The FIFA Puskás Award [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 player 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. From 2024, only male players are eligible to win, with the FIFA Marta Award established for female players instead.[1]

FIFA Puskás Award

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.[2][3]

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 as the first prize winner. There have been 17 award winners since 2009. As of July 2026, no player has won the award twice.

Award criteria and procedure

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Criteria

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The criteria for the award are:[4]

  • The goal should be "aesthetically beautiful".
  • The goal should be scored without the result of luck or a mistake.
  • The goal should be in support of fair play.
  • The goal should be judged without distinction of championship or nationality.

Procedure

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FIFA nominates eleven goals each year for voting. Voting is done by two groups: registered users on FIFA's website, and a panel of experts appointed by FIFA. Each individual in both groups selects their top three goals, assigning five points to the first, three points to the second, and one point to the third. Following the first vote, the totals from fans and Legends are used to rank the eleven goals individually inside their respective categories. Based on these rankings, each group assigns “scoring points” to the goals, with the first-ranked goal receiving thirteen points, the second getting eleven, the third nine, and so on down to one point for the eleventh. For each goal, the scoring points from the fan group and the FIFA Legends group are added together, and the goal with the highest combined score is awarded the Puskás Award.[5]

Winners and nominees

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

2009

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Cristiano Ronaldo was the first recipient of the award for his long-range goal for Manchester United against Porto from 40 yards out. Former Dutch international Ruud Gullit called it a "strike", while Sir Alex Ferguson — Manchester United manager at the time — said, "I would have to go a long way back in the memory bank to find another one like that!"[6]
Rank Player Team Opponent Score Competition Vote percentage[7]
1st Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo England Manchester United Portugal Porto 1–0 2008–09 UEFA Champions League 17.68%
2nd Spain Andrés Iniesta Spain Barcelona England Chelsea 1–1 2008–09 UEFA Champions League 15.64%
3rd Brazil Grafite Germany VfL Wolfsburg Germany Bayern Munich 5–1 2008–09 Bundesliga 13.39%
4th Israel Eliran Atar Israel Bnei Yehuda Israel Maccabi Netanya 1–1 2008–09 Israeli Premier League 13.36%
5th Spain Fernando Torres England Liverpool England Blackburn Rovers 4–0 2008–09 Premier League 9.44%
6th Brazil Nilmar Brazil Internacional Brazil Corinthians 1–0 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 8.71%
7th Ghana Michael Essien England Chelsea Spain Barcelona 1–0 2008–09 UEFA Champions League 7.89%
8th Mexico Luis Ángel Landín Mexico Cruz Azul Mexico Morelia 1–1 Liga MX Clausura 2009 7.30%
9th Togo Emmanuel Adebayor England Arsenal Spain Villarreal 1–1 2008–09 UEFA Champions League 4.04%
10th South Africa Katlego Mphela  South Africa  Spain 2–2 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup 2.59%

2010

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2011

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2012

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2013

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Zlatan Ibrahimović's 35-yard overhead kick with his back to goal won him praise from players and pundits, with the BBC describing it as a goal that "combined unfathomable imagination and expert technique".[9]

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.

Rank Player Team Opponent Score Competition Vote percentage[10]
1st Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović  Sweden  England 4–2 International friendly 48.7%
2nd Serbia Nemanja Matić Portugal Benfica Portugal Porto 1–1 2012–13 Primeira Liga 30.8%
3rd Brazil Neymar  Brazil  Japan 1–0 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup 20.5%
Unranked Denmark Peter Ankersen Denmark Esbjerg Denmark Aarhus 5–1 2013–14 Danish Superliga N/A
France Louisa Cadamuro France Lyon France Saint-Étienne 5–0 2012–13 Division 1 Féminine
Australia Lisa De Vanna United States Sky Blue United States Boston Breakers 5–1 2013 National Women's Soccer League
Italy Antonio Di Natale Italy Udinese Italy Chievo 3–1 2012–13 Serie A
Greece Panagiotis Kone Italy Bologna Italy Napoli 2–3 2012–13 Serie A
Argentina Daniel Ludueña Mexico Pachuca Mexico UANL 2–1 Liga MX Apertura 2013
Uruguay Juan Manuel Olivera Brazil Náutico Brazil Sport Recife 2–0 2013 Copa Sudamericana

2014

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James Rodríguez's volley was described as "one of the greatest goals the World Cup has ever seen" by Uruguayan manager Óscar Tabárez, who also called Rodríguez "the best player in the World Cup".[11]

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

Rank Player Team Opponent Score Competition Vote percentage[13]
1st Colombia James Rodríguez  Colombia  Uruguay 1–0 2014 FIFA World Cup 42%
2nd Republic of Ireland Stephanie Roche Republic of Ireland Peamount United Republic of Ireland Wexford Youths 2–0 2013–14 Women's National League 33%
3rd Netherlands Robin van Persie  Netherlands  Spain 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup 11%
Unranked Australia Tim Cahill  Australia  Netherlands 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup N/A
Spain Diego Costa Spain Atlético Madrid Spain Getafe 5–0 2013–14 La Liga
Mexico Marco Fabián Mexico Cruz Azul Mexico Puebla 1–0 Liga MX Clausura 2014
Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović France Paris Saint-Germain France Bastia 1–0 2013–14 Ligue 1
Switzerland Pajtim Kasami England Fulham England Crystal Palace 1–1 2013–14 Premier League
Brazil Camilo Sanvezzo Canada Vancouver Whitecaps United States Portland Timbers 2–2 2013 Major League Soccer
Japan Hisato Satō Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2–1 2014 J.League Division 1

