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UEFA have announced the top 10 contenders for their annual goal of the season award, and the nominations include a wide range of goals from the Champions League, Europa League and international fixtures. The shortlist was compiled by UEFA’s football and technical observers committee in conjunction with UEFA.com staff.
The UEFA goal of the season award is a part of the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the organisation, and the winner will be decided by a public vote on the UEFA website.
The list included the usual suspects Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, although there were two surprise inclusions in the list. Scotland U-19 striker Robbie Muirhead and Belgium female international Mariam Abdulai Toloba’s efforts were both nominated in the list besides all the higher-profile nominees.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Liverpool – 22 October 2014
Ronaldo has scored some impressive goals during his career, and he showed Anfield just why he is a force to be reckoned with during his side’s 3-0 win in the Champions League group stages against Liverpool. He was heavily influential as Real smashed in three first-half goals and scored the opener for Los Blancos in the 23rd minute.
The Portuguese winger was looking to create something special in the centre of the pitch and had a chance to go for goal when he played a one-two with James Rodriguez. He used his pace to quickly pick up the Colombian’s chipped pass and followed it up with a strong shot past Mignolet into the bottom left corner, after stealing a yard on Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
Robbie Muirhead vs Norway – 12 October 2014
Muirhead’s long-range strike against Norway in Scotland’s U-19 European Championship qualifier is the next contender for the goal of the season award. The 19-year-old striker was formerly a Kilmarnock player and is currently plying his trade with Dundee United, scoring twice in 10 appearances with the club.
Robbie smashed home a clean left-footed strike from 40 yards into the top-left corner, after receiving a simple pass in the middle of the pitch. His goal wasn’t enough to hand the Scots a win though, as a late equaliser from Norway ensured the match would end 1-1.
Aaron Ramsey vs Galatasaray – 9 December 2014
Arsenal got their season back on track after Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey scored a braces in their 4-1 away win against Galatasaray. The Gunner’s were 3-0 up within the opening 30 minutes and won comfortably in the end, but it was Ramsey’s second strike which was one of the most memorable moment of the match.
In the 29th minute Joel Campbell took a corner from the left, which was headed clear by a defender. The resulting ball landed perfectly for Ramsey to thump an incredible left-footed volley into goal, leaving the keeper with absolutely no chance.
Mariam Abdulai Toloba vs Wales – 11 November 2014
Belgium female international Mariam Abdulai Toloba scored a cracking goal in her side’s U17 match against Wales. The 16-year-old forward was incredibly clever in her movement as she beat an opponent with a Bergkamp-esque touch, and produced a brilliant finish into the roof of the net.
Toloba is the only representative of the women’s game in the list, and her goal is definitely worthy of contending for the UEFA goal of the season.
Neymar vs Paris Saint Germain – 21 April 2015
Barcelona’s Neymar is one of two Barcelona players who have been nominated for goal of the season, and the Brazilian ended a fabulous flowing move with a calm finish to give his side a 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain at the Nou Camp. The goal ended the Champions League tie after the Catalan club had already won the first leg 3-1, with 5-1 being the aggregate scoreline after 180 minutes of football.
Neymar received a pass from Iniesta, who had embarked on a sparkling run from his own half unchallenged. The 23-year-old winger had a lot to do even after receiving the ball, but showed his composure by taking a good touch, rounding the keeper and coolly slotting the ball into the net.
Antunes v Everton – 19 March 2015
Antunes’ rocket strike from a distance was the highlight of a game which produced many goals. The Dynamo Kiev left-back took his goal like a seasoned striker, smashing his ball from 30 yards into Tim Howard’s right top corner as his team ran out 5-2 winners in the second leg of the Europa league last 16.
Vasyl Kobin vs Legia Warsaw – 7 November 2014
A stunning overhead kick in the 22nd minute from Metalist Kharkiv’s Vasyl Kobin gave his side an early lead in their Europa league fixture against Legia Warsaw, but the midfielder’s effort was in vain as it failed to stop his side from losing 2-1 to the Polish side.
Kevin de Bruyne vs Lille – 2 October 2014
Kevin de Bruyne’s volley against Lille in their 3-0 Europa League win at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy was a memorable strike, and was very similar to Aaron Ramsey’s contender for the goal of the season. The Belgian international lashed in a terrific volley from just outside the box, after the ball was cleared to him from a corner kick.
Erick Lamela vs Asteras – 23 October 2014
Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Erik Lamela pulled off a stunning rabona in his side’s 5-1 demolition of Asteras Triplos in the Europa League. The 23-year-old Argentine pounced at the ball when there was some confusion in the box, and unleashed a world-class rabona from a few yards outside the box to send the home fans into raptures.
Lionel Messi vs Bayern Munich – 6 May 2015
Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Bayern Munich gave the Catalan club an advantage going into the second leg at the Allianz Arena, but Messi’s goal was one to truly behold.
The creative Argentine humiliated Bayern defender Jerome Boateng into falling over after he received the ball at the edge of the box, and followed this up with an audacious chip over Manuel Neuer, who is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The goal was the second of three for Barcelona at the Camp Nou that night. The advantage was enough for the club to seal their passage to the UEFA Champions League final, after the second leg ended 3-2 in the Bavarian’s favour (5-3 aggregate).
