Manchester United Actor Alejandro Garnacho secured the 2024 Puskas Award with an impressive acrobatic overhead kick during a match against Everton. However, who might be the top candidates vying for the honor this season?
In 2009, FIFA introduced the Puskás Award to honor the player who had scored the most visually appealing or "most beautiful" goal within the annual timeframe. Cristiano Ronaldo received the first-ever prize for his remarkable long-distance penalty during the match against Porto.
Lionel Messi He has never received the award despite being nominated an unprecedented seven times. Meanwhile, notable players who have claimed this honor include Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimović, James RodrÃguez, and Mohamed Salah, along with numerous others you might not be familiar with.
Here’s each candidate for the 2025 award. Feel like we've overlooked someone? Do let us know. @planetfutebol , and continue to check back as we will update this list throughout the year.
Luka Modric
Since Ferenc Puskas holds the record as the oldest outfield player to have played for Real Madrid, it's appropriate that Modric has now scored a goal befitting the legendary Hungarian's reputation.
In February, the legendary Croatian forward kicked off the scoring against Girona with an incredibly powerful shot from afar. He will turn 40 later this year – remarkable.
Erik Lamela
Can we consider someone a 'Puskas merchant'? If yes, then Lamela fits right in.
The Argentine winger received this accolade in 2021 due to his remarkable rabona goal during the North London derby. While not as extraordinary, this subsequent strike remains impressively satisfying despite being scored from a considerable distance.
Wasn't aware that Lamela has been playing alongside Anthony Martial for AEK Athens recently? Well, now you know.
Ovella Ochieng
Each year, there's always at least one contender for the Puskás Award coming from a part of the world you've barely considered when thinking about football.
Move ahead, Ovella Ochieng from the Kenyan Premier League team AFC Leopards.
This could very well be the greatest free-kick we've ever witnessed. Truly.
Lyndon Dykes
The Leeds United supporter at our workplace is still quite annoyed that Patrick Bamford’s amazing goal during last season’s FA Cup third round was not included in the shortlist.
If that didn't work, then this one likely shouldn't either. However, it's an impressive finish reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimović for Birmingham City’s Lyndon Dykes.
Angel Di Maria
This overhead kick isn’t quite as satisfying or clean as Di Maria’s compatriot’s last year, but it’s still absolutely lovely
This marked the second goal in a 7-0 rout. Kudos to the opposing team for not conceding immediately.
Elicley Soares
If we're adding Di Maria to the list, then this should definitely be included as well. Mainly because at home, it gracefully arcs just beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
Peter Drury, pay attention: On this occasion, a commentator has every right to criticize extensively.
Irakli Yegoian
"When a man grows weary of performing bicycle kicks, he has grown indifferent to life itself," as Samuel Johnson reportedly stated. Is that correct?
Perhaps it's time to begin following the Dutch second division?
Ezequiel Cerutti
Clearly, our minds have been overwhelmed by an excess of tiki-taka tactics, as the entire situation seems akin to one of those annoying indirect free-kicks that eventually gets passed back to the keeper. For goodness' sake, just put it in the blender!
(To clarify, yes, that is indeed Athletic Bilbao veteran Iker Muniain appearing for the Argentine team San Lorenzo, should you have been curious about it.)
Cerutti had different plans in mind, delivering one of the farthest-reaching shots we've ever witnessed. Never before has a ball remained so continuously struck as this particular instance.
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