FIFA Puskás Award explained

The FIFA Puskás Award in Hungarian pronounced as /ˈpuʃkaːʃ/ is an award established on 20 October 2009 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), at the behest of then-president Sepp Blatter, to be awarded to the male or female judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or "most beautiful", goal of the calendar year. The Puskás award is announced yearly and is considered by voting.

The award is in honour of Ferenc Puskás, the striker of Real Madrid during the late 1950s to the late 1960s, and central member of the highly successful Hungarian side of the same era. Puskás is widely considered by many to be the most powerful and prolific forward Europe produced in first-division football, and was honoured by IFFHS in 1997 as the best top-tier goalscorer of the 20th century. Puskás scored 806 goals in 793 games and his 86 national team goals in 90 outings was a world record at the time.[1] [2]

"It is important to preserve the memory of those footballing greats who have left their mark on our history. Ferenc Puskás was not only a player with immense talent who won many honours, but also a remarkable man. FIFA is therefore delighted to pay tribute to him by dedicating this award to his memory," said Blatter at the inauguration of the award in Budapest.

Until 2018, the winner was decided completely based on voting by fans on FIFA's official website.[3] However, after a controversy in the 2018 award,[4] FIFA changed the procedure. Now, the award is decided by pundits selected by FIFA, who will choose the winner based on the top three goals voted for by the public.

The time-frame for the first award was July 2008 to July 2009. The annual award was presented for the first time during the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year Gala on 21 December in Switzerland, with Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo being the first prize winner.

Award criteria

Winners and nominees

Scores and results list the player's club goal tally first.

2009

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Porto1–02008–09 UEFA Champions League17.68%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Andrés Iniesta Barcelona Chelsea1–12008–09 UEFA Champions League15.64%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Grafite VfL Wolfsburg Bayern Munich5–12008–09 Bundesliga13.39%
4th Eliran Atar Bnei Yehuda Maccabi Netanya1–12008–09 Israeli Premier League13.36%
5th Fernando Torres Liverpool Blackburn Rovers4–02008–09 Premier League9.44%
6th Nilmar Internacional Corinthians1–02009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A8.71%
7th Michael Essien Chelsea Barcelona1–02008–09 UEFA Champions League7.89%
8th Luis Ángel Landín Cruz Azul Morelia1–1Liga MX Clausura 20097.30%
9th Emmanuel Adebayor Arsenal Villarreal1–12008–09 UEFA Champions League4.04%
10th Katlego Mphela2–22009 FIFA Confederations Cup2.59%

2010

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Hamit Altıntop2–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualification40.55%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Linus Hallenius Hammarby Syrianska2–02010 Superettan13.23%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Giovanni van Bronckhorst1–02010 FIFA World Cup10.61%
Unranked Matty Burrows Glentoran Portadown1–02010–11 IFA PremiershipN/A
Lionel Messi Barcelona Valencia3–02009–10 La Liga
Samir Nasri Arsenal Porto3–02009–10 UEFA Champions League
Neymar Santos Santo André2–12010 Campeonato Paulista
Arjen Robben Bayern Munich Schalke 041–02009–10 DFB-Pokal
Siphiwe Tshabalala1–02010 FIFA World Cup
Kumi Yokoyama2–12010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

2011

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Neymar Santos Flamengo4–52011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série AN/A
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Lionel Messi Barcelona Arsenal1–02010–11 UEFA Champions League
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Wayne Rooney Manchester United Manchester City2–12010–11 Premier League
Unranked Benjamin De Ceulaer Lokeren Club Brugge1–22011–12 Belgian Pro League
Giovani dos Santos4–22011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Julio Gómez3–22011 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Zlatan Ibrahimović Milan Lecce1–02010–11 Serie A
Lisandro López Arsenal de Sarandí Olimpo2–2Primera División Apertura 2011
Heather O'Reilly1–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Dejan Stanković Inter Milan Schalke 041–02010–11 UEFA Champions League

