Puskas Award 2015: Florenzi and Lira challenge Messi for crown

Lee Gormley | December 1, 2015

Puskas Award 2015 final three

• Lionel Messi, Alessandro Florenzi and Wendall Lira final three nominees
• The final three were picked from an initial list of 10 from FIFA
• James Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are all former winners

Messi among three wonder goal nominees

The prestigious FIFA Puskas Award, named after Hungarian and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas, is now in its seventh year, and 2015’s spectacular nominees have been shortened to just three players from an initial list of 10.

High-profile names such as Carlos Tevez and Philippe Mexes joined the likes of Fleetwood Town’s David Ball, USA women’s star Carli Lloyd and virtually unknown SC Paderborn midfielder Marcel Ndjeng on that previous 10-player shortlist.

Although, after much debate, either Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi, Roma ace Alessandro Florenzi or surprise inclusion Wendell Lira will take home the prestigious award for best goal of the year.

Messi, Barcelona

Another FIFA award and another Messi nomination, of course. The Argentine ace can’t have much room left in his ever-growing trophy cabinet, but he may have to find space after his dazzling solo goal against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.