What makes an overhead-volley better than a top corner tomahawk? What makes a solo stunner better than a belter from the halfway-line? Who knows, and for that reason we’ve opted to let you decide.

As 2012 begins, thoughts and conclusions over the last twelve months dominate discussion. Within that framework the question begs what was the best goal of 2011?

So we’ve trawled through the annals, ignored all the mainstream chatter, and hand-picked what we believe are the top ten strikes vying for the top honour.

Factors that influenced those that made the cut included the importance of the match, how memorable that goal was, the style of the strike, and whether the goal was something out of the ordinary.

Moreover, unlike FIFA and the many other websites trying to solve the same puzzle, here at 101 Great Goals we thought it best to wait for 2011 to actually finish before putting our list out to the public.

Thanks to everyone on Twitter and Facebook who got in touch with their suggestions (be sure to join those groups if you haven’t already!).

Vote on your top goal of the 2011 below, and, as is custom, please sit back and enjoy!

1. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United v Manchester City, February 12, 2011)

2. Cleiton Xavier (2) (Metalist v Dnipro, March 13, 2011)

3. Lionel Messi (2) (Real Madrid v Barcelona, April 26, 2011)

4. Eric Hassli (Seattle Sounders v Vancouver Whitecaps, June 11, 2011)

5. Giovani Dos Santos (Mexico v United States, June 25, 2011)

6. Darlington Nagbe (Sporting Kansas City v Portland Timbers, July 2, 2011)

7. Neymar (Santos v Flamengo, July 27, 2011)

8. Jone Samuelsen (Odd Grenland v Tromso, September 25, 2011)

9. Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen v Wolfsburg, October 1, 2011)

10. Robin van Persie (Arsenal v Everton, December 10, 2011)

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Missing the cut: Freddy Guarin (Porto v Maritimo, January 8, 2011), Ruben Cani (Villarreal v Osasuna, January 15, 2011), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Lecce v AC Milan, January 16, 2011),Yoahandry Orozco (Venezuela U20 v Peru U20, January 24, 2011), Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan v Schalke, April 5, 2011), Juninho Pernambucano (Al Sadd v Al Gharafa, April 10, 2011), Mohd Aidil Zafuan (Taiwan v Malaysia, July 3, 2011), Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea v Wycombe, July 12, 2011), Matias Urbano (Union San Felipe v Union La Calera, August 6, 2011), Johnny Black (Coleraine v Portadown, September 3, 2011), Soren Berg (AGF Aarhus v FC Midtjylland, September 12, 2011), Marama Vahirua (Monaco v Le Mans, November 5, 2011), Gerardo Masini (Teramo v San Nicolo, November 6, 2011), Diop Martins (Real Oviedo v Coruxo, November 13, 2011), Kevin Prince Boateng (AC Milan v Barcelona, November 23, 2011), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad v Real Betis, November 27, 2011), and Gualberto Mojica Olmos (Oriente Petrolero v Guabira, December 8, 2011).

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