest player in the world at the time hit a sublime volley just prior to half time for what was the eventual winner. The poetry of Zidane's movement as he lines up to connect with his left foot would make Byron swoon.
Alan Shearer v Everton, 2002
Having lost 4-0 at home to Internazionale in the Champions League in midweek, Newcastle now found themselves 1-0 down to Everton with less than 10 minutes left. Enter "Wor" Alan, who attempted to burst the net with forceful gusto to equalise, with the Geordies eventually winning the match 2-1.
Robin van Persie v Charlton, 2006
Like Crouch, this feat is so impressive for just how far off the ground the ball is. Van Persie is running at full steam just to arrive in time for Emmanuel Eboue's hopeful cross, and still he leaves Scott Carson with no chance.
Paul Scholes v Aston Villa, 2006
In the same season as Van Persie's, Scholes arguably bettered him a month later. The Ginger Prince's volley against Bradford six years previously is arguably better on a technical scale, but his strike against Villa, complete with the crossbar sounding as though it will collapse, is just as jaw-droppingly good.
The Premier League goal of the season for 2003/04, it was one of a few rays of light in Liverpool's final campaign under Gerard Houllier. Hamann doesn't even appear to hit the ball with the fullest of force, which makes the pace he generates on his effort all the more stunning. Pompey goalkeeper Shaka Hislop decides not to waste any energy.