Ten 2020 Ferenc Puskas Award Contenders
Some of the best, most beautiful goals scored this past season
picture via aipsmedia.com
A quick history lesson, back in 2009, then FIFA president Sepp Blatter established the Ferenc Puskas Award to be given to the scorer, male or female, that scores the "most aesthetically significant" or most beautiful goal of the calendar year. Now for the name of the award, Ferenc Puskas was a Hungarian and Real Madrid legend between the late 1950s and the early 1960s. Some considered him to be one of the most prolific forwards of the 20th century and helped the then-dominant Hungary side to their second and last World Cup final, where they lost to West Germany by a score of 3-2. Puskas also set many goalscoring records, including an impressive 514 goals scored in 529 league appearances.
Now, going back to 2009, at the annual FIFA Player of the Year Gala in Switzerland Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo for his absolute thunderstrike against Portuguese side Porto. Following 2009 the Puskas Award became one of the most coveted awards alongside the Ballon d'Or. For today's post, we are going to take a look at some of the contenders for this year's Puskas award and lay them out in no particular order.
1) Johan Carbonero vs. Patriotas
video via Win Sports official YouTube channel
In the Columbian top-flight Once Caldas', Johan Carbonero scored probably the best goal of his career when he muscled Patriotas midfielder, Maicol Medina, off the ball and set his eyes downfield. After a split second, the Columbian launched the ball towards the opposition net even though Patriotas goalkeeper Victor Brid was only standing a foot or two outside of his six-yard box. The Columbian showed his strength and his skill to score this half field strike and earns a spot on this list.
2) Andre Pierre Gignac vs. Pumas
video via Liga BBVA MX official YouTube channel
Just north in Mexico, Tigres forward Andre Pierre Gignac has been tearing up the Liga MX for some time now. However, the goal he scored in February of this year was something special. To start the build-up, the big Frenchman had the ball just outside the penalty box. After a give-and-go with defender Luis Rodriguez, Gignac makes his run into the box. Rodriguez played a lofted ball on the backside of his teammate to where Gignac then flicks the ball on with the back of his heel, chipping Pumas goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera. This is not the first time Andre Pierre Gignac has scored a goal to this caliber as he is known for his acrobatic and creative finishing in the box. That same finishing style earns him a place on this list.
3) Radja Nainggolan vs. SPAL
video via Serie A official YouTube channel
Over to Italy, when back in October of 2019, Cagliari midfielder Radja Nainggolan scored an absolute belter against SPAL. The play started with Cagliari having a cross into the box cleared of off a free-kick. Nainggolan received the ball around 25 yards out settled and struck it clean, sending the ball into the far top corner of the goal. SPAL goalkeeper, Etrit Berisha, could only watch helplessly as the ball bounced off the post and in, putting Cagliari ahead in the game. The once prominent Belgian star is once again in the spotlight, and with this strike, he deserves to be on this list as well.
4) Sandro Tonalli vs. Genoa
video via Serie A official YouTube channel
We remain in Italy for the next goal coming from young Italian talent Sandro Tonali. The first goal on this list to go directly from a set-piece, Tonali, was set on the field in what some might say is an impossible angle to score from. The 20-year-old squared up and put a high inswinging ball right into the far top corner. Now, for the debate of whether or not his goal was entended to be a shot or a cross to defender Andrea Cistana does not matter as in the end, the shot still soared past Genoa's goalkeeper Andrei Radu. The young midfielder has consistently shown that he could become one of the greats and potentially join the ranks of Maldini, Pirlo, and Totti.
5) Zé Luis vs. Paços de Ferreira
video via VSPORTS official YouTube channel
Just before the new year, Porto's Zé Luis scored an unbelievable touch and shoot with a twist. Playing in the Portuguese Premeira Liga or Liga NOS, Porto was facing Paços de Ferreira, and in the 76th minute, a lobbed pass from nearly 40 yards out by Alex Telles comes falling to Luis. In an instant, the Cape Verdean forward tracks the ball, pops it up with his chest, and kicks the ball over his head right over Paços goalkeeper Ricardo Ribiero. Every year the Puskas award nominees feature at least one or two bicycle kick goals; however, the skill it took to track, trap, and shoot the ball all in a matter of seconds it what finds Porto's Zé Luis on this list.
