Benfica goalkeeper goal: Fans demand Samuel Soares should win Puskas Award | OneFootball

Benfica B goalkeeper Samual Soares scored a quite incredible goal from deep inside his own half – and fans are demanding he wins the Puskas Award.

The Puskas Award is given to the player that is “judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or ‘most beautiful’, goal of the calendar year.”

And you won’t find many, if any, better that Soares’ strike against Trofense in Segunda Liga, the second division of Portuguese football.

Benfica trailed their opponents 1-0 during the second half when Soares produced a moment of pure genius.

He carried the ball outside of his penalty area before launching a powerful kick upfield.

But it wasn’t a punt to the striker.

There can be very little doubt that Soares was going for goal.

And he found it.

Soares’s strike flew over his opposition number’s head and into the back of the net, sending him and his teammates crazy.

The goalscorer celebrated by sprinting around the pitch before perhaps recognising the same thing could happen to him and quickly ran back towards his own goal.

Fans want Soares to win Puskas Award

Explaining his strike after the match, Soares said: “I saw that their goalkeeper was one step ahead and, having the wind in favour, I decided to take a risk. It went well, it is something that will remain etched in the memory of many.”

Why Soares won’t win the Puskas Award

But there’s a problem.

Soares won’t be winning the Puskas Award.

It’s not because he’s a goalkeeper. It’s not even because he’s playing in the second tier.

No, it’s because he didn’t actually score.

That’s because his unbelievable strike was given as an own goal.

If you watch the goal closely, you’ll see that Soares’ effort actually cannoned off the crossbar before hitting Trofense’s ‘keeper and rebounding in.

The goal was officially gone down as a Miguel Santos own goal.

How brutally harsh.

So, devastatingly, there will be no Puskas Award for Soares and his amazing strike.

Benfica B did go on to win the match with Luis Semedo scoring a late winner. But it’s a game that will always be remembered for Soares’ moment of brilliance – even if he didn’t get credited with the goal.

1 of 20

Who’s this Spurs legend?

Les Ferdinand Robbie Keane Øyvind Leonhardsen Craig Bellamy

You can find all of the latest football news and rumours right here.