FIFA has announced the contenders for the 2025 Puskas and Marta Awards, bestowed upon the scorer of the most beautiful goal notched in both men’s and women’s football, respectively, between Aug. 11, 2024, and Aug. 2, 2025 (inclusive) and part of The Best FIFA Football Awards gala held in Switzerland every January.

The Puskas Award had previously encompassed beautiful goals scored by anyone, anywhere in both men’s and women’s football (with the only stipulation being that the goal must have been scored on camera), but 2024 saw the launch of the inaugural Marta Award, which the eponymous Brazilian icon then went and won herself.

Indeed, Marta is once again on the short list for her own award this year, with the winners of the two awards determined by an equal split between the fan votes and those cast by an in-house panel of FIFA experts.

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The shortlisted goals have all been selected by FIFA and are plucked from a diverse array of competitions around the world, both domestic and international.

Last year’s Puskas Award was claimed by then-Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho for his bicycle kick against Everton, with five of the past eight awards being won by goals scored in the English Premier League. However, previous recent winners have also hailed from the Brazilian second tier, the Malaysian Super League and even Polish Amputee football.

There are some big names on both shortlists for 2025 with Lamine Yamal and Declan Rice vying for the men’s award, while Vivianne Miedema, Mariona Caldentey and Marta are in with a shout of taking the women’s prize.

Without further ado, here is a list of the 11 contenders on the 2025 Puskas Award shortlist for the men, presented in alphabetical order.

Alerrandro | Vitoria vs. Cruzeiro | Aug. 19, 2024

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With Vitoria already a goal ahead against Brazilian Serie A rivals Cruzeiro, Alerrandro was able to adapt quickly to a partially cut-out cross, spin on his heels and find the far top corner with a brilliant improvised overhead volley.

Alessandro Deiola | Cagliari vs. Venezia | May 18, 2025

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Cagliari were able to play their way out of the corner with a quick, clever interlaced passing maneuver finished with aplomb by Deiola, who sent a perfect curling finish past the Venezia goalkeeper from an acute angle to round off a 3-0 victory.

Pedro de la Vega | Seattle Sounders vs. Cruz Azul | July 31, 2025

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The Sounders thrashed Cruz Azul in the 2025 Leagues Cup, with the goal of the game being De la Vega’s outrageous first-time volley from the edge of the box that he skillfully guided beyond the stranded goalkeeper.

Santiago Montiel | Independiente vs. Independiente Rivadavia | May 11, 2025

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Montiel scored the only goal of the game to win this Argentine Apertura clash for Independiente, and in some style via an enormous 25-yard overhead kick that sailed back over the goalkeeper and sent the stadium into raptures.

Amr Nasser | Pharco vs. Al Ahly | April 17, 2025

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Pharco striker Amr Nasser pulled off a lightning-fast bicycle kick to find the net against Al Ahly in the Egyptian Capital Cup.

Carlos Orrantía | Atlas vs. Querétaro | April 16, 2025

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Orrantia opened the scoring for Atlas in what proved to be a 2-1 victory over Queretaro in the Mexican Clausura back in April. After the goalkeeper had only partially cleared a looping cross, the fullback skillfully juggled his way past a defender before sending a perfect volley into the top corner.

Declan Rice | Arsenal vs. Real Madrid | April 8, 2025

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Perhaps the most high-profile goal on the men’s shortlist belongs to Rice, whose sumptuously struck free kick against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of last season’s Champions League is among the favorites to claim the Award.

Lucas Ribeiro | Mamelodi Sundowns v. Borussia Dortmund | June 21, 2025

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The first goal in what transpired to be a lively 4-3 defeat for the Sundowns at the Club World Cup, Ribeiro got things up and running after picking up possession in his own half and embarked on a powerful, direct charge up the center of the pitch, outpacing several Dortmund defenders before drumming a precise finish past the goalkeeper.

Rizky Ridho | Persija Jakarta v. Arema | March 9, 2025

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With a run that started on his own goal line, Persija captain Ridho sprinted up the touchline to latch onto a pass before spotting Arema goalkeeper out of position and sending a shot over his head from the halfway line.

Kévin Rodrigues | Kasimpasa v. Rizespor | Feb. 9, 2025

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With the first goal of the game in a 3-2 Turkish Super Lig win for Kasimpasa, Rodrigues found himself directly underneath a headed clearance which he duly volleyed back into the far top corner from 25 yards out.

Lamine Yamal | Barcelona vs. Espanyol | May 15, 2025

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Yamal put Barcelona on the road to a straightforward 2-0 win over local rivals Espanyol, cutting in from the right flank and bending an unstoppable finish into the top corner.

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Espanyol vs. Barcelona – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Espanyol vs. Barcelona, 05/15/2025

And here are 11 contenders on the 2025 Marta Award shortlist for the women, also presented in alphabetical order.

Jordyn Bugg | Seattle Reign vs. North Carolina Courage | March 22, 2025

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Center back Bugg notched what proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 victory for the Reign when she collected a high defensive clearance, controlled it perfectly and then torpedoed a long-range strike into the top corner from 30 yards.

Mariona Caldentey | Arsenal vs. OL Lyonnes | April 27, 2025

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With halftime looming in the Women’s Champions League semifinals, Arsenal star Caldentey doubled the club’s lead with a perfectly judged long-range effort. The Gunners would go on to win 4-1 against Lyon to wrap up a 5-3 aggregate victory, before going onto winning the tournament outright against Barcelona.

Ashley Cheatley | Brentford vs. Ascot United | Nov. 3, 2024

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The Women’s FA Cup tie was graced by a wonderful virtuoso volley from Cheatley, who had to juggle her way out of an awkward position, flick it over the head of her marker and then score from eight yards with an acrobatic finish.

