Australian teenager Riley McGree up against Messi, Ronaldo, Bale for 'most beautiful' goal award

Updated

Newcastle Jets' striker Riley McGree's extraordinary, back-heeled scorpion kick in the semi-final victory over Melbourne City last season has been rewarded with a nomination for the prestigious Puskas Award.

McGree's goal was nominated by a panel of seven former players, including goalkeeping great Iker Casillas, German striker Miroslav Klose, and former England women's player Alex Scott.

Check out all the nominated goals in the video above and vote as to where do you think McGree's effort ranks among the other nominations.

The Puskas award — named after the former Real Madrid and Hungary striker Ferenc Puskas — is awarded by FIFA to the scorer of "the most beautiful" goal of the year.

As such, it is often awarded to players who do not often get the opportunity to bask in the limelight, although that has not stopped Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar all winning the award since its introduction in 2009.

Australian teenager McGree joins exulted company in being nominated for this season's award, with goals from world-class players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah all making the cut.

McGree, who was playing for Newcastle on loan from Belgian side Club Brugge, wowed spectators and sent social media into meltdown when he flicked his leg up behind him to fire the ball into the top corner of the net to draw Newcastle level in the A-League semi-final last season.

The strike was instantly christened as a Puskas contender, with 2017's winner — scored by Frenchman Olivier Giroud of Arsenal — remarkably similar.

However there is plenty of stiff competition this season, from some of the world's best players.

Among the other favourites are two spectacular bicycle kicks from Real Madrid pair Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The World Cup also provided fertile ground for great goals, with screamers from Denis Cheryshev, Benjamin Pavard and Ricardo Quaresma all being nominated.

McGree's strike was one of only two goals not to come from either the World Cup or the European leagues.

Uruguayan striker Giogian de Arrascaeta's sublime, acrobatic effort for Brazilian side Cruzeiro was the other to make the cut.

The winner will be decided by a public vote on the FIFA.com website, which will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards Show on September 24.

FIFA also announced the short list for the player of the year, with Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Salah all nominated.

There was controversy though in the women's nominations as Sam Kerr missed out again.

Norway's Ada Hegerberg, Germany captain Dzsenifer Marozsan and Brazilian legend Marta were selected as the final three.

Topics: sport, soccer, a-league, champions-league, south-america, united-kingdom, england

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