MARIO BALOTELLI and Lioness hero Alessia Russo headline the list of Fifa Puskas Award nominees.
The gong is handed out annually to the scorer of the year’s best goal.
Its current holder is former Tottenham ace Erik Lamela for his sensational rabona against Arsenal during the 2020-21 season.
Prem stars have dominated the award in recent years, with Son Heung-min, Mo Salah and Olivier Giroud all winning it while playing in England.
SunSport takes a look at who is in the mix to win this year’s edition.
MARIO BALOTELLI
Former Manchester City and Liverpool star is now playing for Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
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He netted five times in a 7-0 win over Goztepe last season, with his fifth a sensational rabona following a series of dazzling stepovers.
Balotelli, 32, scored 18 goals in the Turkish top flight last term.
AMANDINE HENRY
French midfield dynamo scored a remarkable goal on her way to winning last season’s Champions League with Lyon.
Henry, 33, went into a crunching tackle, winning the ball high up the pitch.
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She then unleashed an unstoppable effort from range into the top corner, her side beating Barcelona 3-1 to lift the trophy.
THEO HERNANDEZ
AC Milan star scored a sensational solo goal against Atalanta last season.
The Frenchman picked up the ball deep in his own half and embarked on an amazing run.
He slalomed his way through plenty of challenges into Atalanta’s box before falling into a remarkable finish.
ALOU KUOL
Aussie forward netted an outrageous scorpion kick while playing for his country’s Under-23s against Iraq.
A cross was delivered from the right a little behind Kuol, but the Stuttgart forward miraculously contorted his body to somehow divert the ball goalwards.
His brother Garang is a good player too, and signed for Newcastle in January.
KYLIAN MBAPPE
The most high profile of the nominees was Kylian Mbappe’s sensational equaliser in the World Cup final against Argentina.
Having netted a penalty to pull his side back to 2-1 moments earlier, Mbappe one-two’d with Marcus Thuram before unleashing a beautifully controlled shot beyond Emi Martinez.
The France talisman went on to equalise again from the spot in extra time, before his side succumbed on penalties.
FRANCISCO GONZALEZ METILLI
Argentine star bagged arguably the best volley on this list.
Playing for Central Cordoba against Rosario Central, Gonzalez Metilli carefully watched the ball as it was floated towards him.
The 25-year-old unleashed an amazing left-footed strike over the flailing keeper and into the top corner.
MARCIN OLEKSY
Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy wowed fans worldwide with his gravity defying bicycle kick.
Oleksy sent his team-mates wild by swivelling with his crutches to produce an acrobatic finish.
The Pole has great pedigree, having represented his country at the Amputee World Cup.
SALMA PARALLUELO
Spanish teenager announced herself on the global stage by scoring a sensational effort against Barcelona last term.
The winger cut inside before perfectly curling an incredible strike into the top corner.
Barca clearly took notice, signing Paralluelo just a few months later.
DIMITRI PAYET
Former West Ham star lit up the Europa Conference League for Marseille last season.
During his side’s quarter-final with PAOK, a corner was chipped out to the Frenchman on the edge of the box.
Taking the ball on the half volley, Payet smacked the cleanest of strikes right into the top corner, leaving team-mates with hands on their heads in disbelief.
RICHARLISON
Tottenham star bagged the World Cup goal of the tournament gong for his amazing bicycle kick against Serbia for Brazil.
The forward controlled Vinicius Jr’s cross, before swivelling in one motion to fire an incredible volley into the back of the net.
He bagged twice in the match to hand his side a 2-0 win.
ALESSIA RUSSO
Lioness star Alessia Russo all but sealed her side’s place in the Euro 2022 final in spectacular fashion.
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Having played the role of super-sub perfectly throughout the tournament, Russo did so once again in the semi-final against Sweden.
Collecting the rebound from her own shot, the Manchester United forward improvised superbly by back-heeling beyond the helpless goalkeeper to send her side into dreamland.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
