Messi loses out on first Puskas Award

Barcleona’s Lionel Messi was named to the FIFPro World XI and picked up his fifth Ballon d’Or on Monday, but he lost out on winning the Puskas Award for goal of the year.

Barcleona’s Lionel Messi was named to the FIFPro World XI and picked up his fifth Ballon d’Or on Monday, but lost out on winning his first Puskas Award for goal of the year.

Among Messi’s highlight-reel goals, his marker against Athletic Bilbao last May in which he weaved in and out of defenders to score was nominated for the award. 

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOX2QpfMkq4]

• Watch: Here’s why Lionel Messi won his fifth Ballon d’Or

The 28-year-old wasn’t given the honor, though. Instead, it went to Wendell Lira, who plays for Vila Nova in Brazil’s third tier. He netted the bicycle kick goal below last season.

Lira won 46.7% of the fan vote, beating Messi’s 33.3% and Roma’s Alessndro Florenzi, who picked up 7.1%.

- Kenny Ducey