Alejandro Garnacho recently received the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal, just days after being left out of the Manchester United squad. Garnacho, alongside Marcus Rashford, was omitted from the team that traveled to the Etihad for the City derby. Despite his disappointment at being sidelined, the young winger had a reason to celebrate, thanks to his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in November 2023.

While United secured a 2-1 victory with late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo, Garnacho’s omission was attributed to his performances in matches and training, as suggested by manager Ruben Amorim. Although he could not attend the ceremony in Qatar to accept the award—where Vinicius Jr. won the night’s top prize for best player—Garnacho’s achievement was still noteworthy.

Vinicius Jr. claimed the men’s player of the year award, edging out Rodri and Jude Bellingham. The FIFA Best award, covering the period from August 2023 to August 2024, was determined through a combination of public voting, input from journalists, and votes from national team captains and managers, each contributing 25 percent to the final tally.

In addition to his accolades, Carlo Ancelotti was named the best men’s coach after leading Real Madrid to both the Champions League and La Liga titles. Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances last season, including a crucial goal in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

As the football world celebrated these achievements, Garnacho’s Puskas Award stands as a bright spot in his career, even amid recent challenges.