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The Puskas Award is FIFA’s official acknowledgement of the best soccer goal scored during a calendar year. Over the last few decades, the award has shone a light on some of the most insane goals you’ll ever see scored in soccer. Ultimately only 1 player wins per year, with plenty of arguable runner-ups due to so many incredible goals being scored. While it’s a subjective topic, we’ll show you five of the best Puskas Goals from the 21st century that are undoubtably some of the best goals you’ll ever see hit the back of the net.
In 2011, a young Neymar with Santos FC went up against the legendary Ronaldinho and Flamengo, and out of it came one of the best goals you may ever witness. In what was already a 2-0 lead after just 26 minutes for Santos, Neymar would start his skillful run from the left-hand side of the pitch just over midfield, before cutting through two defenders with a chop behind the leg, beating a third defender with a slicing pass to a teammate which he’d receive back immediately. With two more touches and a roll of the ball from his right to his left just inside the 18-yard box, Neymar would set up a falling tap-in with the outside of his right foot past the goalie into the net, making for one of trickiest runs and goals you’ll ever see.
For this 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match between Colombia and Uruguay, James Rodriguez of Colombia would blast in one of the quickest long-range volleys ever witnessed in the sport. Not only were the stakes extremely high in this knockout match, but Rodriguez was absolutely on fire with the only two goals of the game. One of them came off a nicely headed pass from his teammate, to which Rodriguez trapped the ball with his chest, back to net at around 32 yards out, before swiveling and striking the ball with his left to power a stunning volley home. The resulting shot was like a rocket fired off its launching pad, with the ball striking the direct underside of the crossbar, bouncing down over the line and back up into the netting.
In one of the most incredible team buildups and top-quality finish goals you’ll ever see, Wendell Lira of Gianesia would have absolutely no business scoring a twisting overhead kick off a lobbed pass from his teammate. This one was not only a clear 1-0 winner in their 2015 Campeonato Goiano match against Atletico Goianiense, but it won an overwhelming majority of votes for the Puskas award that year, even beating out Lionel Messi’s infamous 2014 Copa Del Rey midfield run.
When it comes to long-distance runs that result in goals, you won’t find a better one committed by a player over the last decade than Son Heung-min’s full-field run for Tottenham Hotspur in their game against Burnley. In a 2019/2020 EPL 3-0 victory, Tottenham’s legendary South Korean footballer would find no outlet to pass to just 10 yards in front of his own 18-yard box so he’d take the initiative to go all the way himself. Son would begin his run on his own half surrounded by five separate defenders, before blazing past two more with a hefty touch, drawing in the closest center-back, to which he’d dash past with another lengthy touch, gaining eventual sights on the goal. With the entire Burnley team chasing after him, Son would easily put away his shot to the goalie’s lower left side, scoring one of the most incredible solo Puskas Award-winning goals to this day.
As the most recent Puskas award winner, Manchester United Alejandro Garnacho will relive this moment of his career over and over. In a match against Everton, Garnacho would lock onto his target as a cross came into the box from the right side of the pitch. The cross was deep, causing Garnacho to readjust his positioning to the far back corner of the 18-yard box, stretching his entire right leg over his head to make contact with the ball. The result was one of the most acrobatic and perfectly timed overhead bicycle kicks scored in all of football, and from a decent distance out at that.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.