Puskas Award 2026 Power Rankings

Harrison Reed became just the second British player to win the Premier League's goal of the season award when his last-minute thunderbolt against Liverpool was chosen as the best goal of the 2025/26 season. The Reds looked to be on their way to victory thanks to a stoppage time goal from Cody Gakpo, but Reed had other ideas. Collecting the ball 30 yards from goal, the midfielder took a touch, glanced up and unleashed a rasper into the top corner, beating one of the best goalkeepers of all time in Alisson.

Arda Guler

Real Madrid 4-1 Elche | La Liga | March 14, 2026

This goal came courtesy of one of the best young players in the game , Arda Guler, whose 68-metre lob was declared La Liga's goal of the season for 2025/26. The Turkish playmaker had entered the fray as a substitute and Madrid were already cruising to victory when he clocked that Matias Dituro had strayed a little too far off his line. There is so much more than pure brute power involved in a goal like this; it requires deft technique and precision, feeling the wind, knowing which way to hit the ball and exactly how much power is needed.

Andreas Schjelderup

Norway 1-2 England | World Cup | July 11, 2026

Driven mainly by the star power of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Norway were definite 'Dark Horses' at the 2026 World Cup and, for a moment, it looked like they might have the better of England in the quarter-finals, when Andreas Schjelderup blasted the ball over the head of Jordan Pickford and into the far side of the net. The difficult angle and Schjelderup's controlled technique made this goal particularly special.

Christantus Uche

Crystal Palace 2-2 KuPS | Europa Conference League | December 18, 2025

Nigeria international Christantus Uche played his part in Crystal Palace's successful Europa Conference League campaign and his goal in the League Phase against KuPS will live long in the memory. After drifting forward into the hole, Uche bamboozled the defender by turning inside towards goal and then left the goalkeeper stranded with a surgical outside-of-the-boot finish.

Julian Alvarez

Argentina 3-1 Switzerland | World Cup | July 12, 2026

Were it not for Sidny Lopes Cabral's strike (see below), Julian Alvarez's crucial goal in the quarter-final against Switzerland might have won the 2026 World Cup goal of the tournament. The Albiceleste were tied 1-1 with the Swiss deep into extra time and penalties were looming, but Alvarez dug deep into his locker to produce one of the most remarkable edge-of-the-box efforts you'll ever see at a World Cup.

Zavier Gozo

Real Salt Lake 1-4 LAFC | MLS | September 17, 2025

Zavier Gozo made a habit of scoring world-class goals during his time in MLS , and he did so in September 2025 with a glorious over-the-shoulder scissor-kick strike against Los Angeles FC. Capitalising on a moment of confusion in the LAFC box, Gozo reacted quickest to a dropping ball and, despite having his back to the net, whipped a flying volley past none other than Hugo Lloris - once one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Sidny Lopes Cabral

Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde | World Cup | July 3, 2026

Winner of the 2026 World Cup goal of the tournament, Sidney Lopes Cabral's stunning strike against Argentina is surely a contender for the Puskas Award. Tiny island nation Cape Verde were a surprise package at the tournament and Cabral's goal allowed the nation to dream, if only briefly. Collecting the ball wide on the left, Cabral anticipated the press of Alexis Mac Allister and skipped inside towards the box before bending the ball beyond the reach of Emiliano Martinez. The goal sent shockwaves through the world of football as Cabral launched himself into the crowd in celebration.

Isaque

Lech Poznan 1-3 Shakhtar Donetsk | Europa Conference League | March 12, 2026

Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian wonderkid Isaque displayed classic Samba artistry with his overhead kick goal in the Europa Conference League against Lech Poznan. Capitalising on a poor clearance, the attacker brought the ball under control with his head and, seeing it hover nicely in the air, he decided to leap into the air and boot the ball into the back of the net. Sensational skill.

Cemran Dansin

Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Orlando Pirates | South African Premiership | November 1, 2025

Cemran Dansin's contribution to this collection of wondergoals is a truly spectacular first-time volley from outside the box. When the Mamelodi Sundowns defence thought they had cleared the danger from a corner, Dansin thought otherwise. The midfielder was lurking at the edge of the area and did not take his eye off the ball once as he lashed it into the back of the net off the crossbar. Ninety-nine times out of 100 those go into row Z, so to pull it off under pressure shows remarkable composure.

Driss El Jabali

MAS Fes 1-0 Wydad AC | Botola Pro Inwi | April 12, 2026

Very few players will actually attempt a 'Rabona' on the pitch, but you never expect it from a centre-back. Driss El Jabali stunned fans in Morocco in early 2026 when he contorted his body and caught the goalkeeper unawares. So rare are 'Rabona' goals that El Jabali's is certainly already a contender for the greatest rabona goal of all time, up there with Erik Lamela's efforts.

Federico Valverde

Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City | Champions League | March 11, 2026

When Real Madrid hosted Manchester City in the Champions League in March 2026, it became the Federico Valverde show. The industrious Uruguay international bagged a hat-trick in the game and his first two goals were outrageously brilliant on their own, but he will never top his third. The ball comes to Brahim Diaz to the right of the box. Valverde, spotting the gap, runs into the box to meet Diaz's delightfully scooped pass. City centre-back Marc Guehi senses the danger and shuttles across to cut Valverde out, but somehow he is second to the ball! Valverde has deftly tapped it beyond Guehi, leaving himself one-on-on with the giant presence of Gianluigi Donnarumma, one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now. As the ball drops, Valverde doesn't hesitate; he smashes the ball into the far corner. Game over. Hat-trick.

Let us know which goals you think are worthy of the Puskas Award in the comments