Definition of Puskas Award

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The FIFA Puskas Award was an award created in 2009 to award a footballer (either male or female) who scored the most beautiful or aesthetically pleasing goal. The award is named in honour of Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskas, a highly prolific striker of the 1950s and 1960s.

The award was originally awarded based on fans voting for their preferred choice on the FIFA Puskas site. However, this changed after 2018, when Mohammad Salah won the award despite not being the favourite to win. As of the time of writing, the award is now decided by a team of pundits once the public votes the top 3 strikes.

The first winner of the awards was Cristiano Ronaldo for his free kick against Porto in the Champions League. Other winners include Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, James Rodriguez, Olivier Giroud and Nemanja Matic. A female has yet to win the award, despite being nominated 14 different times throughout the years.

One of the most stressed criteria for this award is that it is given regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender or religion. Other criteria include that the goal shouldn't be a product of luck (such as a deflection off a defender) or that there was no foul play involved (such as a handball or an offside in the build-up).

Players should be rewarded and recognized for beautiful goals, and the Puskas Award is an attempt to do just that. Long may it continue to see some of the best goals football can offer.