Bafana Bafana star Hlompho Kekana has been nominated for the Fifa Puskas Award for best goal for the second time.
Following his 2016 long-range hit against Cameroon in a 2017 Afcon qualifier, the Mamelodi Sundowns ace’s 20 August 2019 rocket against Cape Town City in the PSL has impressed the judges this year.
He is up against efforts from ex-Barcelona striker Luis Suarez and red-hot Tottenham ace Heung-Min Son on an 11-goal shortlist.
Meanwhile, the battle for the best Fifa Men’s Player will carry extra weight this year after the Ballon d’Or was cancelled due the coronavirus pandemic.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is a firm favourite after 40 goals in Bayern Munich’s treble season.
He is up against former teammate Thiago Alcantara, who joins three of his current Liverpool colleagues – Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – for the big award.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, will battle Leeds’
Marcelo Bielsa, Bayern’s Hansi Flick, Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui and Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane for the coach award.
FIFA NOMINEES
Best player: Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (PSG), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Mo Salah (Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
Best goalkeeper: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real), Keylor Navas (PSG), Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Jan Oblak (Atletico), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)