2012

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[6]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Miroslav Stoch Fenerbahçe Gençlerbirliği6–12011–12 Süper Lig78%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Radamel Falcao Atlético Madrid América de Cali1–0Friendly15%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Neymar Santos Internacional3–12012 Copa Libertadores7%
Unranked Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu1–02012 Africa Cup of NationsN/A
Hatem Ben Arfa Newcastle United Blackburn Rovers1–12011–12 FA Cup
Eric Hassli Vancouver Whitecaps Toronto FC1–12012 Canadian Championship
Olivia Jiménez2–02012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Gastón Mealla Nacional Potosí The Strongest2–22011–12 Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
Lionel Messi4–3Friendly
Moussa Sow Fenerbahçe Galatasaray1–02011–12 Süper Lig

2013

The following list includes the nominees for the 2013 award. Voting was possible through the FIFA.com website until 9 December 2013, after a second voting round was held between the top three goals from the first round. The award to the winning goal from the second round was presented on 13 January 2014.

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[7]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Zlatan Ibrahimović4–2Friendly48.7%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Nemanja Matić Benfica Porto1–12012–13 Primeira Liga30.8%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Neymar1–02013 FIFA Confederations Cup20.5%
Unranked Peter Ankersen Esbjerg Aarhus5–12013–14 SuperligaN/A
Louisa Cadamuro Lyon Saint-Étienne5–02012–13 Division 1 Féminine
Lisa De Vanna Sky Blue Boston Breakers5–12013 National Women's Soccer League
Antonio Di Natale Udinese Chievo3–12012–13 Serie A
Panagiotis Kone Bologna Napoli2–32012–13 Serie A
Daniel Ludueña Pachuca UANL2–1Liga MX Apertura 2013
Juan Manuel Olivera Náutico Sport Recife2–02013 Copa Sudamericana

2014

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 12 November 2014.[8]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[9]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st James Rodríguez2–02014 FIFA World Cup42%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Stephanie Roche Peamount United Wexford Youths2–02013–14 Women's National League33%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Robin van Persie1–12014 FIFA World Cup11%
Unranked Tim Cahill1–12014 FIFA World CupN/A
Diego Costa Atlético Madrid Getafe5–02013–14 La Liga
Marco Fabián Cruz Azul Puebla1–0Liga MX Clausura 2014
Zlatan Ibrahimović Paris Saint-Germain Bastia1–02013–14 Ligue 1
Pajtim Kasami Fulham Crystal Palace1–12013–14 Premier League
Camilo Sanvezzo Vancouver Whitecaps Portland Timbers2–22013 Major League Soccer
Hisato Satō Sanfrecce Hiroshima Kawasaki Frontale2–12014 J.League Division 1

2015

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 12 November 2015.[10]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[11]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Wendell Lira Goianésia Atlético Goianiense1–02015 Campeonato Goiano46.7%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Lionel Messi Barcelona Athletic Bilbao1–02014–15 Copa del Rey33.3%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Alessandro Florenzi Roma Barcelona1–12015–16 UEFA Champions League7.1%
Unranked David Ball Fleetwood Town Preston North End2–22014–15 League OneN/A
Chory Castro Real Sociedad Deportivo La Coruña2–12014–15 La Liga
Carli Lloyd4–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Philippe Mexès Milan Inter Milan1–0Friendly
Marcel Ndjeng SC Paderborn Bolton Wanderers3–1Friendly
Esteban Ramírez Herediano Saprissa3–1Liga FPD Invierno 2014
Carlos Tevez Juventus Parma4–02014–15 Serie A

