Ferenc Puskás: The Hungarian soccer legend that inspired Puskás Award

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Soccer is arguably the most beautiful game on earth. Through it, top talents have earned their places in Football of Hall of Fame. Most importantly, individual awards that recognize outstanding players have become more coveted over the years. FIFA Puskás award is a perfect example of a high-level recognition of players who score aesthetically-pleasing goals. Whether at the club or international level, FIFA Puskás award is one of the most anticipated in the sport. Since the augural award in 2009, several players have claimed the prize. The latest player to do so is Daniel Zsori. The Hungarian player beat top soccer talents like Lionel Messi and other finalists in 2019 to claim the coveted prize. Here is the link to more soccer news and updates, including upcoming football award ceremonies.

Puskás Award Named After Hungarian Soccer Star

The place of Hungary in International football remains among the best national teams. In 2009, FIFA inaugurated Puskás Award to recognize a male or female player who scores the most pleasing goal. The award recognizes players after a calendar year of football. A winner can be picked from any football league, division or tournament.

Despite FIFA inaugurating Puskás award after Ferenc Puskás, a Hungarian international, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to claim the trophy. A 40-yard thunder strike in Champions League match where Manchester United played against Porto earned the Portuguese superstar the first marks on the trophy.

The award affirms the place of Ferenc Puskás in the soccer hall of fame. Regarded as one of the most outstanding football forwards in the history of the game, Ferenc Puskás created records on the pitch. Gracing the pitch in the mid-1950s and 1960s, the player scored 84 goals in 84 international games, a goal tally that no other player has surpassed. Puskás died in December 2006 after a battle with Pneumonia, three years before inaugural Puskás award. During the 2009 ceremony, then FIFA president Sepp Blatter emphasized the need to recognize soccer players who create history in the sport.

Interestingly, Daniel Zsori, the player who claimed the 2019 Puskás Award in Milan is Hungarian. An overhead kick by Zsori from the edge of the box was not only technically executed but also an aesthetically pleasing to soccer fans and award panel.

Outstanding Football Greats Have Claimed Puskás

Since 2009, several players have claimed Puskás trophy. Interestingly, Lionel Messi who has made the list of finalists a record seven times has never won it. Other players who have etched their name on FIFA Puskás trophy are Mohammed Salah, Oliver Giroud, Wandell Lira, Neymar Jr., Hamit Altintop, Miroslav Stoch, James Rodriquez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mohd Faiz Subri.

To pick the final winner, a panel selects 10 nominees. The names are then subjected to a public vote on FIFA’s official website. The final three nominees for the award go to FIFA legends to pick the overall winning goal/player. Ferenc Puskás, the player who inspired the creation Puskás award, also scored 512 goals in 528 matches across Spanish and Hungarian soccer leagues.