A current and a former Bundesliga professional may fancy their chances of having scored the most beautiful goal in 2021.
Czech international Patrik Schick of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and ex-Gladbach player Valentino Lazaro are battling it out against nine rivals for the 2021 Puskas Prize awarded by the world governing body to determine the most beautiful goal in the calendar year. FIFA has included the two professionals on its eleven-name shortlist. One thing is already certain: The winner will follow ex-Bundesliga professional Heung-Min Son (Tottenham Hotspur), who scored the most beautiful goal a year ago.
Schick scored from 45 metres in the European Championship match against Scotland on 14 June, while Lazaro scored a so-called “Scorpion Kick “ in Gladbach’s match against Bayer Leverkusen: The Austrian, who now plays for Benfica, had the ball lying sideways in the air and with his back to the goal, he had sent it into the left corner of the goal with a heel.
The winner will be chosen by an international jury consisting of a panel of FIFA legends as well as fans registered on FIFA.com from around the world. The votes of each of these two groups will be weighted equally. The award will be presented on 17 January in Zurich.
Mahrez and Lamela also in the running
The other nominees besides Schick and Lazaro are: Luis Diaz (Colombia, goal in Copa America against Brazil), Gauthier Hein (France, goal in Chamois Niortais FC second division match against AJ Auxerre), Erik Lamela (Argentina, goal for Tottenham against Arsenal), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, goal in Africa Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe), Sandra Owusu-Ansah (Ghana, Goal in Kumasi Sports Academy Ladies FC v Supreme Ladies FC), Vangelis Pavlidis (Greece, in Eredivisie match Willem II Tilburg v Fortuna Sittard), Daniela Sanchez (Mexico, at Queretaro FC v Atletico de San Luis), Mehdi Taremi (Iran, Chelsea FC v Porto FC match) and Caroline Weir (Scotland, Manchester City – Manchester United)
