Terry Antonis’ unforgettable goal for Melbourne City in the Isuzu UTE A-League last season has been nominated for the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award.
Antonis is among 11 contenders for the accolade, which celebrates the most spectacular goals of the qualifying period, which was from August 21, 2023 to August, 10 2024.
Named after legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskas and an award previously won by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antonis is on the list thanks to his ridiculous half-way goal against Western Sydney Wanderers in March, 2024.
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It was a goal that had to be seen to be believed as the former City midfielder’s ludicrous volley from half-way found the back of the net in a 7-0 rout of the Wanderers at AAMI Park last season.
The strike put City ahead 7-0 after it beat Lawrence Thomas to score what went down as one of the greatest goals in A-Leagues history.
Coincidently, these two sides meet at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday.
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Antonis – who now plays for Uthai Thani in Thailand – has been nominated alongside Hassan Al Haydos (Qatar), Yassine Benzia (Algeria), Walter Bou (Lanus), Michaell Chirinos (Honduras), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham), Denis Omedi (Kitara), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor) and Jaden Philogene (Hull City).
A-Leagues legend and CommBank Matildas star Sam Kerr was nominated for the Puskas Award last year after Alou Kuol also earned a nomination courtesy of his goal for Australia at the 2022 AFC Under-23 Asian Cup.
Socceroo Riley McGree’s insane scorpion kick for Newcastle Jets saw him shortlisted in 2018, Lisa De Vanna (2013) and Tim Cahill (2014) have also been nominated previously.
