# The 24 Greatest Standing Ovations From Rival Fans in Football History

> Some crowds stood while their team was losing 4-0, others after jeering the same player for 80 minutes. Decide which applause cost the home fans the most.

*By YPB Team · Published November 1, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-24-greatest-standing-ovations-from-rival-fans-in-football-history*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Modrić and Benzema at Anfield, 2023** — score 1000/1000
   Liverpool fans applauded both Real Madrid veterans off in the 87th minute of a 5-2 Champions League comeback in February 2023, after Modrić ran midfield and Benzema scored twice.
2. **Maradona at the Bernabéu, 1983** — score 882/1000
   Barcelona's Diego Maradona rounded the goalkeeper, waited for Juan José to slide past on the line and scored in the 1983 Copa de la Liga final first leg, drawing applause from Madrid fans in a 2-2 draw.
3. **Di Stéfano at Chamartín, 1952** — score 764/1000
   Playing for Millonarios against Real Madrid in March 1952, Alfredo Di Stéfano scored twice in a 4-2 win and won over the crowd of the club he would soon join.
4. **Ronaldinho at the Bernabéu, 2005** — score 741/1000
   Two solo goals in Barcelona's 3-0 Clásico win in November 2005 brought the Bernabéu to its feet for a Barça player.
5. **Lineker at Old Trafford, 1992** — score 661/1000
   Gary Lineker scored in his final game in English football, a 3-1 Tottenham defeat in May 1992, and Manchester United fans gave him a standing ovation.
6. **Bergkamp at Maine Road, 2003** — score 661/1000
   Dennis Bergkamp scored the opener in Arsenal's 5-1 win in February 2003 and was applauded by Manchester City fans when he came off in the second half.
7. **Iniesta at the Bernabéu, 2015** — score 600/1000
   Madrid fans rose for Andrés Iniesta as he came off in Barcelona's 4-0 Clásico win in November 2015, after he had scored and set up Neymar.
8. **Giggs at the Bernabéu, 2013** — score 529/1000
   A 39-year-old Ryan Giggs came on for Manchester United in a 1-1 Champions League draw in February 2013 and was surprised by the ovation from Madrid fans.
9. **Del Piero at the Bernabéu, 2008** — score 529/1000
   Juventus's captain scored twice from outside the box in a 2-0 Champions League win in November 2008 and left to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
10. **Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin, 2018** — score 529/1000
   Juventus fans applauded Cristiano Ronaldo's bicycle kick in Real Madrid's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final win in April 2018, months before he joined their club.
11. **Mühren at the Bernabéu, 1973** — score 448/1000
   Ajax's Gerrie Mühren juggled the ball on the Bernabéu pitch and scored the only goal of the April 1973 European Cup semi-final second leg, bringing the home crowd to its feet.
12. **Totti at the Bernabéu, 2016** — score 448/1000
   At 39, Francesco Totti came on for Roma with 16 minutes left in a 2-0 Champions League defeat in March 2016, and the Bernabéu stood to greet him.
13. **Pirlo at the Bernabéu, 2013** — score 448/1000
   Madrid fans stood for Andrea Pirlo as he left the pitch in Juventus's 2-1 Champions League defeat in October 2013.
14. **Pelé at the Maracanã, 1961** — score 448/1000
   Pelé's solo run through the Fluminense team in March 1961 earned almost two minutes of applause at the Maracanã, even from Fluminense fans, and a plaque that gave Brazil the phrase gol de placa.
15. **Baggio at San Siro, 2004** — score 448/1000
   Brescia's Roberto Baggio played his last match at San Siro in May 2004, and the Milan crowd stood to applaud him off in the 84th minute.
16. **Cruyff at Villa Park, 1978** — score 353/1000
   Johan Cruyff scored at Villa Park in the March 1978 UEFA Cup quarter-final and, with a bad knee and Barcelona 2-0 up, walked off to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
17. **Ronaldo at Old Trafford, 2003** — score 353/1000
   The Brazilian's hat-trick for Real Madrid in April 2003 knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League, and Old Trafford rose when he went off on 67 minutes.
18. **Iniesta at Cornellà, 2010** — score 353/1000
   Espanyol fans stood for Barcelona's Iniesta twice in the December 2010 derby, thanking him for dedicating his World Cup final goal to their late captain Dani Jarque.
19. **Neymar at Cruzeiro, 2012** — score 353/1000
   Neymar scored a hat-trick and set up another goal in Santos's 4-0 win in November 2012, and Cruzeiro's fans stood and chanted his name.
20. **Ibrahimović at Anderlecht, 2013** — score 353/1000
   Zlatan Ibrahimović scored four for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-0 Champions League win in October 2013, and his 25-metre half-volley drew an ovation from every side of the ground.
21. **Ribéry at San Siro, 2019** — score 353/1000
   At 36, Franck Ribéry scored and ran AC Milan ragged in Fiorentina's 3-1 win in September 2019, and San Siro stood for him twice.
22. **Gerrard at Stamford Bridge, 2015** — score 241/1000
   Chelsea fans taunted Steven Gerrard all game in May 2015, then stood to applaud him off on his last Stamford Bridge appearance, after his equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
23. **Messi at Real Betis, 2019** — score 240/1000
   A hat-trick finished by a first-time chip over Pau López in Barcelona's 4-1 win in March 2019 earned Lionel Messi a standing ovation from Real Betis fans.
24. **Cunningham at Camp Nou, 1980** — score 240/1000
   In February 1980, Barcelona fans who had been protesting began applauding Real Madrid winger Laurie Cunningham, whose dribbling and assist led a 2-0 away win.

Tags: football, real madrid, barcelona, moments, fans, standing ovation