Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi’s goal during Argentina’s group D clash with Nigeria on June 26 at Russia 2018 has been nominated for the 2018 FIFA Puskas Award.
Messi scored Argentina’s opening goal in the 14th minute in the game that decided whether either of the teams will progress to the next stage of the competition. Argentina won the game after Victor Moses’ second half penalty was rendered insufficient to carry Nigeria into the next round by Marcus Rojo’s late winner.
Messi has been nominated alongside 10 other players Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Denis Cheryshev (Russia),Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (AEK Athens), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Benjamin Pavard (France), Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
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The criteria for the FIFA Puskas Award, established in 2009, is “an aesthetically beautiful goal, awarded without distinction of championship, gender or nationality, scored without the result of luck or a mistake and in support of Fair Play.”
The FIFA Puskas Award rewards the best goal scored between 3 July 2017 and 15 July 2018. The winning strike and other awards will be conferred at the FIFA awards gala in London on September 24.
