He’ll forever be the ‘Scorpion King’ but Riley McGree missed out at The Best FIFA Football Awards as Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah claimed the Puskas Award for 2018.
Salah was announced as the recipient of the prestigious honour, which was voted on by FIFA.com fans, at a glitzy ceremony in London during the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST).
Congratulations, 🇪🇬@MoSalah 💪
The Egyptian wins the FIFA #Puskás Award 2018 💥#TheBest #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/4r0kQojnH5— FIFA (@FIFAcom) September 24, 2018
McGree, 19, had hoped to be declared the first Australian winner after being included on a star-studded 10-man shortlist following the astonishing scorpion kick he scored for Newcastle Jets in last season’s Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were among the big names to miss out on this year’s award, named for Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas.
‘PHENOMENAL’: Socceroos great Schwarzer proud of stunning strike
TWITTER MELTDOWN: The incredible reaction to McGree’s wonder goal
McGree is the third Australian to have been nominated after Lisa De Vanna (2013) and Tim Cahill (2014).
McGreen’s freakish goal, which instantly went viral, echoed that of last year’s winner scored by Olivier Giroud in the Premier League and was considered a frontrunner by legendary goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Peter Schmeichel.
‘Riley McGree was robbed!’ Twitter reacts to Puskas Award
McGree’s omission certainly prompted some online backlash, where fans and pundits alike expressed their shock at the result.
So how did Riley McGree's WONDER GOAL not win the #Puskás Goal of the Year?!
??♂️#FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/stUKyhL1Av
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 24, 2018
FIFA better give 19-year-old Riley McGree the Puskas Award for this or we riot. pic.twitter.com/8TVHMNCZRt
— Ball Street (@BallStreet) September 4, 2018
If this is better than the McGree or Bale or Ronaldo goal I’m the 5th member of the The Bangles. https://t.co/kEMRmQfIQ2
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) September 24, 2018
Riley McGree's scorpion kick misses out on the Puskas Award – won by Liverpool's Mo Salah on fan vote.
The Egyptian received 38% of the 500,000 votes cast. https://t.co/1UQpmx96L5
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) September 24, 2018
how on Earth did this Salah 's goal win the Puskas
riley mcgree 's goal deserves it 10000% ,,, I just cant stop watching this goal ???
i like Salah too , but honestly RT if you agree riley mcgree was robbed? #Puskas #TheBest #FIFAFootballAwards #Fifathebest pic.twitter.com/OIc24bSaO1
— Tha Carter V (@travismorgan00) September 24, 2018
Watching the Best FIFA Football Awards – privileged last season to commentate on two of the goals shortlisted for goal of the year #Ronaldo #Bale – but what about Riley’s McGree’s goal ????????
— Darren Fletcher (@DFletcherSport) September 24, 2018
Riley McGree, you've been swindled. https://t.co/OYRlAHnJk5
— Kevin Blundell (@kevin_blundell) September 24, 2018
McGree robbed #Puskás
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 24, 2018
McGree was robbed https://t.co/iVpVa3hN2G
— Ben Cubby (@bencubby) September 24, 2018
