Surprise snub as FIFA reveals top three 2018 World Cup goals
Benjamin Pavard’s sensational volley against Argentina has been voted the World Cup’s goal of the tournament, FIFA has announced, but one of the best missed out on a spot in the top 10.
The full-back’s sweet strike with the outside of his right boot into the top-left corner had goalkeeper Franco Armani grasping at thin air as France levelled the thrilling last-16 encounter at 2-2 shortly before the hour.
Kylian Mbappe’s quickfire brace set Les Bleus on their way to a 4-3 victory and eventual glory in the final over Croatia, but it was Pavard’s stunning effort that endured as the lasting memory of that run to lifting the trophy in Moscow.
GOOD BUSINESS: How Croatia’s World Cup run could make one club $70m in just three weeks
INSANE: The supreme fleet of luxury cars Ronaldo is taking to Italy
NEYMAR SNUB: No love for Brazilian in FIFA top players list
Juan Quintero’s group-stage free kick for Colombia against Japan – where the wall jumped, allowing him to work the ball under and then past the goalkeeper – surprisingly finished second in the votes.
Croatian star Luka Modric finished third for the incredible long-range goal that was a hammer blow to Argentina in the group stage.
The stunning snub was that the marvellous volley by Spain’s Nacho against Portugal – a strike very similar to Pavard’s award-winning goal – was not even voted into the top 10.
The goals were voted on by fans around the world, with the final top 10 released on Thursday:
1. Benjamin Pavard – France v Argentina
2. Juan Quintero – Colombia v Japan
3. Luka Modric – Croatia v Argentina
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal v Spain
5. Lionel Messi – Argentina v Nigeria
6. Denis Cheryshev – Russia v Croatia
7. Nacer Chadli – Belgium v Japan
8. Ahmed Musa – Nigeria v Iceland
9. Ricardo Quaresma – Portugal v Iran
10. Toni Kroos – Germany v Sweden
“The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn’t even think about it. I just tried to get over it and keep it down,” Pavard told FIFA.com after the clash in Kazan.
“I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me. I didn’t think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy.”
Pavard’s performances in Russia have seen him linked to a move away from Stuttgart, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich said to be interested in taking the 22-year-old to the Allianz Arena.
with Omnisport
