The final 3 contenders for the FIFA Puskas award have been announced after fans’ votes came in this week, narrowing the contest down from the initial ten choices. The final round of voting is now open on FIFA.com where you can vote for you favourite goal out of the three.
Brazil continued its rich history of representation in the tournament with Corinthians midfielder Marlone making the final three, while Daniuska Rodriguez repeats the feat of past nominee Stephanie Rochie(2014) by representing women’s football and Mohd Faiz Subri completes the list also making history as Malaysia’s first ever Puskas award nominee.
The Corinthians midfielder, Marlone, scored an acrobatic strike that left fans ecstatic in their Copa Libertadores game against Chilean team Cobresal. The midfielder received a cross that was slightly behind him, then chested into the air and volleyed acrobatically with an effort past the Cobresal goalkeeper Sebastian Cuerdo.
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Daniuska Rodriguez is only 17 years old and is aiming to do better than Stephanie Roche’s runners-up award in 2014 by winning the Puskás Award and taking it back to her hometown in Venezuela. She is nominated for a brilliant dribbled effort in the Women’s U-17 Sudamericano Championship. The young woman dribbled her way through traffic, namely past Columbian players Manuela Venegas and Sofia Montoya with some fancy footwork to finish into the roof of the net.
Malaysia’s first ever FIFA Puskás Award nominee in the country’s history, Mohd Subri makes up the final three with his strike from distance that is now called the new ‘physics-defying’ effort after Roberto Carlos’ famous free-kick against France. The free kick, dubbed a ‘knuckleball’ strike was struck from some way out on Penang FC’s left-hand flank producing considerable movement through the air along with swerve and dip that left Pahang’s goalkeeper Mohd Nourdin with absolutely no chance.
The voting will now resume as fans from across the world choose which of these three players will win the award. The winner of the award will be decided on the basis of total number of votes from around the world and one of these three players will be awarded the famous Puskas prize on January 9th 2017.
Irrespective of who wins the award, the three nominees Marlone, Rodriguez and Subri rightly deserve all the recognition they have received thus far for their astounding goals. More Football news, transfer rumours, analysis and features at Sportskeeda.com. Also if you are attending a football game anywhere in the world and/or have a news tip for us drop us an email at football (at) sportskeeda (dot) com
