Shirley Cruz Named to Shortlist for FIFA’s Puskás Award

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association announced that OL Reign midfielder Shirley Cruz had been named to the 11-player shortlist for the 2020 Puskás Award. The award is given annually to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year.

Cruz is nominated for a goal she scored for Costa Rica in a January 28 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying match against Panama. In the 67th minute, teammate Katherine Alvarado sent in a dipping corner kick from the right touch-line, which Cruz met on the volley and rocketed it past the keeper at the back post from 12 yards out.

The award, which was created in 2009, was named in honor of former Real Madrid and Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskás. One of the top scorers of the 20th century, Puskás scored 512 goals in 528 matches, including 84 goals in a span of 85 international fixtures.

Voting has already begun to create the three nominees who will be invited to the virtual Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony on December 17. Fans can vote online for the three players they want to see on the shortlist at the event. The fan vote will count for 50 percent of the selection process, with a panel of experts’ ballots determining the other 50 percent to select the three finalists.