Ranking the 10 Puskas Award Finalists for Goal of the Year

On Wednesday, FIFA revealed the 10 finalists for its annual Puskas Award, which recognises world football's goal of the year.

Tallies from the World Cup, the Premier League, La Liga, the J.League and a ladies' match in Ireland are among the candidates, and between now and December 1, fans will be able to vote for their favourite on FIFA.com and FranceFootball.fr. 

The process is described here.

We've taken the opportunity to rank all 10 based purely on their quality as goals, and if you fancy a particular strike feel free to share your thoughts in the forum below.

Let's get to it.

10. Vancouver Whitecaps' Camilo Sanvezzo vs. Portland Timbers

It was quite the game for Vancouver Whitecaps forward Camilo Sanvezzo. He scored a superb, long-range free-kick, but that was not the goal that caught the eye of the judges.

It was instead a quite brilliant acrobatic volley that flew into the corner in a 2-2 draw with Portland Timbers.

9. Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Hisato Sato vs. Kawasaki Frontale

The only entry on the Puskas list from the AFC zone comes courtesy of Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Hisato Sato, who produced a sublime flick and volley. 

The goal was one of 13 Sato scored in the 2013 season.

8. Fulham's Pajtim Kasami vs. Crystal Palace

Pajtim Kasami scored just three goals for Fulham in 2013-14, the best of which was this screamer of a volley against Crystal Palace.

Check out his control of the ball has he brings down a lofted pass out of the defense before smashing it past Julian Speroni.

7. Paris Saint-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. Bastia

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be on this list every year.

In October 2013, the Paris Saint-Germain marksman twisted his body to get on the end of a Lucas Moura cross and somehow found the back of the net against Bastia.

6. Australia's Tim Cahill vs. Netherlands

Australia didn't get out of the group stage at the 2014 World Cup, but Tim Cahill temporarily had Australia level with the Netherlands thanks to this screamer of a volley in the 21st minute.

The Dutch ended up winning 3-2 en route to a semifinal appearance.

5. Colombia's James Rodriguez vs. Uruguay

James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, and this effort against Uruguay in the round of 16 was the best of his six goals.

Part of the attraction with this one is surely the team effort, as the attacker's Colombia teammates keep the ball in the air before he smashes it beyond the reach of Fernando Muslera.

4. Peamount United's Stephanie Roche vs. Wexford Youths

How about a bit of keepy-uppy before a goal?

Peamount United's Stephanie Roche moved the ball across her body with a pair of touches from her left foot before releasing a cannon of a strike in a Women's National League of Ireland match against Wexford Youths. She now plies her trade with Albi in France.

3. Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa vs. Getafe

Diego Costa scored 27 goals in La Liga last season as Atletico Madrid won their first Spanish title since 1996.

His bicycle-kick strike in November was part of Atletico's 7-0 thumping of Getafe.

2. Cruz Azul's Marco Fabian vs. Puebla

Mexico international Marco Fabian exhibited exceptional control last February when he brought down a high, arching ball, pivoted and delivered a stunning, curling strike into the back of the net for Cruz Azul against Puebla.

Already an Olympic Gold Medalist, Fabian added a CONCACAF Champions League title to his trophy case in 2014.

1. Netherlands' Robin Van Persie vs. Spain

It looked as though the Netherlands were about to go into the halftime break down 1-0 to Spain in their 2014 World Cup opener, but then Daley Blind delivered a long, lofted ball from just past the halfway line that Netherlands teammate Robin van Persie dove to meet from 16 yards.

The Dutch went on to shellac La Roja 5-1 in Salvador