Ranking Every FIFA Puskas Award Winner Since 2009

The FIFA Puskas Award, honoring the most aesthetically stunning goal scored each calendar year, stands as a unique counterpoint to individual accolades like the Ballon d'Or. Named after the legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskás, this award celebrates pure, unadulterated beauty in footballing execution. While icons like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d'Or, the Puskas has proven more elusive, particularly for Messi, who remarkably has never won it. Judging the 'most beautiful' goal is inherently subjective, leading to debates and controversies, especially after the public vote system was revised. Not all winning strikes are created equal; factors like distance from goal, opposition quality, game importance, and technical difficulty play crucial roles in separating the truly exceptional from the merely very good. Here’s a ranking of every Puskas winner since its 2009 inception, considering these key elements.

13. Mohamed Salah (2018): Liverpool vs Everton

Salah's curling effort past Jordan Pickford, after evading two defenders, was undoubtedly skillful. However, it typified a goal he scored several times that season. James Milner's tongue-in-cheek tweet calling it Salah's "7th best goal from last season" highlighted the widespread feeling that it lacked the uniqueness expected of a Puskas winner. Its victory over Cristiano Ronaldo's gravity-defying overhead kick against Juventus remains one of the award's most contentious decisions. The context was a Premier League derby, but the goal itself wasn't sufficiently extraordinary.

Key Factors:

• Distance: ⚽️⚽️⚽️ (Medium range)

• Opposition Quality: ⚽️⚽️⚽️ (Premier League)

• Technical Difficulty: ⚽️⚽️⚽️ (Good control and finish)

• Game Importance: ⚽️⚽️ (League match)

12. Wendell Lira (2015): Goianesia vs Atletico-GO

Lira's overhead kick secured a surprising 46.7% of the public vote. While acrobatic and well-executed, it occurred in a Brazilian state league match (Campeonato Goiano). The sheer shock of its victory was amplified because it beat Lionel Messi's mesmerizing solo run and finish against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final – a goal showcasing unparalleled dribbling, balance, and composure at the highest level. Lira's goal was good, but its triumph over Messi's masterpiece remains baffling.

11. Mohd Faiz Subri (2016): Penang vs Pahang

Subri's free-kick in the Malaysian Super League defied physics with its absurd, swerving trajectory into the top corner from near the touchline. The sheer unpredictability and visual spectacle were undeniable. However, questions linger about the intentionality behind the swerve – was it pure technical mastery or an incredibly fortunate connection? The level of competition (Malaysian Super League) also factors into its ranking. It was spectacularly unique, but perhaps lacked the controlled artistry of higher-ranked goals.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo (2009): Manchester United vs Porto

Ronaldo's sole Puskas win came for this thunderous 40-yard strike in the Champions League quarter-final. The sheer power and audacity to shoot from such distance, in such a crucial European tie, were breathtaking. It rocketed past the helpless Helton. While perhaps not as technically refined as his later overhead kick against Juventus (which lost to Salah), its importance – helping United reach the semi-finals – and the sheer violence of the strike cement its place. It only garnered 17.68% of the vote, showing how competitive the field was that year.

9. Miroslav Stoch (2012): Fenerbahce vs Genclerbirligi

Stoch executed the notoriously difficult 'Scholesy' – a first-time, dipping volley from outside the box – to perfection. Meeting a cleared corner just two minutes into a Turkish Süper Lig match, his strike was pure technique and power, leaving the young goalkeeper Ramazan Kose utterly helpless. It secured a staggering 78% of the public vote. While the opposition wasn't elite and the game was a comfortable win, the flawless execution of a high-difficulty skill earns it a solid ranking.

8. Hamit Altintop (2010): Turkey vs Kazakhstan

Altintop's strike in a Euro 2012 qualifier is a masterclass in pure, clean volleying. The ball dropped from height, and the Turkish midfielder connected with astonishing power and precision, sending it screaming past the goalkeeper. The technique was immaculate – the kind of strike that would make legends like Steven Gerrard or Paul Scholes proud. The sheer purity of the hit, combined with the international stage, elevates it above many other winners. Poor Andrei Sidelnikov, the Kazakh keeper, could only watch.

7. Guilherme Madruga (2023): Botafogo vs Novorizontino

Madruga's 2023 winner embodied audacity and execution. In a crowded penalty area scramble during a Brazilian Serie A match, the midfielder, not known for goals, produced an exquisite overhead kick that looped perfectly over the goalkeeper. The acrobatic technique, performed under pressure in a tight space, was exceptional. While the Puskas jury's evident fondness for overhead kicks (Julio Enciso and Nuno Santos had strong cases) is noted, Madruga's goal was a genuinely superb example of the genre executed in a top-flight league.

6. James Rodriguez (2014): Colombia vs Uruguay (World Cup)

Rodriguez announced himself on the global stage with this World Cup masterpiece. Controlling a high ball on his chest with his back to goal, he swivelled instantly and unleashed a devastating left-footed volley that crashed in off the crossbar. The combination of control, turn, technique, and power, executed in a World Cup knockout match against a strong Uruguay side, was phenomenal. This goal wasn't just beautiful; it was iconic on football's biggest stage, propelling Rodriguez to superstardom.

5. Daniel Zsori (2019): Debrecen vs Ferencvaros

Zsori's story is the stuff of footballing dreams. On his senior debut for Debrecen, against the Hungarian league leaders Ferencvaros, he scored a 93rd-minute winner. And not just any winner – a stunning, acrobatic overhead kick. The sheer improbability of the moment – debut, last minute, against the best, overhead kick – makes it unforgettable. It rightfully edged out a lovely Messi chip against Real Betis. The context, drama, and flawless execution of a difficult technique earn it a high ranking.

4. Marcin Oleksy (2022): Warta Poznan vs Stal Rzeszow (Amputee Football)

Oleksy's goal transcends sport. An amputee footballer for Warta Poznan and Poland, he scored an astonishing overhead kick during an amputee league match. Using crutches for support, he launched himself into the air and connected perfectly with a bicycle kick. This goal is a testament to incredible athleticism, determination, and skill overcoming physical adversity. It's unique in Puskas history, not just for its beauty but for the powerful story of resilience and passion it represents. A truly inspiring winner.

The Unbeaten: Messi's Puskas Absence

The enduring curiosity of the Puskas Award is Lionel Messi's absence from its winners' list. His incredible solo goal against Athletic Bilbao in the 2015 Copa del Rey final, weaving past multiple defenders, was arguably more deserving than Wendell Lira's winner that year. He's scored countless other goals of breathtaking individual skill and team interplay that could easily have claimed the prize. This omission highlights the award's subjectivity and the specific criteria voters seem to favor, often leaning towards spectacular one-off moments like long-range strikes or overhead kicks over intricate dribbling masterclasses. It remains a fascinating footnote in the careers of both Messi and the award itself.

The FIFA Puskas Award continues to spark debate and celebrate moments of individual brilliance that leave fans in awe. From long-range screamers to acrobatic wonders and goals that defy physical limitations, each winner adds a unique chapter to football's anthology of beautiful strikes. While the debate over the 'best' will rage on, the award undeniably succeeds in its core mission: highlighting the artistry possible within the beautiful game.