Full Breakdown
The People's Puskás Award: Celebrating Amateur Soccer Excellence
3/1/2026, 8:54:41 PM
Overview of the Award
The People's Puskás Award, initiated by Danish sport-tech company VEO, aims to recognize outstanding goals scored at the amateur level, paralleling the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award for professional players. Since its inception in 2022, the award has highlighted remarkable grassroots goals captured on camera, showcasing talent from local parks and school fields worldwide.
2024 Award Highlights
The 2024 People's Puskás Award was won by Jonathan Le Ner for his exceptional overhead kick while playing for Avenir Sport Saint Pierre Montrevault in a French county cup match. This accolade follows the 2023 award, which was claimed by Welsh amateur player Mason Evans for a powerful volley scored for Ynyshir Albions.
Notable Contenders
Eight goals were shortlisted for the 2025 award, with several standout performances:
- Josh Beilby (Lethbridge FC, Canada): Beilby scored a stunning 35-yard strike that helped his team equalize against Calgary Rangers. He stated, "We're 2-0 down with not long to go. Let's just power through with the right technique."
- Noé Plard (Aubry Chaudron FC, France): Plard redeemed himself with a flying volley in the Under-17s cup final, leading his team to victory. He expressed gratitude to VEO for validating his previous claims of scoring an incredible goal.
- Yannick Schlatter (FC Niederweningen, Switzerland): After recovering from two ACL injuries, Schlatter showcased his skills with a deft goal against FC Seuzach, emphasizing that the goal represented his perseverance.
- Lee Wort (AFC Portchester, England): Wort's individual brilliance was on display as he scored with a rabona in a crucial FA Cup preliminary round tie.
- Raheem Jabar (Queens Park Crescents FC, England): Jabar's powerful 30-yard strike opened the scoring against Stopsley, demonstrating his striking instinct.
- Aleix Recort (FC Rönin, Catalonia): Recort executed a perfectly lobbed shot over the goalkeeper after receiving a long ball, showcasing his technical ability.
Runner-Up and Winner
The runner-up for the 2024 award was Kane Harris from Phoenix FC in Australia, who scored a remarkable 40-yard goal following a defensive error. Harris recounted, "As soon as the ball left my foot, I knew it was going in."
The ultimate winner, Billy Tabb of Grangevale AFC in the Republic of Ireland, delivered a spectacular twisting overhead volley after juggling the ball. Tabb remarked, "When it left my foot, I knew it had a chance!"
Why It Matters
The People's Puskás Award not only celebrates individual talent but also elevates the visibility of amateur soccer, encouraging participation and appreciation for the sport at all levels. By recognizing these grassroots achievements, the award fosters a sense of community and inspires future generations of players.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Thanks to VEO, people actually believed me when I said I'd scored such an incredible goal in a cup final,” — Noé Plard, Aubry Chaudron FC
- “For me, it's more than just a goal," Schlatter said.” — Yannick Schlatter, FC Niederweningen
- “As soon as the ball sat up, I just went for it,” — Billy Tabb, Grangevale AFC
The People's Puskás Award continues to shine a light on the extraordinary talent found in amateur soccer, celebrating the beautiful game in its purest form.
