Established in 2009, the FIFA Puskas Award recognises the most beautiful goals scored each year. Eligibility for the award isn’t just for the big leagues either. Any goal scored in any official match can be considered for the award.
The award is named after Hungarian and Real Madrid legend, Ferenc Puskás, in the late 1950s and the 1960s. Puskás is hailed as probably the most powerful and prolific forward to play in the top-flight of European football scored 512 goals in 528 matches.
This year, Malaysian, Mohd Faiz Subri of Pulau Pinang joins Lionel Messi and Neymar on the 2016 shortlist. Here are all the nominees:
[divider]Saul Niguez[/divider]
Saul Niguez picks the ball up inside the opposition half and weaves past Thiago Alcantara, Juan Bernat and Xabi Alonso, before bursting into the penalty area and placing his shot past Manuel Neuer with finesse.
[divider]Marlone[/divider]
Corinthins’ Marlone sets the ball up with his chest and acrobatically scissor-kicks the ball in mid-air giving Sebastian Cuerdo no chance to save while being closed down by defenders.
[divider]Lionel Messi[/divider]
Captaining Argentina, Lionel Messi drives in a 25-yard stunner. USA stopper Brad Guzan tries, but is nowhere close to stopping that incredibly accurate effort.
[divider]Simon Skrabb[/divider]
Skrabb shows that he’s fantastic at thinking on his feet as he quickly improvises and get his body in shape to connect sweetly with the ball by way of a scorpion kick. Rene Higuita who?
[divider]Hilompho Kekana[/divider]
Kekana wins the ball from Cameroon’s Tony Tchani in his own half and lets one fly proving that he can bend it better than Beckham… well at least where this goal is concerned.
[divider]Hal Robson-Kanu[/divider]
Welsh, Hal Robson-Kanu beautifully wrong-foots the entire Belgian defence with a Cryuff turn and proceeds to cooly put the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
[divider]Daniuska Rodriguez[/divider]
The only female amongst the nominees, Venezuela’s Daniuska Rodriguez shows fantastic close control and strength before blasting the ball past the opposing goalkeeper and finishing off the solo effort.
[divider]Mario Gaspar[/divider]
Mario Gaspar’s acrobatic strike manages to pick out the ball in mid-air and sends it swerving past England’s custodian. Beautiful. Worth watching a couple of dozen times.
[divider]Neymar[/divider]
Neymar turns on the Samba against Villarreal. One touch to set, one to flick and the third to finish.
[divider]Mohd Faiz Subri[/divider]
Remember that Roberto Carlos freekick? Well Faiz Subri’s swerving freekick is our pick for the 2016 FIFA Puskas award and one that you won’t forget anytime soon.
You can Vote for your favorite goal via the FIFA website.