Celtic welcome Spanish top tier side Athletic Club to Parkhead on Tuesday evening for the testimonial of Hoops legend James Forrest. Over 450 appearances, 102 goals and 101 assists for the club as well as 22 trophies, it is fair to say the 32-year-old has his own place in the history of the Glasgow side.

Over the years, he has scored some iconic goals. Today, we will rank five of his best in terms of significance and skill level, starting from fifth.

5 – League Cup Final v Aberdeen (2016)

In the first cup final of the Brendan Rodgers era, Forrest netted the all-important goal which doubled Celtic’s lead in an eventual 3-0 win. Picking up the ball inside the dee in the middle of the park, the winger drove towards goal with vigour and accurately finished into the bottom corner from just inside the box:

4 – League Cup Semi Final v St. Johnstone (2021)

James Forrest

This goal wasn’t the best in terms of aesthetic although the significance of it cannot be underestimated. In an arduous semi final that was dragging on, Ange Postecoglou threw on veteran James Forrest with not long to go. The Scotland international heeded the call from his boss and scored the only goal of the game to send the Bhoys to their first final under the Aussie in which the club’s road to recovery would be kickstarted:

3 – Champions League Play-off v Shakhtar Karagandy (2013)

2-0 down in the first leg in a Champions League play-off, all hope was lost for Celtic’s Champions League ambitions for the 2013/14 season. The Bhoys, though, rose from the ashes and in the 92nd minute of the second leg with the tie level at 2-2, a 22-year-old Forrest stepped forward.

The ball was played into him in the box by Anthony Stokes and he thundered into the roof of the net to catalyse some iconic scenes and secure the Hoops Champions League place for the second season in a row:

2 – Glasgow Derby (2019)

In a crucial, high-tempered Glasgow derby, James Forrest stepped up at the death to net the winner. Earlier in the match, Alfredo Morelos was sent off for violent conduct before the visitors equalised after Odsonne Edouard opened the scoring.

There was drama throughout and in the closing stages as Celtic broke up the park, Forrest kept his composure to slot into the bottom corner and secure victory for Neil Lennon in his maiden derby back in charge of the club:

1 – Glasgow Derby (2018)

Arguably James Forrest’s best and most iconic Celtic goal was his first in a Glasgow derby. Picking the ball up on the right, the wide-man drove inside with sheer electricity, dancing past several opposition players before rattling into the far corner with power. This goal put the Bhoys 3-0 up at half time in a game they would eventually win against their rivals by five goals to nil to seal seven in a row:

There are several other goals Forrest has scored over the years that deserve mentions. These include his penalty in a 2-1 home win over Ajax in the Champions League, stunning strike from range versus Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup semi final, wonder goal away at Hibs in the Scottish Cup in 2019 and thunderous finish in an iconic European victory away at Lazio. Forrest truly is a Celtic legend and against Athletic Club, he will receive the honour and recognition he deserves.

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