FIFA Reveals 10-Goal Shortlist for 2015 Puskas Award

World football's governing body, FIFA, revealed on Friday the 10 goals that will compete for this year's Puskas Award, credited to the best goal of the last year.

Familiar stars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez are joined by less famous names such as Fleetwood Town's David Ball and Esteban Ramirez of Sport Herediano, while Carli Lloyd represents the USA's Womens World Cup-winning team.

Click through the slideshow to check out the goals in the running for the award, named after Real Madrid and Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas.

[Twitter: @FIFAcom]

David Ball (FLEETWOOD TOWN vs. Preston North End)

Fleetwood Town trailed Preston North End by a goal to nil with five minutes to go when David Ball stepped up to rescue a point with a simply outrageous goal. 

Receiving the ball on the edge of the opposition box, Ball showed brilliant footwork to evade two defenders before sending an exquisite chip over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

[YouTube: Fleetwood Town Football Club]

Gonzalo Castro (REAL SOCIEDAD vs. Deportivo De La Coruna)

Remind you of anyone? Gonzalo Castro's Van Basten-esque volley wasn't enough to earn Real Sociedad a win in their 2-2 draw with Deportivo de La Coruna in April, but it was enough to make the shortlist for 2015's Puskas Award.

And no wonder. Impressive ambition, perfect technique, stunning finish.

[YouTube: Got The Ball]

Alessandro Florenzi (ROMA vs. Barcelona)

Who better to do it against than the reigning European champions? Roma's Alessandro Florenzi saved his best for the best in September when he launched an incredible 56-yard lob over Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The German stopper couldn't believe what had just happened, while even Florenzi's Roma team-mates had begun to bemoan the Italian's selfish effort...until it dropped into the net.

[YouTube: ChepsiHD25]

Wendell Lira (ATLETICO GOIANIENSE vs. Goianesia)

No, you are not watching a computer game.

The snappy passing and acrobatic finish seen above actually happened in a real football match involving real football players, the protagonist being Brazilian striker Wendell Lira.

[YouTube: GoalMix]

Carli Lloyd (USA vs. Japan)

As if a 13-minute, World Cup final-winning hat-trick wasn't enough, USA captain Carli Lloyd decided the third goal must be extra special.

Spotting the goalkeeper off her line, Lloyd launched an incredible strike from the halfway line, over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net.

That's one way to do it.

[YouTube: Simon Desola]

Lionel Messi (BARCELONA vs. Athletic Bilbao)

No goalscoring list would be complete without Lionel Messi.

If ever there was a goal that summed up the diminutive Argentine's undeniable brilliance, it is this one.

Receiving the ball by the touchline just inside the Bilbao half, Messi embarked on a mazy run that couldn't be stopped by four defenders before firing an unstoppable finish past goalkeeper Iago Herrerin.

Astonishing.

[YouTube: Football VN]

Philippe Mexes (AC MILAN vs. Inter Milan)

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes provided the undoubted highlight of the summer's International Champions Cup with a stunning, acrobatic winner over rivals Inter Milan.

Lurking on the edge of Inter's penalty area, few would have considered the French defender a threat as Milan prepared to take the corner.

But how wrong they were to be proved, as Mexes launched himself high into the air to send an incredibly acrobatic volley past a motionless Juan Pablo Carrizo and into the top corner.

[YouTube: Sam Simo]

Marcel Ndjeng (PADERBORN vs. Bolton Wanderers)

It seems pre-season was the place for breathtaking volleys this summer, as Paderborn's Marcel Ndjeng joined Mexes by scoring an incredible long-range strike against Bolton.

The Championship side must have considered themselves temporarily safe after a succession of clearances sent the ball toward the halfway line, only for Paderborn midfielder Ndjeng to connect with a fizzing volley that soared past the goalkeeper like a heat-seeking missile.

Ooft.

[YouTube: BOXTUBE7 VIDEOS10-2015]

Esteban Ramirez (HEREDIANO vs. Deportivo Saprissa)

The penultimate goal on the shortlist comes from Costa Rica, where Esteban Ramirez found the top corner with a stunning volley. (There's been a few of them this year, it seems.)

With a cross-field pass partially cleared by a defender, Ramirez kept the ball off the floor with successive headers before unleashing a vicious, dipping volley into the top corner. Simply delicious.

[YouTube: Quotaly]

Carlos Tevez (JUVENTUS vs. Parma)

Carlos Tevez has scored plenty of goals in his two seasons with Juventus, but none were better than this.

Picking up the ball comfortably inside his own half, the Argentinian spun away from one opponent before setting off on a searing run. Tevez flew past one defender and nutmegged another before slotting a composed finish past the helpless goalkeeper. You can almost excuse the defenders for not wanting to get in the way.

[YouTube: CCN Sport]