What Is FIFA’s Puskás Award?

Some football goals are remembered for winning matches. Others become part of football history because of the way they were scored. The FIFA Puskás Award exists to recognize the latter, honoring the goal judged to be the best of the year. Named after Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskás, the award was introduced by FIFA in 2009. It recognizes outstanding goals from men’s football, with the FIFA Marta Award serving as the equivalent prize for women’s football.

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Why Is the Award Named After Ferenc Puskás?

Ferenc Puskás was one of the greatest forwards of his generation and the captain of Hungary’s famous team of the 1950s. His reputation was built on his extraordinary goalscoring ability and the quality of his finishing. FIFA created the award in his name to celebrate goals that capture the same sense of individual brilliance and imagination that made Puskás such an iconic figure.

What Makes a Goal Eligible for the Puskás Award?

The award is not simply given to the player who scores the most spectacular goal. FIFA considers the aesthetic quality of the finish while also taking into account whether the goal involved luck or an opponent’s mistake. The award is open without distinction of competition, gender or nationality under the current FIFA awards structure, with the Puskás Award recognizing the best goal from men’s football. Fair play is also part of the criteria.

That means a long-range strike, bicycle kick, solo run, or perfectly executed team move can all enter the conversation. What matters is the quality and beauty of the goal rather than the reputation of the player or the size of the competition.

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How Is the Puskás Award Winner Chosen?

FIFA first creates a shortlist of nominated goals. Fans then have an opportunity to vote, while a panel of FIFA Legends also takes part in selecting the winner. For the 2025 edition, fan votes and the FIFA Legends panel each accounted for 50 percent of the final result. Voters ranked their three favorite goals, awarding five points to their first choice, three to their second and one to their third. The system means the winner is determined through a combination of public opinion and expert voting rather than by a single judging panel.

Which Famous Players Have Won the Puskás Award?

The award has featured some of football’s biggest names. Cristiano Ronaldo won the inaugural prize in 2009, while Neymar, Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi, and Son Heung-min are among the other stars to have been recognized. James Rodríguez won the 2014 award for his famous volley against Uruguay at the World Cup in Brazil. More recently, Santiago Montiel won the 2025 Puskás Award for his goal for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia. That history explains why the Puskás Award has become more than a prize for a spectacular finish. It is a celebration of the moments when a football goal becomes memorable long after the final whistle.

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