The winner of the 2025 Puskas Award has been revealed as both Lamine Yamal and Declan Rice have missed out.
As 2025 comes to an end, football fans have started reflecting on the past year and the biggest moments that defined the sport.
Of course, the best players of the year are rewarded with prizes such as the Ballon d'Or, won by Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, and the FIFA The Best award, which will be given on 16 December.
Alongside the individual awards, the Puskas Award celebrates the best goal scored in the previous season, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Neymar Jr all previous winners.
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Several players were believed to be in contention for the 2025 award, but now the winner has been named.
During last year's ceremony, it was former Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho who was awarded the 2024 Puskas Award for his stunning bicycle kick goal against Everton on 26 November 2023
In total, 11 players were nominated for the Puskas Award this year, with Barcelona wonderkid Yamal's left-foot effort into the top corner of Espanyol's net in May and Rice's world-class free-kick in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League meeting with Real Madrid in April in contention.
However, neither goal was deemed to be the best of 2025, as Argentine winger for Santiago Montiel was named the winner of this year's award.
The goal in question came during the Argentine Primera Division clash between Montiel's club Independiente and Independiente Rivadavia.
Independiente Rivadavia looked to be controlling an attack from their rivals as they cleared a corner early in the second half, but as the ball landed by Montiel, he jumped outside of the box with his back to the ball and produced a spectacular overhead kick to win the match 1-0.
Meanwhile Mexico midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle, who is the most expensive player ever in women’s football, received the Marta Award, the Puskas award equivalent for the women's game.
Ovalle was awarded after she, like Montiel, scored an overhead kick while facing away from goal playing in the Mexican league for Tigres against Guadalajara.
Ironically, the women’s award is named for Brazil great Marta who is now Ovalle’s teammate at Orlando Pride.
Topics: Football, Lamine Yamal, Declan Rice
Ben McCrum