Alejandro Garnacho, the 20-year-old Manchester United winger, has been honored with the prestigious Puskás Award for his breathtaking bicycle kick against Everton in November 2023. Garnacho becomes only the second United player to win the award, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The stunning overhead strike, set up by Diogo Dalot’s pinpoint cross, beat Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to seal a 3-0 victory for the Red Devils at Goodison Park.
Garnacho’s Reaction to the Award
After receiving the award, Garnacho expressed his gratitude and ambition for more success in a Manchester United shirt:
“I’m very proud to win this award. It’s a proud moment for me and my family. Thank you to everyone who voted for me, especially the United fans. It was a great finish, something I’ve worked on in training many times. But it was also a team effort—I wouldn’t be here without my teammates.”
The young winger added:
“It was a special goal, and I’ll always remember it, but there are many more incredible moments to come with this team. We have a lot to look forward to together.”
Puskás Award and Past Winners
The Puskás Award, established in 2009, recognizes the most beautiful goal scored in world football. Iconic players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Mohamed Salah, and Son Heung-min have claimed the award in previous years.
Voting for the 2023 edition was evenly split between fans and a panel of FIFA legends, with Garnacho triumphing over 10 other nominees.
Looking Ahead: Garnacho’s Current Challenges
Despite the personal achievement, Garnacho was dropped by manager Ruben Amorim from the squad for the Manchester derby last Sunday, along with teammate Marcus Rashford. However, Garnacho remains determined to regain his spot.
The young winger hopes to impress Amorim during upcoming training sessions as Manchester United prepares to face Tottenham Hotspur in a Carabao Cup quarter-final on Thursday.
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