Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among Puskas award nominees
(CNN) — Long-range screamers, mazy solo runs and magnificent acrobatic strikes, this season’s Puskas Award has it all.
The prize is provided by FIFA to the best goal of this year and this season’s candidates incorporate ever-present Lionel Messi, past winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic plus a few lesser known titles like Billie Simpson of both Northern Ireland Premiership side Cliftonville Ladies.
Simpson is expecting to become the first female winner of the award — named after legendary Hungarian star Ferenc Pusk??s — combined with Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout and Amy Rodriguez of the Utah Royals.
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The prize was awarded in 2009 to Cristiano Ronaldo and ever since that time, stars such as Neymar, James Rodriguez and last year’s victor Mohamed Salah have gone on to triumph.
The public votes on the first top 10, prior to a FIFA panel chooses a winner from the best three.
Previous winners, nearly entirely unheard of prior to their nominations and subsequent wins, include Wendell Lira along with Faiz Subri.
Without trying hard to feed his family and a club, Lira reported his lifestyle changed. He moved on to sign up for Vila Nova but knee injuries forced him retire at age 27 and he went on to be a gamer and YouTuber.
Public voting for your 2019 award closes on September 1.
Read more: footballleagueworld.com