Could Stephanie Roche become the first female to win FIFA's Puskas Goal of the Year award?

Rameez
Could Stephanie Roche become the first female to win FIFA
Could Stephanie Roche become the first female to win FIFA's Puskas Goal of the Year award?
Stephanie Roche the first female to win FIFA's Puskas Goal of the Year award?
Stephanie Roche the first female to win FIFA's Puskas Goal of the Year award?

Stephanie Roche vs the world

Irish female footballer Stephanie Roche can do what no woman has ever done before. That is, win the FIFA Puskas Award for Goal of the Year. A shock inclusion in the 2014 list of nominations, Roche is up against the likes of world-famous names like Chelsea’s Diego Costa, Manchester United’s Robin van Persie, Paris Saint-Germain forward and last year’s winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Real Madrid’s World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.

The 25-year-old now plays for ASPTT Albi in France's Division 1 but the fantastic three-touch strike while representing Peamount United against Wexford Youth in the Bus Eireann National League. Controlling a low cross with her right foot keeping the ball in the air, and then taking another touch in order to turn she produced a fantastic volley with her left foot.

Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Standings

Shocked and delighted

She was as delighted as she was shocked at her inclusion.

"I am absolutely delighted to have been nominated for FIFA’s best goal of the year.

"Obviously, it was a big surprise but it is a great boost, not only for myself, but for women’s football and particularly the Women’s National League. It’s a great feeling to see myself on the list."

The goal scored last year has generated 2.5 million views on YouTube as of now but she wasn’t expecting it to be included and only came to know of it through Twitter.

"The goal was in October last year and I had just been getting on with my career over here in France," said Roche. "Not that I’d forgotten about the goal but I had just stopped thinking about it.

"Then to see on Twitter today that it was nominated for the Puskás Award is unbelievable, it’s a great achievement and I’m delighted."

"I’m delighted to be named amongst those famous players and hopefully I can get into the top three."

Check out the GIF of the goal below:

Support from all over the world

She has called for support from fellow Irish men and women and also expects support from all over the world.

"People in Ireland and all round the world have been supporting me - and that's just as well, I think, because I'll need all the support I can get when I'm up against Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic."

She reveals that if she was not in the running she’d vote for Dutch forward Robin van Persie’s diving header against Spain.

The award will be decided via a public vote.

You can check out the goal below.

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Check out all 10 goals in the running for the 2014 Puskas Award here.

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Edited by Staff Editor