He has scored goals at Camp Nou, Old Trafford and, most famously, Deportivo La Coruna's Riazor, but few will have meant more to Spanish international Diego Tristan than his dramatic 88th-minute winner in West Ham United's 2-1 win over Stoke City on Sunday.
The 32-year-old was on hand to divert Carlton Cole's goalbound shot past Thomas Sorensen to break the ten-man Potters' hearts. Tristan celebrated his first goal since netting for Livorno against Roma in Italy's Serie A on 9 December 2007 by sliding on his knees in front of the Boleyn Ground's Dr Martens Stand. The outpouring of emotion showed just how much the goal - the first of the striker's Hammers' career - meant to Tristan.
"I feel really good. It was fantastic for me. I feel really happy to be playing and I felt really good before I went on to the pitch. Now I have scored a goal I hope that it will give confidence both to myself and to the manager ahead of the next match.
Tristan has made three Barclays Premier Reserve League South starts for United since winning a contract in October following a successful trial. After four substitute appearances for the first team, however, the Spaniard is desperate to show manager Gianfranco Zola, his team-mates and the club's supporters what he can do on the Premier League stage.
"There was a fantastic atmosphere inside the Boleyn Ground during the game [against Stoke]. I was really impressed with the first time I heard it and I am impressed again every time I come to the stadium. It is great for me to play in front of such unbelievable fans. I really hope to help them by helping the team to win some more matches with my goals. I hope to make them happy with my play."
Manager Zola admitted Tristan may not be quite ready to start a Premier League match fitness-wise, but the former Real Mallorca hit-man believes he will be ready if called upon - perhaps against Barnsley in the FA Cup this Saturday.. Now he is off the mark, Zola knows he has a ready-made alternative for first-choice forwards Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy. Tristan, for one, is keen to prove that theory.
"I don't know if I will start a game soon because it is the manager's decision but I feel really good. I hope with this goal I can give more confidence to the manager in me. Bellamy and Cole are doing fantastically well but I hope that when the manager calls on me I can come in and score some goals."