By Adedapo Adesanya
The trio of Erik Lamela, Patrik Schick, and Mehdi Taremi have emerged as the finalists of the FIFA Puskás Award 2021,
This prize is given to the player judged to have scored the most aesthetically pleasing goal, regardless of the competition in which it took place and the player’s gender or nationality.
This is the first set of award nominees out of the other categories which will be revealed in the coming days ahead of the virtual awards ceremony to be broadcast live from the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland on January 17.
The final nominees are Érik Lamela (ARG) – Arsenal FC v. Tottenham Hotspur FC [Premier League] (14 March 2021); Patrik Schick (CZE) – Czech Republic v. Scotland [UEFA EURO 2020] (14 June 2021); and Mehdi Taremi (IRN) – Chelsea FC v. FC Porto [UEFA Champions League] (13 April 2021).
The eventual winner will succeed 2020 recipient Son Heung-min of Korea and Tottenham Hotspur in claiming the coveted crown.
All the winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021, including the recipients of the FIFA Fan Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award, will be crowned during a TV show broadcast live from Zurich.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, January 5), FIFA will announce the final three nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.
This will be followed on Thursday, January 6 by the announcement of the final three nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach and The Best FIFA Men’s Coach.
Then, on Friday, January 7, FIFA will unveil the three finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Player and The Best FIFA Men’s Player during an online event featuring the FIFA Legends Kristine Lilly and Sami Khedira.
Watch the nominated goals for the Puskas Award – Lamela – (bit.ly/3ETdHYU); Schick (bit.ly/3ERht51) and Taremi (bit.ly/3F0l3u0)
Dipo Olowookere