6) Marcel Sabitzer vs. Zenit St. Petersburg
video via TUDN USA official YouTube channel
Probably one of the sweetest volleys you will ever see, Marcel Sabitzer's phenomenal goal against Zenit in October of 2019 had everyone claiming the goal of the season before the ball even hit the back of the net. Leading up to his goal Sabitzer started the move laying off the ball to Kevin Kampl. From there, the ball was swung out wide, allowing Marcel Sabitzer to drift into an open pocket of space on the opposite side of the box. Then a switch of play by right-back Lukas Klostermann found a wide-open Sabitzer who had time to trap the ball and set himself up for undoubtedly the goal of the Champions League season. Truly Roberto Carlos-esque and earns his spot on this list.
7) Jordan Flores vs. Shamrock Rovers
video via FAI TV official YouTube channel
Without a doubt, one of the favorites to claim this award, Jordan Flores' outrageous volley, makes the previously mentioned Sabitzer's look like a mere tap in. The acrobatics and awareness needed to pull off a kick like Flores did off of a corner kick is world-class. Shamrock Rovers' goalkeeper Alan Mannus had no chance of stopping the strike as it thumped into the back of the net. Not often do you see a goal emerge of this quality, and it is sure to give every goal on this list a run for the winning spot.
8) Kevin De Bruyne vs. Newcastle United
video via official NBC Sports YouTube channel
Even though Kevin De Bruyne will miss the chance to challenge the like of Messi, Ronaldo, and Lewandowski for a Ballon d'Or this year, he is not out of the race to take home his first Puskas Award. There is no doubt that Kevin De Bruyne is a world-class player, and his goal at St. James' Park in November of 2019 was a world-class goal. Starting off a poor clearance from Newcastle defender Paul Dummett, the ball fell straight to De Bruyne just outside of the penalty box. The Belgian did well to control the ball, and after one bounce, he sent the ball past the outstretched leg of Jonjo Shelvey as well as a helpless Martin Dúbravka. The goal felt unreal, like something straight out of the FIFA video games as it hit the crossbar and bounced down with enough force to come back up and strike the top of the net. Manchester City owes a lot of their recent success to Kevin De Bruyne, and it is in moments like this where he shows the world how valuable he truly is.
9) Marcus Rashford vs. Chelsea
video via Manchester United official YouTube channel
Ever soccer players dream, to score a long-range knuckleball free-kick putting it top corner to win the game. That soccer player on October 30th, 2019, was Marcus Rashford as he helped his team into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. From 35 yards out, the young English forward hit a dipping free-kick past Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero. The goal was scored in style, all too familiar due to one young Portuguese star just a decade before. Rashford has emerged as a deadly set-piece threat even after the arrival of Bruno Fernandes and the return of Paul Pogba from injury. Indeed one of the best goals any Manchester United player has scored this season and will indeed be up there in the rankings for the Puskas Award.
10) Son Heung-Min vs. Burnley
video via NBC Sports official YouTube channel
One of the real gems of not only the Premier League season but all football worldwide this year. Seventy yards end to end with nearly the entire Burnley eleven in his dust, thrashed and beaten, "Sonaldo" as many have come to know him showed his talent and why he is the reigning Asian Footballer of the Year. The run all begins after Jan Vertonghen out muscles Burnley's James Tarkowski. The Korean picks up the ball just a few feet outside his penalty box and immediately takes off. With the outlets of Lucas Moura and Dele Alli quickly closing Son takes off, and after a touch past Erik Peters, it began to set in what we were about to witness. When it came time to poke it past, Nick Pope Son made it look like it was no trouble at all as he was already running to celebrate before the ball had even crossed the line. Though he is well-known by soccer fans around the world, he is one of the most underrated players in the English Premier League, let alone in world football. This solo goal might be just what he needs to make his mark on the history books.
There were many incredible goals scored this season outside the ten I have selected. However, the goals scored on this list all have their unique way of being world-class, and though only one will come out a winner, most will be remembered for seasons to come. Thanks for reading.