The 2025 FIFA Puskas Award has been won by Santiago Montiel of Argentine club Independiente. He won the award for scoring a magical bicycle kick (overhead kick) in a match against Independiente Rivadavia, making him the second Argentine to win the award in a row, after Alejandro Garnacho last year.
An unforgettable moment has been added to the history of football. Santiago Montiel, the winger of the Argentine club Independiente, was awarded the 2025 FIFA Puskas Award. His incredibly beautiful, bahudiyeh chilena (overhead kick) goal stunned the football world in an instant. Let’s know in detail this historic goal, its creator and the story behind this award.
The goal that shocked the whole world
May, 2025. Independiente and Independiente Rivadavia faced each other in a match of the Argentine Liga Profesional de Fútbol. At a critical moment in the match, the ball flew outside the penalty box. For many, it may have been a passive moment. But not for Santiago Montiel. As the ball came right in front of him, he fired a shot with a full left-foot overhead kick (not a swing) that was unbelievable! The ball flew under the crossbar with laser speed and into the corner of the net. It was a flawless shot that defied the laws of physics, its beauty and technical skill left everyone in awe.
Who is Santiago Montiel?
Santiago Montiel is an Argentine footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Club Independiente. He is the cousin of Gonzalo Montiel, a member of the 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina team. Football runs in his family. He made his mark by winning the FIFA Top Goal Award at the age of 25.
What is the FIFA Puskas Award?
The FIFA Puskas Award is an annual award given by FIFA to the best goal of the year. The award is named after Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskas, who was famous for his extraordinary goals. The award was first presented in 2009 and Cristiano Ronaldo was its first winner.
A major change was made to the award from 2024. The Puskas Award is now only for male footballers, and a separate award called the Marta Award has been introduced for the best goal by female footballers. The 2025 Marta Award was won by Mexican star Lizbeth Ovalle.
How is the winner chosen?
The eligibility period for the 2025 Puskas Award was from 11 August 2024 to 2 August 2025. During this period, a preliminary list of outstanding goals scored in various leagues and competitions around the world was compiled.
In addition to Santiago Montiel, a total of 11 players were nominated for the 2025 Puskas Award, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Arsenal’s Declan Rice. Then, a panel of football personalities known as FIFA Legends and ordinary fans selected their favorite goal through online voting. The final winner was determined by the combination of these two parties’ votes.
Santiago Montiel’s extraordinary achievement is not only a personal achievement, but also a great source of pride for Argentine football and Independiente Club. Santiago Montiel is a shining example of how a single goal can change a player’s life. The Puskas Award was created to showcase the impossible on the football field. In 2025, Santiago Montiel enriched that tradition.Read more
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