Ranking the top five favourites to win FIFA Puskas Award 2022

Whose strike was the best? Who will bag the Puskas Award for 2022? Mbappe, Richarlison & Balotelli are all in contention.

2022 was a wonderful year for the world of football. It was a year full of incredible strikes and it’s time to look at these goals and pick the best of the lot. The 2022 Puskas Award nominees have been announced and it features some of the ultimate strikes.

The Puskas award is a part of FIFA's The Best series. It is given to the player who has scored the most aesthetically pleasing goal of the year. Among the nominees are Kylian Mbappé, Richarlison, and Mario Balotelli. 

Mbappé’s strike against Argentina in the World Cup final and Richarlison's goal against Serbia in the World Cup have made a list. Balotelli and Dimitri Payet are also nominated alongside female players Amandine Henry, Salma Paralluelo, and Alessia Russo.

Public voting for the Puskas Award is open until 3rd February 2023. The Puskas award will be handed out along with other FIFA Best awards on the 26th of February 2023. Here is our list of the top 5 favourites to win the FIFA Puskas Award 2022:

5. Richarlison v Serbia (FIFA World Cup 2022)

At number 5 is Richarlison’s strike against Serbia in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022. It was a spectacular scissor kick by the Tottenham Hotspur forward and it was certainly named the goal of the tournament. The Brazilian forward controlled the incoming delivery from the left-hand side so that it created a perfect opportunity for him to hit a scissor kick on the turn in mid-air.

4. Kuol v Iraq U23s (AFC U23 Asian Cup)

Alou Kuol’s wonderful scorpion kick against Iraq U-23 during the AFC U23 Asian Cup is number 4 on the list. Kuol certainly made a name for himself in spectacular style by scoring this incredible scorpion kick for Australia's U-23. The incoming cross from the right-hand side was a touch behind Kuol, who innovated and tried the unimaginable. To his credit, the Australian pulled it off in the best possible way.

3. Metilli v Rosario Central (Primera División)

Who doesn’t love a perfectly timed volley that flies into the back of the net? Francisco Gonzalez Metilli showed exactly how it's done with a phenomenal effort. The Central Cordoba player pulled this off against Rosario Central in the Primera Division. A cross just outside the box on the left flank fell perfectly in his stride as he then swung his boot and made a perfect connection. The ball sailed past the keeper into the bottom right corner of the goal.

2. Mbappé v Argentina (FIFA World Cup Final 2022)

Mbappe’s goal against Argentina in the World Cup Final might not have won the goal of the tournament but the importance of the strike was immense. The quality needed to execute a scissor kick so close to the ground is something very few can pull off. France was 2-0 down in the Final, Mbappe also scored twice in a matter of a couple of minutes to bring his side back in the hunt. His second goal on the night was a wonderful strike in the 81st minute from the edge of the box on the left side straight into the bottom right corner.

1. Payet v PAOK (UEFA Europa Conference League)

Dimitri Payet is a man that needs no introduction. He has a habit of pulling off stunning moves on the football pitch. Payet’s net-buster for Marseille against PAOK in the UEFA Europa Conference League is undoubtedly one of his finest ever. It was a planned set piece that especially Payet could have executed to perfection. A corner straight to Payet on the bounce and then he met it on the full and made the finest volley connection ever. The ball flew into the top right corner at some pace and the reactions from some of his teammates said it all.