2015

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2016

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2017

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2018

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2019

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2020

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2021

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2022

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2023

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2024

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FIFA announced the list of 11 nominees on 28 November 2024.[31]

Beginning this year, FIFA also established the FIFA Marta Award as a separate category for female players, named after the Brazil women's forward and captain for over two decades from 2002 until 2024.[32]

Rank Player Team Opponent Score Competition Points[33]
1st Argentina Alejandro Garnacho England Manchester United England Everton 1–0 2023–24 Premier League 26
2nd Algeria Yassine Benzia  Algeria  South Africa 3–3 2024 FIFA Series 22
3rd Uganda Denis Omedi Uganda Kitara Uganda KCCA 3–3 2024 Super 8 16
4th Ghana Mohammed Kudus England West Ham United Germany SC Freiburg 4–0 2023–24 UEFA Europa League 13
5th Argentina Walter Bou Argentina Lanús Argentina Tigre 3–2 2024 AFA Liga Profesional de Fútbol 13
6th Italy Federico Dimarco Italy Inter Milan Italy Frosinone 1–0 2023–24 Serie A 12
7th England Jaden Philogene England Hull City England Rotherham United 1–1 2023–24 EFL Championship 12
8th Australia Terry Antonis Australia Melbourne City Australia Western Sydney Wanderers 1–0 2023–24 A-League 8
9th Honduras Michaell Chirinos  Honduras  Costa Rica 1–0 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs 7
10th Qatar Hassan Al-Haydos  Qatar  China 1–0 2023 AFC Asian Cup 7
11th Nigeria Paul Onuachu Turkey Trabzonspor Turkey Konyaspor 2–1 2023–24 Süper Lig 4

2025

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Statistics

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Awards won by nationality

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Country Wins Years
 Brazil 3 2011, 2015, 2023
 Argentina 3 2021, 2024, 2025
 Portugal 1 2009
 Turkey 1 2010
 Slovakia 1 2012
 Sweden 1 2013
 Colombia 1 2014
 Malaysia 1 2016
 France 1 2017
 Egypt 1 2018
 Hungary 1 2019
 South Korea 1 2020
 Poland 1 2022

Most nominations received

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Lionel Messi has been nominated a record seven times, more than any other in the award's history, but has never won the award.[36]
PlayerNominationsYears
Argentina Lionel Messi 7 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Brazil Neymar 5 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimović 4 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019
Serbia Nemanja Matić 2 2013, 2017
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo 2 2009, 2018
Uruguay Giorgian de Arrascaeta 2 2018, 2020
South Africa Hlompho Kekana 2 2016, 2020
Scotland Caroline Weir 2 2020, 2021

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2024" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "FourFourTwo's 100 Greatest Footballers EVER: No.9, Ferenc Puskás". FourFourTwo. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "TOP DIVISION GOAL SCORERS OF ALL TIME: FERENC PUSKAS LEADS THE RANKING". IFFHS. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "The FIFA Puskás Award". FIFA. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "THE BEST FIFA FOOTBALL AWARDS 2024 RULES OF ALLOCATION" (pdf). FIFA. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ronaldo's 'best goal' for Man United was so good he got a DVD and created Puskas award". talkSPORT. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Ronaldo's 'incredible, fantastic' goal". FIFA. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2012 – Results" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal like 'a video game', says Sweden coach". BBC Sport. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2013 – Results" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Colombia's James Rodríguez sizzles to end Uruguay World Cup saga". The Guardian. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award: Ten best goals of the year announced". FIFA. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "FIFA Puskás award 2014 – results" (PDF). FIFA. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2015 Nominees". FIFA. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "FIFA Puskás award 2015 – results" (PDF). FIFA. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  16. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2016 Nominees". FIFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "FIFA Puskás award 2016 – results" (PDF). FIFA. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  18. ↑ Pitt-Brooke, Jack (1 January 2017). "Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Arsene Wenger hails Olivier Giroud's goal as a work of art". The Independent. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2017 Nominees". FIFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo and Lieke Martens cap dream season at The Best FIFA Football Awards". FIFA. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  21. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2018 Nominees". FIFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "FIFA Football Awards 2018 – Voting Results" (PDF). FIFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "FIFA Puskás Award 2019 Nominees". FIFA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  24. ↑ "Nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2020 revealed". FIFA. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Voting Results – The Best FIFA Football Awards 2020" (PDF). FIFA. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "The FIFA Football Awards Result Breakdown 2021" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "The FIFA Puskás Award: Nominees in focus". FIFA. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  28. ↑ "The FIFA Football Awards Result Breakdown 2022" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  29. ↑ "The FIFA Puskás Award: Nominees in focus". FIFA. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  30. ↑ "Voting Breakdown: The Best FIFA Puskás Award 2023" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  31. ↑ "Voting open for 2024 FIFA Puskás Award". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  32. ↑ "Voting open for 2024 FIFA Marta Award". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  33. ↑ "Voting Breakdown: The Best FIFA Puskás Award 2024" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  34. ↑ "Nominees for Marta and Puskás prizes revealed". FIFA. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "Voting Breakdown: The Best FIFA Puskás Award 2025" (pdf). FIFA. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  36. ↑ "The 10 candidates for the 2018 Puskas award". Marca. Spain. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
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