James Rodriguez won the Puskas Award for the FIFA goal of the year Monday, beating out Irishwoman Stephanie Roche and Netherlands striker Robin van Persie.
The Colombian star was awarded for his World Cup strike against Uruguay, a control and volley from 25 yards out in the Round of 16.
Peamount’s Roche came up just short of becoming the first female to win the Puskas, but her strike against Wexford in the Irish top flight garnered just 33 percent of the vote to Rodriguez’s 42 percent. Van Persie’s diving header against Spain in the World Cup came in third.
The 23-year-old Rodriguez, who transferred from Monaco to Real Madrid at the end of the World Cup, was the top scorer in the tournament.
Roche's spectacular effort (watch below) in the Bus Eireann Women's National League, coming when she received the ball with her back to goal, took a touch on her right foot, flicked the ball over a defender's head with her left foot and then spun and volleyed home from outside the box, reportedly came in front of an estimated 95 people on Oct. 13 of last year.
