Nominees for the 2022 FIFA Puskas Award Revealed: Balotelli's Rabona, Russo's Backheel, and More Incredible Goals in the Mix

- World Soccer Today -

The nominees for the 2022 Fifa Puskas Award, given to the player who scored the best goal of the year, have been announced and include Mario Balotelli and Lioness player Alessia Russo.

The current holder of the award is former Tottenham player Erik Lamela for his goal against Arsenal during the 2020-21 season.

Erik Lamela is currently the holder of the Puskas Award.

The award has recently been won by players from the English Premier League, such as Son Heung-min, Mo Salah, and Olivier Giroud.

Balotelli is currently playing for Adana Demirspor in Turkey.

Last season, Balotelli scored five goals in a single match, 7-0 win against Goztepe, with his last goal being a spectacular rabona after performing multiple stepovers.

The 32-year-old player scored 18 goals in the Turkish top flight league during the last season.

Mario Balotelli scored an outstanding rabona goal while playing in Turkey.

Amandine Henry, a French midfield player, scored an impressive goal during her team's victorious campaign in last season's Champions League with Lyon. Henry, at the age of 33, made a hard tackle to win the ball high up the field, and then hit a powerful shot from distance into the top corner, helping her team defeat Barcelona 3-1 and win the trophy.

Amandine Henry hit a long-range shot.

AC Milan player Theo Hernandez scored a fantastic individual goal during a match against Atalanta last season. The French player picked up the ball in his own half and began an incredible run, weaving through numerous defenders into Atalanta's penalty area before scoring a spectacular goal.

Theo Hernandez scored a goal with a precise finish after a great run.

Australian forward Alou Kuol scored an extraordinary goal with a scorpion kick while playing for the Under-23 national team against Iraq. The ball was delivered from the right behind him, but Kuol was able to manipulate his body in a unique way to redirect the ball towards the goal. His brother, Garang, is also a talented player and recently joined Newcastle in January.

Alou Kuol performed a perfectly executed scorpion kick.

Kylian Mbappe, the most well-known nominee, scored an outstanding goal in the World Cup final against Argentina. After scoring a penalty to bring his team to 2-1, Mbappe passed the ball to Marcus Thuram and then hit a perfectly executed shot past Emi Martinez. Despite Mbappe's efforts, France lost the game in penalties.

Kylian Mbappe scored an incredible goal to bring the score to a tie in the World Cup final

Francisco Gonzalez Metilli, an Argentine player, scored an outstanding volley. While playing for Central Cordoba against Rosario Central, Gonzalez Metilli skillfully tracked the ball as it was passed to him, and then hit an outstanding left-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

Francisco Gonzalez Metilli hit an outstanding volley.

Polish player Marcin Oleksy, who is an amputee, amazed fans around the world with his amazing bicycle kick. He used his crutches to spin around and perform an acrobatic finish that sent his teammates into celebration. Oleksy is a highly skilled player, having represented Poland in the Amputee World Cup.

Marcin Oleksy displayed great athletic ability.

Spanish teenager Salma Paralluelo made a name for herself by scoring an outstanding goal against Barcelona last season. The winger moved inside before curling a magnificent shot into the top corner. Her performance caught the attention of Barcelona, who signed her just a few months later.

Salma Paralluelo scored a great goal by curling the ball into the top corner.

Dimitri Payet, a former West Ham player, shone in the Europa Conference League for Marseille last season. During a quarter-final match against PAOK, a corner kick was passed to him on the edge of the box. Payet hit a beautiful half-volley shot directly into the top corner, leaving his teammates in amazement.

Dimitri Payet scored an outstanding goal against PAOK.

Richarlison, a Tottenham player, won the award for best goal of the World Cup for his incredible bicycle kick goal against Serbia for Brazil. He controlled a cross from Vinicius Jr and with one swift motion, hit a spectacular volley into the net. Richarlison scored twice in the match, helping his team to a 2-0 victory.

Richarlison won the award for the best goal of the World Cup tournament

Alessia Russo, a star player for the Lionesses, virtually secured her team's spot in the Euro 2022 final with an outstanding performance. Throughout the tournament, Russo had performed well as a substitute and she continued to do so in the semi-final match against Sweden.

The Manchester United forward collected a rebound from her own shot and then improvised by back-heeling the ball past the goalkeeper and scoring a goal, putting her team in an ecstatic state.