- Paul Onuachu has made history as the first Nigerian ever nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award, which recognises the best goal in men’s football
- Onuachu’s incredible heel-flick goal for Trabzonspor in a 2-1 victory over Konyaspor earned him a spot among the 2024 nominees
- The striker faces tough competition from goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Mohammed Kudus, as FIFA introduces the Marta Award for women’s football
The prestigious FIFA Puskás Award, established in 2009 to honour Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás, has celebrated spectacular goals that exemplify beauty, relevance, and fair play.
For the 2024 edition, Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu etched his name in history by becoming the first Nigerian player ever to be nominated for this global accolade.
The announcement, made on Friday, November 29, coincided with FIFA’s reveal of nominees for its celebrated “The Best Awards.”
FIFA has shortlisted a list of stunning goals, including the strike that earned Onuachu his nomination. Representing Turkish side, Trabzonspor during a loan spell, the towering striker showed fans a jaw-dropping display in a 2-1 victory over Konyaspor on November 10, 2023.
As the game neared its conclusion, the 6 feet 7 inches forward showed a striker’s instinct by deftly evading the offside trap before executing an audacious heel flick to find the back of the net. Onuachu’s goal impressed for its brilliance and creativity.
The effort not only secured victory for Trabzonspor but has also brought Onuachu into the international spotlight, earning recognition among the world's best goals.
With his nomination, Onuachu faces stiff competition from other football stars, including Alejandro Garnacho, whose acrobatic overhead kick for Manchester United against Everton turned heads, and Mohammed Kudus, who wowed fans with a solo effort for West Ham against Freiburg. Despite these strong contenders, Onuachu’s goal has sparked hope among Nigerian fans eager to see their country represented on the global stage.
Onuachu’s nomination comes amidst significant changes to FIFA awards. The organisation announced that the Puskás Award would now exclusively recognise goals in men’s football, while the newly introduced Marta Award would honour exceptional goals in women’s football.
More about Paul Onuachu
Despite the historic achievement for the Nigerian forward, Paul Onuachu’s career has seen its ups and downs. After making waves at Genk in Belgium and enduring a yet challenging spell at Southampton, the Super Eagles forward has sought to rediscover his form.
Internationally, he has earned 24 caps for Nigeria since 2019 but has struggled to keep his place consistently, scoring just three goals.
This nomination will hopefully mark a turning point for the talented striker and give him more confidence to improve on his deficiency.
Nigeria, Germany, 10 other countries to have been banned by FIFA and why
Previously, TheRadar reported that FIFA, the global body governing football, had sanctioned a range of countries for breaching its rules over the years.
The most prominent case was Russia, whose exclusion stemmed from its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The sanction served as a reminder that football wasn’t immune to political realities. However, there were several other countries with similar bans in FIFA's history.
