Football
ESPN staff 7y

Lionel Messi's goal vs. U.S., Neymar on shortlist for FIFA Puskas Award

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Saul Niguez are among the 10 nominees for the FIFA Puskas Award 2016 for the best goal of the year.

Messi's long free kick in Argentina's Copa America 4-0 semifinal victory over the United States, Neymar's flick and volley for Barcelona against Villarreal and Saul's sublime solo effort for Atletico Madrid in their Champions League semifinal win over Bayern Munich are among the leading contenders.

Spain full-back Mario Gaspar is nominated for his acrobatic volley in last November's friendly victory over England, while Hal Robson-Kanu's "Cruyff turn" and finish in Wales' surprise Euro 2016 quarterfinal victory over Belgium is also on the list.

Corinthians attacking midfielder Marlone scored with a fine chest control and volley in a Copa Libertadores tie against Cobresal in April.

Daniuska Rodriguez scored a solo goal for Venezuela against Colombia in Women's Under-17 Sudamericano Championship in March, holding off two challenges before firing past the goalkeeper.

Gefle midfielder Simon Skrabb also makes the list with an outlandish finish in a Swedish Allsvenskan match in October 2015, netting an outstanding "scorpion goal" from Kristian Bergstrom's cross.

Probably the most outrageous free kick of the year came in the Malaysia Super League, when Mohd Faiz Subri channelled his inner Papiss Cisse for Penang against Pahang to hit a bending effort that was going toward one corner and went in the other.

South Africa international Hlompho Kekana scored from the halfway line against Cameroon in an African Nations Cup qualifier in March, quite a feat for a defensive midfielder.

Shortlist for FIFA Puskas Award 2016:

Mario Gaspar Spain: Nov. 13, 2015, Spain vs. England, international friendly
Hlompho Kekana, South Africa: March 26, 2016, Cameroon vs. South Africa, African Nations Cup qualifier
Marlone, Brazil: April 21, 2016, Corinthians vs. Cobresal, Copa Libertadores
Lionel Messi, Argentina: June 21, 2016, United States vs. Argentina, Copa America Centenario semifinal
Neymar, Brazil: November 8, 2015, Barcelona vs. Villarreal, Spanish La Liga
Saul Niguez, Spain: April 27, 2016, Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League
Hal Robson-Kanu, Wales: July 1, 2016, Wales vs. Belgium, Euro 2016
Daniuska Rodriguez, Venezuela: March 14, 2016, Venezuela vs. Colombia, South American U17 Women's Football Championship
Simon Skrabb, Finland: Oct.31, 2015, Gefle vs. Atvidaberg, Swedish Allsvenskan
Mohd Faiz Subri, Malaysia: Feb. 16, 2016, Penang vs. Pahang, Malaysia Super League

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