2016

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 21 November 2016.[12]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[13]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Mohd Faiz Subri Penang Pahang4–12016 Malaysia Super League59.46%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Marlone Corinthians Cobresal3–02016 Copa Libertadores22.86%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Daniuska Rodríguez1–02016 South American U-17 Women's Championship10.01%
Unranked Mario Gaspar1–0FriendlyN/A
Hlompho Kekana2–12017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Lionel Messi2–0Copa América Centenario
Neymar Barcelona Villarreal3–02015–16 La Liga
Saúl Ñíguez Atlético Madrid Bayern Munich1–02015–16 UEFA Champions League
Hal Robson-Kanu2–1UEFA Euro 2016
Simon Skrabb Åtvidabergs Gefle1–02015 Allsvenskan

2017

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 22 September 2017.[14]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Olivier Giroud Arsenal Crystal Palace1–02016–17 Premier League36.17%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Oscarine Masuluke Baroka Orlando Pirates1–12016–17 South African Premier Division27.48%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Deyna Castellanos2–12016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup20.47%
scope=col align=center rowspan=7Unranked Kevin-Prince Boateng Las Palmas Villarreal1–02016–17 La LigaN/A
Alejandro Camargo Universidad de Concepción O'Higgins3–1Campeonato Nacional Apertura 2016
Moussa Dembélé Celtic St Johnstone5–22016–17 Scottish Premiership
Avilés Hurtado Tijuana Atlas1–1Liga MX Clausura 2017
Mario Mandžukić Juventus Real Madrid1–12016–17 UEFA Champions League
Nemanja Matić Chelsea Tottenham Hotspur4–22016–17 FA Cup
Jordi Mboula Barcelona Borussia Dortmund4–12016–17 UEFA Youth League

2018

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 3 September 2018.[15]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetitionVote percentage[16]
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Mohamed Salah Liverpool Everton1–02017–18 Premier League38%
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Juventus3–02017–18 UEFA Champions League22%
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Giorgian de Arrascaeta Cruzeiro América Mineiro1–02018 Campeonato Mineiro17%
Unranked Gareth Bale Real Madrid Liverpool3–12017–18 UEFA Champions LeagueN/A
Denis Cheryshev1–02018 FIFA World Cup
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos AEK Athens Olympiacos2–22017–18 Superleague Greece
Riley McGree Newcastle Jets Melbourne City1–12017–18 A-League
Lionel Messi1–02018 FIFA World Cup
Benjamin Pavard2–22018 FIFA World Cup
Ricardo Quaresma1–02018 FIFA World Cup

2019

FIFA announced the list of 10 nominees on 19 August 2019.[17]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetition
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Dániel Zsóri Debrecen Ferencváros2–12018–19 Nemzeti Bajnokság I
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Lionel Messi Barcelona Real Betis4–12018–19 La Liga
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Juan Fernando Quintero River Plate Racing1–02018–19 Superliga Argentina
Unranked Matheus Cunha RB Leipzig Bayer Leverkusen4–22018–19 Bundesliga
Zlatan Ibrahimović LA Galaxy Toronto FC1–32018 Major League Soccer
Ajara Nchout2–12019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Fabio Quagliarella Sampdoria Napoli3–02018–19 Serie A
Amy Rodriguez Utah Royals FC Sky Blue FC1–02019 National Women's Soccer League
Billie Simpson Cliftonville Ladies Sion Swifts Ladies1–22018 Women's Premiership
Andros Townsend Crystal Palace Manchester City2–12018–19 Premier League

2020

FIFA announced the list of 11 nominees on 25 November 2020.[18]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetition
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur Burnley3–02019–20 Premier League
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Giorgian de Arrascaeta Flamengo Ceará3–02019 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Luis Suárez Barcelona Mallorca4–12019–20 La Liga
Unranked Shirley Cruz3–12020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship
Jordan Flores Dundalk Shamrock Rovers2–32020 League of Ireland Premier Division
André-Pierre Gignac UANL UNAM3–0Liga MX Clausura 2020
Sophie Ingle Chelsea Arsenal3–02019–20 FA WSL
Zlatko Junuzović Red Bull Salzburg Rapid Wien6–12019–20 Austrian Bundesliga
Hlompho Kekana Mamelodi Sundowns Cape Town City1–02019–20 Premier Soccer League
Leonel Quiñónez Macará Universidad Católica1–02019 Ecuadorian Serie A
Caroline Weir Manchester City Manchester United1–02019–20 FA WSL

2021

FIFA announced the list of 11 nominees on 17 January 2022.

