Alessia Russo’s daring heel in the Euro semifinals was shortlisted for the FIFA Puskas Award.
The Lionesses beat Sweden 4-0 in their last four matches and then beat Germany in the final, but Russo’s goal was a landmark moment in England’s quest for victory.
The Manchester United striker is nominated alongside some of the biggest names in world football, including Kylian Mbappe, Richarlison and Mario Balotelli.
Russo’s shot is one of three goals scored by women who were included in the list of 11 goals included in the shortlist.
In an article published by the Daily Mail, Rousseau said: “It’s huge, as much as you don’t want to say it’s surreal, it is.”
She continued: “A few years ago this would not have been the case, so now to have such recognition for women footballers not only in England, but all over the world is huge.
“It’s huge for where we want the sport to go, and you can tell that’s the direction it’s heading now.”
https://twitter.com/WEURO/status/1552658113081200641
“An amazing goal is an amazing goal — it doesn’t matter if it’s scored in a men’s or women’s game. I think it’s great. We want women’s football to be on top and recognized as the best. Now it comes to this. It’s great for the game.”
Russo believes that this is a huge step forward for women’s sports, which will help inspire the next generation.
“I know when I was a kid, watching Puskas’ goals, there were never any women there. It’s great for women’s sports, women’s football and for young girls.”
She went on to mention Beth Mead’s victory in this year’s Sports Personality of the Year nomination and how the landscape is changing.
“It’s really nice, and it’s nothing less than what women’s football deserves. People like Beth [Mead], who received the Sports Personality of the Year award, it’s nice to see that the best athletes get recognition for what they did.
“It took many years to achieve this in women’s sports and women’s football in particular, but now it’s all bearing fruit.”
The outrageous goal, from which the Swedish goalkeeper was muscat, was the third of four England goals scored that evening, but it was a moment that made the commentators gasp: “What was that!?”
Shortly after, the shoes worn by Russo were displayed in the Tower of London, and T-shirts with the image of the goal went on sale.
Meanwhile, at her old club Bearsted, they added this trick to their workouts and sent a video to a 23-year-old girl trying to repeat it.
Although Russo admitted that sometimes she gets bored when people ask about the goal, she says that it is the best goal she has scored in her career.
“I think it should be [the best]. Any goal in a major competition is huge, and even in the semifinals, the nature of it. The goal was an instinctive moment and I was just glad it hit the net!”
Fans can vote for the goal they like on the FIFA website.