Kyra Cooney-Cross | Australia vs. Germany | Oct. 28, 2024

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Australia came from behind and mustered a shock 2-1 win over Germany in an international friendly as Cooney-Cross set the tone for the upset by equalizing with a mammoth lob from 50 yards out.

Jon Ryong-jong | Korea DPR vs. Argentina | Sept. 2, 2024

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North Korea trounced Argentina 6-2 in the group stage of the Women’s U20 World Cup with Ryong-jong registering the best goal of the rout just 10 minutes in with this 25-yard strike.

Marta | Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current | Nov. 17, 2024

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Marta reacts to epic solo goal in NWSL playoff semifinals

Marta speaks after her goal helped Orlando Pride defeat KC Current in the NWSL playoff semifinals.

Aiming for her second Marta Award in succession, the 39-year-old Brazilian veteran is in with a strong shout thanks to this solo effort against the Current, in which she sprinted into the area, feinted past two defenders, then the goalkeeper before nonchalantly rolling the ball into an empty net.

Vivianne Miedema | Netherlands vs. Wales | July 5, 2025

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Miedema scored her 100th international goal for Netherlands with a fitting flourish against Wales, nimbly rolling the ball onto her left, then rolling it back onto her right to flummox the defense before hitting the net with an arching strike from 20 yards out.

Kishi Núñez | Argentina vs. Costa Rica | Sept. 8, 2024

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Another one from the group stage of the Women’s U20 World Cup saw Nunez wriggle away from a small cluster of Costa Rica defenders before launching a superb long-range finish from 40 yards out.

Lizbeth Ovalle | Tigres vs. Guadalajara | March 3, 2025

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It’s little surprise that Ovalle went viral with her inventive airborne volley against Guadalajara in the Mexican Liga MX Femenil thanks to an unorthodox technique that was subsequently dubbed “The Shrimp” — for obvious reasons.

Ally Sentnor | USA vs. Colombia | Feb. 20, 2025

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The USWNT beat Colombia 2-0 in its opening game at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup with the decisive goal coming from Sentnor, who darted into a pocket of space before smashing a powerful shot into the top corner from distance.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw | Manchester City vs. Hammarby | Nov. 21, 2024

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Shaw became City’s all-time top goal scorer in the Champions League with two goals in a 2-1 win against Hammarby. After a surging dribble from Jess Park saw City advance, Shaw took possession on the edge of the area, cut away from her marker and rocketed a shot into the top corner.

Australia have suffered another blow ahead of the Ashes opener against England after fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to a hamstring injury on Saturday, further weakening their bowling attack after the loss of captain Pat Cummins.

Hazlewood went to hospital for scans on a possible hamstring injury during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, but was initially cleared of a strain and was set to travel to Perth for the first Ashes test.

However, later tests confirmed a hamstring injury for the 34-year-old, who will be replaced by Michael Neser.

“Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

“As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out (of the first Ashes test match).

“Michael Neser has been added to the Australian squad for the first test. Neser comes in to provide cover for Hazlewood and Sean Abbott.”

All-rounder Neser has played two test matches for Australia, featuring in a 275-run victory over England in December 2021 and a 419-run win over the West Indies in December 2022. He has taken seven test wickets.

Hazlewood’s injury will also likely see uncapped 31-year-old Brendan Doggett make his test debut in Perth.

England relief

On the flip side, England breathed a sigh of relief after pace spearhead Mark Wood was cleared of a hamstring injury.

Fast bowler Wood left the field on Thursday complaining of hamstring stiffness after bowling eight overs for an England XI against a second-string England Lions side during an Ashes warm-up game.

“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” England’s cricket board (ECB) said in a statement.

“He is not expected to feature today – the third day of England’s warm-up match against the Lions XI at Lilac Hill Park, Perth.

“Wood will continue to train as planned in the build-up to the first test in Perth.”

Wood, who was one of England’s standout bowlers in the 2021-22 series when he claimed 17 wickets, had been sidelined since February due to a knee injury and was hoping to build up match fitness in the warm-up match ahead of the Ashes.

The 35-year-old is among the fastest bowlers in world cricket and will lead England’s bowling attack — which also features the likes of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue — for the five-match series beginning in Perth on November 21.

The West Virginia women’s basketball team pulled off a wild upset over No. 15 Duke on Friday night after the odds became even more stacked against them at halftime.

That’s because six Mountaineers were ejected after a brief skirmish, which led to WVU having just five players left for the entire second half.

Duke’s Jordan Wood blocked Jordon Harrison’s three-pointer to close out the first half and screamed in her face in celebration. 

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When the two exchanged shoves, the Mountaineers’ bench emptied before the teams were separated. Departing the bench carries an automatic ejection.

It took officials 15 minutes to sort through all the ejections. Of the ejections, four were WVU starters.

Trailing 23-20 at halftime, West Virginia emerged from the break and proceeded to outscore the Blue Devils 20-6 in the first six minutes of the third.

West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Mark Kellogg looks on from the sideline in the first quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. (Amy Kontras/Imagn Images)

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The Blue Devils drew within 53-49 with 37 seconds left before Sydney Shaw atoned for some late turnovers and made five of six foul shots in the last 43 seconds to clinch it.

“I’m disappointed in the ending of the half,” WVU coach Mark Kellogg said. “I think we’re better than that — we’re going to learn a huge lesson — but I’m so proud of that group of five.”

West Virginia Mountaineers guard Sydney Shaw drives with the ball in the second quarter of a women’s Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game between the Kansas State Wildcats and West Virginia Mountaineers on March 7, 2025, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Duke travels to South Florida on Thursday. West Virginia hosts Appalachian State on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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