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetition
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Erik Lamela Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal1–22020–21 Premier League
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Mehdi Taremi Porto Chelsea1–02020–21 UEFA Champions League
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Patrik Schick2–0UEFA Euro 2020
Unranked Luis Díaz1–02021 Copa América
Gauthier Hein Auxerre Niort3–02020–21 Ligue 2
Valentino Lazaro Borussia Mönchengladbach Bayer Leverkusen3–42020–21 Bundesliga
Riyad Mahrez2–02021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Sandra Owusu-Ansah Supreme Ladies Kumasi Sports Academy Ladies1–12020–21 Ghana Women's Premier League
Vangelis Pavlidis Willem II Fortuna Sittard1–02020–21 Eredivisie
Daniela Sánchez Querétaro Atlético San Luis3–2Liga MX Femenil Guardianes 2021
Caroline Weir Manchester City Manchester United3–02020–21 FA WSL

2022

FIFA announced the list of 11 nominees on 12 January 2023.[19]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetition
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Marcin Oleksy Warta Poznań Stal Rzeszów1–02022 PZU Amp Futbol Ekstraklasa
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Dimitri Payet Marseille PAOK2–02021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Richarlison2–02022 FIFA World Cup
Unranked Mario Balotelli Adana Demirspor Göztepe7–02021–22 Süper Lig
Francisco González Metilli Central Córdoba Rosario Central1–02022 Liga Profesional
Amandine Henry Lyon Barcelona1–02021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League
Théo Hernandez Milan Atalanta2–02021–22 Serie A
Alou Kuol1–02022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Kylian Mbappé2–22022 FIFA World Cup
Salma Paralluelo Villarreal Barcelona1–02021–22 Liga F
Alessia Russo4–0UEFA Women's Euro 2022

2023

FIFA announced the list of 11 nominees on 22 September 2023.[20]

RankPlayerTeamOpponentScoreCompetition
scope=col style="background-color: gold" align="center"1st Guilherme Madruga Botafogo-SP Novorizontino1–02023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
scope=col style="background-color: silver" align="center"2nd Nuno Santos Sporting CP Boavista1–02022–23 Primeira Liga
scope=col style="background-color: #cc9966" align="center"3rd Julio Enciso Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester City1–12022–23 Premier League
Unranked Álvaro Barreal FC Cincinnati Pittsburgh Riverhounds2–02023 U.S. Open Cup
Linda Caicedo1–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Kang Seong-jin South Korea Jordan2–02023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup
Sam Kerr1–12023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Brian Lozano Atlas América2–2Liga MX Clausura 2023
Iván Morante Ibiza Burgos1–02022–23 Segunda División
Askhat Tagybergen3–2UEFA Euro 2024 qualification
Bia Zaneratto3–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Awards won by nationality

CountryWin(s)Year(s)
2011, 2015, 2023
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

Most nominations received

Player Nominations
Lionel Messi7
Neymar5
Zlatan Ibrahimović4
Nemanja Matić2
Cristiano Ronaldo2
Giorgian de Arrascaeta2
Hlompho Kekana2
Caroline Weir2

