Salah's Puskas Paradox: A Stunner, But Was It His Best?
Remember Mohamed Salah's debut season at Liverpool? The guy was a cheat code. He scored 44 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions in 2017-18. Thirty-two of those came in the Premier League, setting a new record for a 38-game season. He picked up the Golden Boot, the PFA Player of the Year, and basically every other individual award you could think of.
But then came the Puskas Award. The FIFA Puskas Award, given for the most aesthetically significant goal of the year. Salah won it for a goal against Everton in the Merseyside derby on December 10, 2017. He picked up the ball on the right wing, ghosted past two defenders, cut inside, and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner. It was a beauty, no doubt. Liverpool drew that game 1-1, Wayne Rooney equalizing from the spot.
Milner's Cheeky Dig
Here's the thing: James Milner, Salah's teammate, had a different take. After Salah won the award, Milner tweeted, "Congrats Mo Salah on your 7th best goal this year winning goal of the year." Seven. He said it wasn't even in Salah's top six goals from that season. And you know what? Milner had a point.
Think about some of the other crackers Salah scored that year. The chip over Roma's Alisson Becker in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield on April 24, 2018? That was pure class. Liverpool won that game 5-2, Salah scoring two and assisting two. Or the solo effort against Tottenham at Anfield on February 4, 2018, where he danced through the defense before dinking it over Hugo Lloris? Another absolute belter in a 2-2 draw. I'd argue both of those were more technically difficult, and certainly more impactful in terms of the opponent and the game state. The Everton goal was a great individual moment, but it was overshadowed by Rooney's penalty.
The Puskas Conundrum
The Puskas Award has always been a bit of a popularity contest. It’s voted on by fans, which means viral moments often win over genuinely spectacular technical feats. Remember Olivier Giroud's scorpion kick in 2017? Cool goal, but was it really the best of the year? Salah’s goal against Everton had that viral quality. It came in a huge derby, and his star power was undeniable. He was the new king of Anfield, scoring goals for fun. The narrative around him was massive.
But if we're talking pure footballing artistry and difficulty, I think Milner was spot on. The goal against Spurs, for instance, involved more intricate footwork in a tighter space. The Roma goal showed incredible composure in a high-stakes Champions League semi-final. The Everton goal was fantastic, a signature Salah move, but it lacked the sheer audacity or technical complexity of some of his other strikes from that campaign. It was a great goal, just not *the* greatest.
Real talk, I think the Puskas Award often rewards the most *memorable* goal rather than the *best* goal. It’s about the highlight reel, the moment that gets replayed a thousand times. And Salah's Everton strike certainly fit that bill. It was a fantastic season for him, an explosion onto the Premier League scene. That goal was a symbol of his arrival.
This year, I predict a bicycle kick from a lesser-known league will sneak in and win the Puskas. The fans love an underdog story, and a spectacular finish from outside the top five leagues often captures more votes than a clinical strike from a superstar.