On January 13th 2014, FIFA will host the FIFA Ballon D’Or for 2013. As part of the award ceremony, FIFA will hand out The FIFA Puskas award, named after the former Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás, for the best goal of 2013. In the running are three players: Barcelona and Brazil sensation Neymar, PSG and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović and Benfica and Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic. All three scored spectacular goals that can be watched on FIFA.com but voting has already closed, with the winner already decided. The favourite is Ibrahimović, whose amazing overhead kick against England stunned the football world earlier this year. Fans of Neymar will have flocked onto FIFA’s site to vote but potentially the best goals of the three from a technical prospective was Matic’s strike against Porto. All eyes will be on Zurich in January to find out!
There were many other great goals this year so here’s a look back at some other contenders for 2013 best goal:
Gareth Bale:
Bale had a remarkable season last year and single handily took Spurs within touching distance of fourth spot and this goal was a vital one as they nicked three points fromWest Ham at Upton Park in the 89th minute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PWeGBgMGAk
Robin van Persie:
Manchester United reclaimed the Premier League in May and van Persie was the big marquee signing needed to claim the top spot. He was firing on all cylinders and scored this screamer against Aston Villa as they got the win they needed to secure the title and he ended up scoring a first half hat trick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlz_P-tZj_w
(Image from PA)
Matt Lowton:
Aston Villa had a very gloomy season last year but they turned it around in the New Year as their young defence began to find their feet and one of them in particular found his shooting boots too as he hammered home this incredible volley to secure a vital local derby win against Stoke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXkuB5oKmlk
Cristiano Ronaldo:
Cristiano Ronaldo has become renowned for his swerving goals and here is another which demonstrates the animalistic nature of his shots. The strike is wild and the Celta Vigo keeper had no idea what to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iexHKWaPuac
(Image from Getty)
Robert Lewandowski:
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich turned Germany into Europe’s super power for football beating the two big Spanish sides to make an all-German final at Wembley in the Champions League. In the semi-finals, Robert Lewandowski scored four past Real Madrid in his side’s home leg as they took a dominating lead to the Bernebau. His third goal was the pick of the bunch as he used quick footwork to beat two defenders and smash the ball past the keeper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spN9qlYuSTA
Zlatan Ibrahimović:
Ibrahimović is fighting with Falcao for the title of the most lethal striker on the planet at the moment and he has scored a ridiculous amount of great goals this year however this one is something special. This comes from PSG’s 5-0 demolition over Anderlecht in the Champions League a couple of months ago where he scored a hat trick. With the ball bouncing about 35 yards out, Zlatan decides to just go for it and the end result was spectacular.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXt0Rg8hGOk
Pajtim Kasami:
In a game featuring Fulham and Crystal Palace, many thought there would be little glamour but this game featured two screamers including this one from Kasami. Running down the left hand side chasing a long ball, he takes down on the chest and fires it into the far corner. Unbelievable!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GTaZEtAkH0
(Image by Andy Hooper)
Jack Wilshere:
Arguably the best team goal of the season so far, Wilshere finishes off a vintage Arsenal move involving three players, six one touch passes and a stunning finish. All without the ball touching the ground! The Norwich players and fans were left stunned. Be sure to look out for it later this season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYSeSbBEl7s
To see the three FIFA Puskas Award contenders, click here: http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/puskasaward/index.html
Post by Richard Waterhouse
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