Getty Images

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Wins 2013 Puskas Award for Goal vs. England

Joseph Zucker

Football supporters don't often universally agree on things, but is anyone going to argue that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's overhead kick against England wasn't the goal of the year?   

On Monday, Jan. 13, Ibra was given the FIFA Puskas Award, annually handed out for the best goal of the year, during the 2013 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Paris Saint-Germain saluted their celebrated star:

Of course, Rory Smith of The Times pointed out that the goal was actually scored in 2012:

It got pushed back to this year because it was scored after voting began for the 2012 nominees. That meant the goal had little time to accrue enough votes to be considered in the running, and something that magical deserves to have a fair shot at the Puskas Award.

To those who forget, Ibrahimovic scored four goals against England in that 4-2 friendly win, the last of which was a bicycle kick from about 30 yards out.

You're unlikely to ever see anything like it again.

When asked at the time if it was the best goal he ever scored, Ibra said, per The Telegraph:

No - but it's the one I've enjoyed most.

When I got the long ball, I saw the goalkeeper come out, and I thought, 'Should I go in for the duel, or wait for him to put it out?'

When he put it out, I had it in my mind to score - to try to score. I tried to put it in the goal and when I was on the ground, I saw a defender trying to get it, and I wanted to scream 'No' but the ball went in.

One can only wonder how majestic Ibra's personal favorite was.

Now the race is on to see what he'll have to do to top himself in 2014. BeIN Sport wonders if Ibrahimovic already has his candidate for the next Puskas Award:

Zlatan is without a doubt one of the best players on the planet, and while he didn't walk away with the Ballon d'Or, the Puskas Award offers some consolation.

Maybe this time next year, Ibrahimovic will have supplanted Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.  

   

Read 0 Comments

Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation

Install the App
×
Bleacher Report
(120K+)