There's something electric about the moments before an FA Cup final kicks off. The trumpets echo around Wembley, fans clutch their tin-foil trophies, players pace nervously, and managers prowl the dugout in their finest suits. It's the perfect stage for a new hero to emerge—and sometimes, they don't waste a second.

Take Roberto di Matteo in the 1997 final. Fans were still settling into their seats when the Italian collected a pass 10 yards inside his own half. Middlesbrough's midfield? Still in the dressing room, it seemed. Di Matteo surged forward, reached 30 yards from goal, and unleashed a ferocious strike that seemed to pick up speed as it cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. The midfielder sprinted down the touchline in pure elation, teammates desperately trying to haul him back for celebrations.

That goal set the tone for Chelsea's 2-0 victory—their first major trophy in 26 years. It's the kind of moment that gets rolled out in every FA Cup montage: a belter, a moment of individual magic, a strike that sealed a shock win.

Some goals are simply written into FA Cup folklore. We've picked 10 that make an all-time list, and di Matteo's is just one of them. From the 0:43 second mark to the dying minutes of extra time, these are the strikes that define the competition. Which one takes the crown? You'll have to read on to find out.