The FIFA Puskás Award celebrates football’s most spectacular goals, with previous winners including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The prize was inaugurated in 2009 and is named in honour of Ferenc Puskás – the legendary Hungarian striker famed for scoring incredible goals with astonishing regularity.
You can view all 16 Puskás Award winners so far below!
2009: Ronaldo’s thunderbolt
FC Porto 0-1 Manchester United
UEFA Champions League quarter-final
In Cristiano Ronaldo’s words…
“It was incredible, a fantastic goal. If you asked me how to score a goal like that, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. It’s just hitting it hard and seeing the net bulge, that’s all. I am very proud of this award, it’s a great honour for me.”
2010: Altintop’s perfect volley
Kazakhstan 0-3 Turkey
UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier
In Hamit Altintop’s words…
“I remember that I hit the ball with my eyes closed. I closed them so I could focus all my power on the shot and hit it as hard as I could. When I opened them again the ball was in the back of the net. I only saw how it had gone in when I watched it on TV!”
2011: Neymar’s solo stunner
Santos 4-5 Flamengo
Campeonato Brasileiro
In Neymar’s words…
“It was a unique moment, indescribable. It’s something that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I was on the same pitch as Ronaldinho, who did some of the most beautiful plays anyone from any country has ever seen, so that made it extra special. And to win the Puskás Award over greats like Messi, Rooney and Zlatan makes me immensely proud.”
2012: Stoch’s special strike
Fenerbahce 6-1 Genclerbirligi
Turkish Super Lig
In Miroslav Stoch’s words…
“Two or three players were coming at me, so I couldn’t control the ball. I was forced into shooting because if I’d tried to control it, I would have probably lost it and it would have been a counter-attack. I couldn’t have hit it any better.”
2013: Zlatan’s jaw-dropping bicycle kick
Sweden 4-2 England
International friendly
In Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s words…
“We will remember this goal for a long time because it’s not a normal goal. I knew what I was going to do before the ball arrived. I positioned myself next to the defender to be able to flick the ball. I had a little bit of luck on my side because it went in the goal and that’s what makes it perfect. It’s probably one of the most beautiful goals of my career.”
2014: James’ World Cup blockbuster
Colombia 2-0 Uruguay
FIFA World Cup Round of 16
In James Rodriguez’s words…
“It was a very special goal for me and for all of Colombia. That moment, that match and that day will be with me for the rest of my life.”
2015: Wendell’s extraordinary acrobatics
Atlético Goianiense 1-2 Goianésia
Campeonato Goiano
In Wendell Lira’s words…
“Even today, I still can’t believe it. It was a fairy tale. I don’t know if in 15 or 20 years it will sink in: that I beat Messi to win the Puskás Award. Leaving my name in football history is something that means so much more to me than money ever could.”
2016: Subri’s swerving sizzler
Penang 4-1 Pahang
Malaysia Super League
In Mohd Faiz Subri’s words…
“Honestly, it never crossed my mind that I would be able to arrive at this level [to win this award] and stand tall among these world-class footballers.”
2017: Giroud’s scorpion kick
Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
Premier League
In Olivier Giroud’s words…
“I tried to keep the ball alive by finishing the move and having a shot and had maximum efficiency with a bit of luck. I never worked on it in training, though people who play with me know I love doing acrobatic moves – I loved Jean-Pierre Papin’s overhead kicks and have scored a couple myself!”
2018: Salah’s splendid skill and finish
Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Premier League
In Mohamed Salah’s words…
“It was a different goal for me, the Everton one. I prefer it. I used my strength, skills and my finishing.”
2019: Zsori’s scissors kick
Debrecen 2-1 Ferencvaros
Hungarian National Championship 1
In Daniel Zsori’s words…
“Adam Bodi crossed the ball and I thought, ‘Why not have a go?’ I’d practised the move plenty of times in training and copied it from my idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. It is a huge honour to be the first Hungarian to win the award named after the best Hungarian football player ever.”
2020: Son’s show-stopper
Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 Burnley
Premier League
In Son Heungmin’s words…
“I tried to pass first of all to Dele [Alli], he was open but the right-back followed him and it was impossible to pass to him, so I just thought ‘shall I go?’ and put my booster on. It was the right timing to put the booster on! After two or three seconds I was in front of goal, really surprised. To score this kind of goal makes me so proud.”
2021: Lamela’s remarkable rabona
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
In Erik Lamela’s words…
“I didn’t think how special the goal was, I just kicked the ball and started running around the pitch with my team-mates! I never practice this shot in training, it normally just comes in that second, finding the best way to shoot.”
2022: Oleksy breaks new ground
Warta Poznan 4-0 Stal Rzeszow
PZU Amp Futbol Ekstraklasa
In Marcin Oleksy’s words….
“My team-mate Dawid [Novak] played the pass. When I saw him approaching the ball, I knew it was coming to me. I connected really cleanly. It was pure. When I hit it, I was following the ball all the way with my eyes and I saw it go into the corner of the net. I always wanted to score a beautiful goal. You could see how proud it made me after I scored. I stood up tall, I put my chest out. I was just so, so happy.”
2023: Madruga’s awesome overhead
Novorizontino 0-1 Botafogo-SP
Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B
In Guilherme Madruga’s words…
“After the game I watched the video of the goal again and only then did I realise what I’d done. My brother and I looked at each other and I said, ‘Bro, did I do that?’”
2024: Garnacho’s golazo
Everton 0-3 Manchester United
English Premier League
In Alejandro Garnacho’s words…
“When the ball was in the air, I thought it was the moment to go for it. I had tried this technique so many times in training. I thought, ‘This is the time to do it, to see what happens.’ And I scored, so it was perfect!”
