Manchester United‘s Alejandro Garnacho officially scored the finest goal in the last year after he was crowned the winner of FIFA’s prestigious Puskas Award.

The Argentine joined the Red Devils’ youth setup from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and has quickly emerged as one of the best young stars at the club.

Garnacho has played 113 games for the senior side, scoring 24 goals and offering United a pacey and skilful option on the flank.

He has had a mixed campaign so far, however, with eight goals and four assists in all competitions and just one goal involvement in his last six league matches, summing up the Red Devils’ struggles this season.

Things went from bad to worse for the Argentine on Sunday when he was dropped, along with Marcus Rashford, ahead of the Manchester derby – a game which United heroically came back from behind to win 2-1 courtesy of fellow winger Amad Diallo.

But Garnacho received a rare bit of good news today when he deservedly scooped up the FIFA Puskas Award 2024 for a mesmerising bicycle kick against Everton last November.

Alejandro Garnacho has won FIFA’s Puskas Award for his strike against Everton last year

The strike came within three minutes at Goodison Park in a match which ended up 3-0

The result was announced on Tuesday, with Garnacho beating 10 other contestants

Less than three minutes into the contest at Goodison Park, right back Diogo Dalot picked up the ball on the right flank and looped in a seemingly innocuous cross into the home box which seemed to evade everyone.

A split second later, Garnacho spun into the air just inside the penalty area, and volleyed home a spectacular bicycle kick into the top corner to the sheer amazement of both teams.

As the Argentine wheeled away in elation, the travelling supporters launched into a chant of ‘viva Garnacho’ in honour of one of the finest goals they had surely ever witnessed.

United went on to batter the Toffees 3-0 in a rare highpoint during a miserable campaign for Erik ten Hag’s men. 

The forward’s effort beat 10 other strikes in contention for the famous trophy, named after Hungarian icon Ferenc Puskas, and won in the past by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

After accepting the award, Garnacho said: ‘I’m very proud to win this award, it’s a proud moment for me and my family. Thank you to everyone who voted for me, especially the United fans. 

‘It was a great finish and I worked on this in training many times, but also it was a great move from the team, so it’s impossible to be here without my team-mates.

‘It was a special goal and I’ll always remember it, but there’s many more incredible moments to come with this team. We have a lot to look forward to together.’

Garnacho and Marcus Rashford (middle) were both left out of Sunday’s Manchester derby

Gary Neville praised United head coach Ruben Amorim for his decisiveness with his decisions

Amad Diallo ended up winning a penalty and scoring a late winner against Man City 

United head coach Ruben Amorim made a bold call to leave both of his star wingers out of his matchday squad entirely for the trip to Manchester United. 

In the end the Portuguese was vindicated as United produced a stunning comeback win in the final moments to defeat City 2-1 to make it eight defeats in 11 games for their local rivals.

But the talking point post match remained the axing of Rashford and Garnacho and former Red Devils captain Gary Neville believed the decision to leave both out was the right one. 

‘I don’t know about their long term future,’ Neville told Sky Sports, ‘but what is really clear is that [Amorim] mentioned engaging with team-mates, he’s mentioned standards. He’s giving us clues, in fact, emphatic clues, about the last few days that they’re moping and not doing their bit around the training ground. 

‘It’s standards in training and he’s thought “no, I’m not having it, I’m not accepting it”. Good on him. 

‘For far too long we’ve seen players mope around that pitch and still continue to get a game or on the bench. No. It’s got to be non-negotiable. If you don’t give your all in your job, you’re gone, you’re out. That’s it.’

Garnacho has remained tight-lipped on his social media about being left out. 

Amorim made it plain that standards need to be met and any player that falls below them will not be tolerated.