Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa missed out Wednesday as France right-back Benjamin Pavard was voted as scorer of the Russia 2018 World cup goal of the tournament.
Pavard’s Stunning strike against Argentina topped the voting world soccer ruling body FIFA announced on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Stuttgart defender ran onto a left-wing cross from Lucas Hernandez and sent a right-footed half-volley spinning into the top corner to level eventual champions France’s last-16 tie with Argentina at 2-2 in the 57th minute.
France went on to win the game 4-3 before beating Croatia in the final on July 15.
Pavard’s effort won a public vote to be named the best of the 169 goals scored in the tournament, seeing off competition from Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero’s free-kick against Japan and Luka Modric’s goal in Croatia’s group-stage thumping of Argentina and also Ahmed Musa’s twin goals against Iceland in the group stage.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ treated football lovers to 169 goals in 64 matches and fans around the world unanimously chose Pavard’s goal as the best of the tournament.
The result emerged from online poll where over three million FIFA.com users casted their votes.
“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 France’s Round of 16 thriller with Argentina. “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 goal saw off stiff competition to win the accolade, including Juan Quintero’s delightful low free-kick for Colombia against Japan in the group stage which finished second, and Luka Modric’s long-range stunner against Argentina, also in the group stage, which came third in the voting.
Pavard becomes the first European player to win the Goal of the Tournament accolade since its creation in 2006. At Brazil 2014, it was bestowed on eventual adidas Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, whose venomous, dipping volley also later earned him the 2014 FIFA Puskas Award. Other previous winners include Maxi Rodriguez (ARG) and Diego Forlan (URU) winning in 2006 and 2010 respectively.