On Friday, FIFA announced the three finalists of the Puskás Award, given to the player scoring the best goal of the season.
Marlone, scorer of a beautiful volleyed goal in Corinthians’ match against Cobresal in the Copa Libertadores, will compete with Daniuska Rodriguez of Venezuela and Mohd Faiz Subri of Malaysia. The spectacular goal scored by Neymar during Barcelona’s victory against Villarreal in November last year did not make the final three. The winner of the Puskás Award, picked through online voting, will be revealed on January 9, 2017, during the ceremony where FIFA announces the best footballer of the year. The list of the best goals of the year was selected by a group of players and former players, composed by Brazilian Marta, Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta and Dutchman Marco Van Basten. The goals considered were scored between September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2016. The winner will be the successor to Wendell Lira, the former Brazilian player who won the last edition of the award.