Best Goals Scored In 2021 – Puskas Nominations Announced

By Gary Cassidy • Published 30th November 2021
Best goals - Puskas Awards
Photo by Chaos Soccer Gear on Unsplash

With so many goals scored every single week of the year, it’s almost impossible to keep track of the best! However, the Puskas Award nominations are normally about as accurate of a barometer as you’ll get – with 11 goals selected for the award which chooses the best goal scored in a calendar year!

What is the Puskas Award?

Established in 2009 but FIFA, the Puskas Award is bestowed upon the male or female judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful”, goal of the calendar year. In 2020, Tottenham’s Son Heung-min claimed the coveted crown, with previous winners including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, James Rodriguez and Mo Salah, among others.

The award honours Real Madrid and Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Puskas scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, as well as playing for Spain four times and scoring 514 goals in 529 matches in club football.

The 11-strong shortlist for the best goal of 2021 has been revealed, and you can watch them all below!

Luis Díaz (COL): Brazil v. Colombia [CONMEBOL Copa América] (23 June 2021)

Gauthier Hein (FRA): Chamois Niortais FC v. AJ Auxerre [Ligue 2] (10 April 2021)

Érik Lamela (ARG): Arsenal FC v. Tottenham Hotspur FC [Premier League] (14 March 2021)

Valentino Lazaro (AUT): Bayer 04 Leverkusen v. Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach [Bundesliga] (8 November 2020)

Riyad Mahrez (ALG): Zimbabwe v. Algeria [CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying] (16 November 2020)

Sandra Owusu-Ansah (GHA): Kumasi Sports Academy Ladies FC v. Supreme Ladies FC [Ghana Women’s Premier League] (8 May 2021)

Vangelis Pavlidis (GRE): Willem II v. Fortuna Sittard [Eredivisie] (16 May 2021)

Daniela Sánchez (MEX): Querétaro FC v. Atlético de San Luis [Liga MX Femenil] (16 January 2021)

Patrik Schick (CZE): Czech Republic v. Scotland [UEFA EURO 2020] (14 June 2021)

Mehdi Taremi (IRN): Chelsea FC v. FC Porto [UEFA Champions League] (13 April 2021)

Caroline Weir (SCO): Manchester City WFC v. Manchester United WFC [FA Women’s Super League] (12 February 2021)

You can vote for your favourite goal here!