FIFA Puskas Award 2019: Daniel Zsori beats Lionel Messi to bag the award for his magnificent overhead kick on his debut in the Hungarian league.
The FIFA Puskas award is a trophy awarded by FIFA for the most outstanding goal scored within a calendar year; regardless of the league it was scored in or the gender of the person who scored. The award was created to reward the most aesthetically significant goal.
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Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah overtook Cristiano Ronaldo and Giorgian de Arrascaeta last year to clinch the award for his goal against Everton in the Premier League.
https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1174291981402423296
This year, the award was contested by 10 players; of whom, Lionel Messi, Juan Fernando Quintero and Daniel Zsori made it to the final 3.
Many had anticipated that Barcelona’s talisman to win the award this season, having never won it in his career before. However, the award instead went to Daniel Zsori for his phenomenal effort on his Hunagrian league debut after coming in as a substitute.
https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1176206760186695680
Dream debut!
The 18-year old was called into the match with just 10 minutes left in the match and his team trailing 0-1. A few minutes later, his side Debrecen equalised after his teammate Daniel Tozser scored minutes after his introduction.
With the game headed into stoppage time, a cross from Adam Bodi crossed the ball into the penalty area.
Daniel Zsori's sensational goal for Debrecen against Ferencvaros has won the 2019 FIFA Puskas Award. #TheBestAwards | #Puskas pic.twitter.com/UmoP8DlfmW
— Tuka Letura (@TukaLetura) September 23, 2019
In the words of Zsori:
Adam Bodi crossed the ball into the penalty box and I just thought: ‘Why not have a go?’ I’d practised the move plenty of times in my training sessions and copied it from my idol Cristiano Ronaldo. I held my breath for a moment as the ball flew towards the goal.”
A dream debut that could not have been scripted anymore perfectly. Not only did it give his side 3 points but it also helped him bag the coveted Puskas award; beating Lionel Messi in the process.
Messi may have missed the FIFA Puskas award 2019 by an inch. However, he can still end the night with an award to his name. He is nominated for team of the year and Player of the year.
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