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.9, Ferenc Puskás . 3 May 2021 . fourfourtwo.com. 27 July 2017 . en-us.
  2. Web site: TOP DIVISION GOAL SCORERS OF ALL TIME : FERENC PUSKAS LEADS THE RANKING. 1 December 2017 . iffhs.com. en-us . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201051858/https://iffhs.de/goals-record-ronaldo-and-messi-in-the-history-top-6/ . 1 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Pranav_14. 24 November 2015. Selection process for the Puskas Award. 18 December 2020. sportskeeda.com. en-us.
  4. Web site: Mo Salah wins Fifa Puskas Award for best goal - but was it really better than Ronaldo and Bale's overhead kicks?. 18 December 2020. The National. 25 September 2018 . en.
  5. Web site: Rules of Allocation. https://web.archive.org/web/20150112172113/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/ballon-dor/puskasaward/02/46/27/55/puskasaward_rules_of_allocation_en_neutral.pdf. dead. 12 January 2015. 12 January 2015.
  6. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2012 – Results . FIFA . 4 February 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130123223949/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/ballond%27or/pusk%C3%A1saward/01/98/15/11/fifapuskasaward2012results.pdf . 23 January 2013.
  7. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2013 – Results . FIFA . 11 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140114024109/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/ballond%27or/pusk%C3%A1saward/02/26/04/11/13_01_2014_puskas_results_neutral.pdf . 14 January 2014.
  8. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award: Ten best goals of the year announced. https://web.archive.org/web/20141113062604/http://www.fifa.com//ballon-dor/news/y=2014/m=11/news=fifa-puskas-award-ten-best-goals-of-the-year-announced-2473885.html. dead. 13 November 2014. 12 November 2014. FIFA.com. 13 November 2014.
  9. News: FIFA Puskás award 2014 – results . https://web.archive.org/web/20150113185757/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/ballon-dor/puskasaward/02/50/58/03/puskas_votes_1_neutral.pdf . dead . 13 January 2015 . FIFA.com . . 12 January 2015 . 12 January 2015.
  10. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2015 Nominees. https://web.archive.org/web/20140925231636/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/puskas-award/index.html. dead. 25 September 2014. 12 November 2015. FIFA.com. 14 November 2015.
  11. News: FIFA Puskás award 2015 – results . https://web.archive.org/web/20160122103121/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/ballon-dor/puskasaward/02/75/51/14/fifapusk%C3%A1saward2015results_neutral.pdf . dead . 22 January 2016 . FIFA.com . . 11 January 2016 . 11 January 2016.
  12. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2016 Nominees. https://web.archive.org/web/20161103091359/http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/puskas-award/. dead. 3 November 2016. FIFA.com. 21 November 2016.
  13. News: FIFA Puskás award 2016 – results . https://web.archive.org/web/20170109220458/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/ballon-dor/general/02/86/28/31/thefifapuskasaward2016results_neutral.pdf . dead . 9 January 2017 . FIFA.com . . 10 January 2017 . 10 January 2017.
  14. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2017 Nominees. https://web.archive.org/web/20161103062858/http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/puskas-award/index.html. dead. 3 November 2016. FIFA.com. 22 September 2018.
  15. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2018 Nominees. https://web.archive.org/web/20161103091359/http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/puskas-award/. dead. 3 November 2016. FIFA.com. 3 September 2018.
  16. Web site: FIFA Football Awards 2018 – Voting Results . FIFA.com . Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 28 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210920035225/https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/4a81907cd5d2eab9/original/dxeqzrrnrgbq04loz1wm-pdf.pdf . 20 September 2021 . live .
  17. Web site: FIFA Puskás Award 2019 Nominees. https://web.archive.org/web/20161103091359/http://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/puskas-award/. dead. 3 November 2016. FIFA.com. 19 August 2019.
  18. News: FIFA.com. Nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2020 revealed. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125090441/https://www.fifa.com/the-best-fifa-football-awards/news/nominees-for-the-best-fifa-football-awardstm-2020-revealed. dead. 25 November 2020. 25 November 2020. 25 November 2020.
  19. Web site: 12 January 2023 . The FIFA Puskás Award: Nominees in focus . 12 January 2023 . FIFA.com . Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
  20. Web site: 22 September 2023. The FIFA Puskás Award: Nominees in focus. 22 September 2023. FIFA.com . Fédération Internationale de Football Association.