Alessandro Florenzi’s wonder goal against Barcelona has been nominated on the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Puskas Award.
The midfielder’s outrageous effort from 50 yards in the Champions League will contest the prestigious award alongside strikes from Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian player Wendell Lira. Fans on FIFA’s website whittled down a list of ten nominations to these three finalists.
The final three nominees for the best goal of the year were announced by FIFA on their Twitter account on Monday 30 November.
FIFA #Puskas Award nominees: Alessandro Florenzi Wendell Lira Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/bni2ZpKt92
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 30, 2015
When asked by FIFA for his reaction to the news, Florenzi swiftly responded with a tweet of his own, stressing how he is delighted at the nomination and hopes to emerge victorious from the final round of voting: “It’s an honour even to be nominated and it would be fantastic to pick up the actual award.”
@FIFAcom It’s an honour even to be nominated and it would be fantastic to pick up the actual award.
— Alessandro Florenzi (@Florenzi) November 30, 2015
The Puskas Award was set up by football’s highest governing body in 2009 and so far Cristiano Ronaldo, Hamit Altintop, Neymar, Miroslav Stoch, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and James Rodriguez have received the honour.
As one of the three finalists, Florenzi will attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on 11 January 2016.
The Giallorossi No. 24’s lob from near the halfway line took Barça keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen completely by surprise in the 31st minute of the opening match in Group E at home against the European champions. Images of the goal were beamed all around the world in the days following the game at the Stadio Olimpico and now it has been chosen by fans of global football in the first round of voting on FIFA.com.
Fellow contender Messi scored his goal against Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey on 30 May 2015, while Lira netted for Goianeisa Esporte Clube against Atletico Goianiense in a game in the Goias state league on 11 March 2015.
Giallorossi fans can vote for Florenzi’s stunner on FIFA’s official website by clicking here.
Source: asroma.it