FIFA Puskas Award: No Bamford is an insult to Leeds man

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford can consider himself extremely unlucky that he was not nominated for the 2024 Puskas Award for his magnificent effort against Peterborough United.

Under Daniel Farke, the Whites have made it a habit to score goals in the Championship, and while there has been some disagreement about the lack of entertainment at Elland Road, Leeds have scored plenty of nice goals along the way.

With that, there was some hope that Leeds could be involved in the nominations for the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award.

On Thursday evening, FIFA launched voting for this year’s Puskas Award, which honors “spectacular” goals scored throughout the qualifying stage.
11 goals from across the world have been selected for the shortlist, which is now open to the public to vote for their favourite to win the prize:

Hassan Al Haydos – Qatar vs China PR, January 21, 2024
Terry Antonis of Melbourne City will face Western Sydney Wanderers on March 12, 2024, while Yassine Benzia of Algeria will face South Africa on March 26, 2024, and Walter Bou of Lanus will face Tigre on August 4, 2024.
Michaell Chirinos – Costa Rica vs Honduras, March 23, 2024
Federico Dimarco – Inter Milan vs Frosinone, November 12, 2023
Alejandro Garnacho – Everton vs Manchester United, November 26, 2023
Mohammed Kudus – West Ham United vs Freiburg, March 14, 2024
Denis Omedi – KCCA v Kitara, August 6, 2024
Paul Onuachu – Trabzonspor vs Konyaspor, November 10, 2023
Jaden Philogene – Rotherham United vs Hull City, February 13, 2024

A selection of really great goals, but one that we can’t help but think should have made the list (with a trace of prejudice) was Patrick Bamford’s against Peterborough United in January.

In that 3-0 victory, Bamford chested to control a long ball from Ethan Ampadu before volleying over his shoulder beyond the ‘keeper and into the far corner from more than 25 yards out.
While Philogene’s rabona effort against Rotherham United was a moment of pure genius, it’s perplexing why it wasn’t ruled an own goal, given that it wouldn’t have gone in without Cameron Humphreys diverting the ball with the top of his head into the far corner – and it’s not even the second best goal a Championship club scored last season, with Bamford’s not deflecting in.

Bamford may not have had a chance of winning the award even if he had been nominated, with some of these goals being as outrageously good as usual, but no nomination is extremely cruel on Leeds’ number nine.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town’s Wes Burns may feel shortchanged after finishing off a superb team move against Coventry City with an outside-the-boot attempt from the edge of the box that merited an honorable mention: