The competition was strong and prestigious, but his sublime shot made everyone agree. Argentine winger Santiago Montiel won, this Tuesday during The Best Fifa trophies ceremony, the prestigious Puskas prize which rewards the best goal of the year.
It was the emblematic French coach Arsène Wenger who, in a video published on Fifa social networks, announced the name of the winner and praised “his incredible goal”. A strike of “extraordinary technique, agility and skill” according to the press release from the world football body.
A goal scored last May, during an Argentine championship match won (1-0) by his club CA Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia, where Montiel, located at the entrance to the penalty area and with his back to the goal, flew into the air and achieved a mind-blowing acrobatic return from 18 meters.
“I am very honored to win this prize,” the winner confides, shyly, in the video published by FIFA after thanking the voters.
He is ahead of Lamine Yamal
The 25-year-old Argentinian is ahead of players like Lamine Yamal and Declan Rice, author of a perfect free kick against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Among the women, the Mexican Lizbeth Ovalle won the Marta prize, the female equivalent of the Puskas trophy, for her spectacular and unusual heel recovery. A scorpion shot scored for the Tigres against Guadalajara on March 3, 2025 in the Mexican women’s championship.
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