At Independiente, beauty is neither a luxury nor a whim, but a fundamental principle engrained in the club’s soul.
Throughout its history, it has been a quiet obligation – a way of understanding the game and, above all, of understanding itself. An indispensable ally in the club’s most glorious days: the demanding, title-hungry ‘paladar negro’.
Independiente built its identity not only on its many trophies but on the idea that football that should be brave, attacking and creative. From that exacting tradition emerges one of its current talented stars in the form of Santiago Montiel, who has just earned global recognition as the architect of the most beautiful goal of 2025. His stunning bicycle kick against Independiente Rivadavia was honoured with the FIFA Puskás Award.
Montiel was hardly the finished product when he entered the professional ranks. He burst onto the first division scene as a full-back before demonstrating impressive technical ability which saw him advance up the pitch. He displayed his first signs of attacking prowess playing in a deeper position on the left flank during his time at Argentinos Juniors, and made the switch to the wing after his move to Independiente.
It was there where he started to become one of those players capable of getting both sets of fans out of their seats. And at El Rojo, where the magic of the emblematic Enrique Bochini still lingers, Montiel has managed to put smiles back on the faces of Independiente’s adoring fans – a player who embodies beauty for beauty’s own sake. In a modern game increasingly shaped by tactical obedience and instant results, Montiel offers a different approach. His game is defined by creativity. When he receives the ball, his first instinct is to look to attack. He relishes taking on defenders, daring them to dive in and make a challenge or risk allowing him the space to run at them. He may lose possession at times, but his mazy runs push the team forward, draw fouls and create opportunities for his team-mates. Whatever it is, his unpredictability is usually successful in causing chaos amongst the opposition defence.
The wing areas are positions laden with symbolism at Independiente. Historically reserved for those creative players who could change games on their own, Montiel has naturally drifted into a position that he can now call home. Stay wide, stretch the pitch and look to isolate defenders. His role feels a little old-fashioned in the modern game – and that is what makes it so significant. Montiel operates by his own logic, refusing to bend his game to the demands of the system. His style invites pressure and criticism, and at a club such as Independiente that carries such a weight of expectation in every game, his insistence on beauty is even more admirable.
There is no need to force comparisons or invoke names from the past. Montiel’s place in that lineage is more conceptual than literal, rooted in an idea that transcends eras: football as a space for freedom within a structured framework. He uses his creativity as a tool to unpick a defence and unlock tight spaces.
There is something unique about the way he plays – whether he decides to feint or dribble and take on his opposite number depending on the context of the game. The 25-year-old’s game is often fearless – he is not frightened of losing the ball or being caught in possession. And this attitude upholds a belief that has always been central at Independiente: beauty is not negotiable, it must be defended. Every one of his actions breaks monotony, changes the rhythm, and offers an alternative.
Only Montiel and his genius would think to launch himself high into the air to deliver a sensational bicycle kick when any other player might have chosen a safer option. The FIFA Puskás Award recognises exceptional goals, but at Independiente, Montiel’s value goes beyond a single strike. His football is a reminder that beauty is not a museum relic or a nostalgic memory, but a living idea that needs courageous players to keep it alive. As long as Montiel continues to take risks, challenge the order, and choose the beautiful over the safe, the club’s tradition will remain alive.
