Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 14th November 2025, 6:15 AM
Lamine Yamal’s remarkable rise continues. The young Spanish forward, still only 18, has already become one of Barcelona’s brightest new talents. His blend of pace, confidence, creativity and composure has made him one of the most talked-about prospects in modern football. Although he ultimately missed out in the race for the Ballon d’Or, he later earned a nomination for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. Now he has once again returned to the spotlight after securing a place on the shortlist for the Goal of the Year – the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award.
In May, the teenager produced a breathtaking curling effort from outside the box against Espanyol. Bursting forward at speed, he unleashed a left-footed strike that swerved beautifully into the far corner. That long-range wonder goal was instantly considered one of the year’s finest and has now been formally shortlisted for the Puskás Award.
Competition, however, is extremely strong. Arsenal’s English midfielder Declan Rice is seen as one of the major contenders thanks to his superb free-kick against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals – a goal that captured global attention for both its precision and power.
Alongside Yamal and Rice, nine further players complete the men’s list, many of whom are less internationally known but have delivered equally spectacular strikes.
In the women’s category, FIFA has announced an 11-player shortlist as well. This year, the award bears the name of Brazilian legend Marta Vieira da Silva – and in a remarkable twist, Marta herself has earned a nomination. Her sensational solo goal against Kansas City in November created enormous excitement among supporters and has become one of the defining moments of the year.
Voting closes on 3 December via FIFA’s official platform, while the 2026 World Cup draw will take place on 5 December in Washington. FIFA has not yet confirmed whether the Puskás winners will be revealed during that event. However, anticipation is high—especially following the announcement of the inaugural Peace Prize, which has added an extra layer of curiosity to this year’s ceremony.
| No. | Player Name | Country / Club | Notable Goal Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona / Spain | Long-range left-footed curling strike vs Espanyol |
| 2 | Declan Rice | Arsenal / England | Free-kick goal vs Real Madrid |
| 3 | Alejandro | – | Outstanding long-range goal |
| 4 | Alessandro Diola | – | Solo effort showcasing individual skill |
| 5 | Pedro De La Vega | – | Curved shot from the right flank |
| 6 | Santiago Montiel | – | Dribbled past two defenders before scoring |
| 7 | Amr Nasser | – | Volleyed finish |
| 8 | Carlos Orrantia | – | Goal from a very tight angle |
| 9 | Lucas Ribeiro | – | Long-distance strike |
| 10 | Rizky Ridho | – | Curled shot from outside the box |
| 11 | Kevin Rodriguez | – | High-speed run followed by a composed finish |
| No. | Player Name | Country / Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordyn Bugg | United States |
| 2 | Mariona Caldentey | Spain |
| 3 | Ashley Chitley | Australia |
| 4 | Kyra Cooney-Cross | Australia |
| 5 | Jeon Ryeong-Jeong | South Korea |
| 6 | Marta | Brazil / Orlando Pride |
| 7 | Vivianne Miedema | Netherlands |
| 8 | Kishi Núñez | Mexico |
| 9 | Lizveeth Ovalle | Colombia |
| 10 | Ally Sentnor | United States |
| 11 | Khadija Shaw | Jamaica |
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