Internet users have reacted with surprise after Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah was awarded the FIFA Puskas award for goal of the season for his effort against Everton last season.
Salah topped a vote on the FIFA website for his moment of individual brilliance against Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals, when he picked the ball up on the edge of the Everton box before shrugging off his marker and curling the ball into the top corner.
READ MORE: Salah beats Ronaldo & Bale to win FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year (VIDEO)
It was a goal of undoubted quality – although some have questioned whether it was worthy of the goal of the season accolade, given the level of competition on the list.
That included overhead kick stunners from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in last season’s Champions League, as well as sublime efforts at the World Cup from France’s Benjamin Pavard – which won goal of the tournament – and Russia’s Denis Cheryshev.
After Salah was announced as the winner, social media users tweeted a collective outpouring of confusion, with some saying it was the “worst Puskas goal ever.”
Everyone that voted for salah's goal should be identified and flogged publicly
— Blu Cabana (@ZionBadMan) September 24, 2018
Genuinely asking - is Salah's goal the worst Puskas awarded goal of all time?
— MP (@elsaetarubia) September 24, 2018
Loved Salah's goal but in no way was it better than Ronaldo's and Bale's overhead kicks!
— Sripad (@falsewinger) September 24, 2018
Others said that the goal wasn’t even the best of the 44 that Salah scored in his record-breaking season for the Reds.
Salah’s goal to win the award tonight wasn’t even his best goal last season. So many better.
— Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) September 24, 2018
Salah winning Puskas award for a goal that Messi scores on regular bases? Wut?
— BlaugranaHome