Mohamed Salah was awarded as the winner of FIFA Puskas Award 2018, on September 25. Mo Salah became the first African player in the game’s history to win the 'Best Goal of the Year' award. The Liverpool star player pipped the likes of former and current Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, whose bicycle kicks goals last year sent fans into a tizzy! FIFA Best Football Awards 2018: Croatia's Luka Modric Beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah, Clinch world's Best Male Player.

Liverpool was playing against Everton on a chilly winter night. With snow falling in the background and the Merseyside derby on display, it was the brilliance of Mo Salah that saw Liverpool draw first blood against their bitter rivals. Luka Modric of Croatia Wins FIFA Best Male Player of the Year 2018, Pips Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Often called as ‘The Egyptian King’ by the Liverpool fans, Mo Salah received a pass from Joe Gomez from the right. Salah controlled the ball aesthetically, and after an excellent display of dribble, he launched a curling shot that landed in the top right corner of the goal. FIFA World Team of the Year 2018: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe Among Others in the Star-Studded Team (See Pics).

The following goal was adjudged as the best goal of the year. The goal got the majority of the vote share, i.e. 38 percent. The match, however, ended in a draw 1-1.

Watch Mo Salah’s Goal Against Everton, Video of FIFA Puskas 2018 Award Winner:

The other candidates in fray for FIFA Puskas Award 2018 were Gareth Bale, Denis Cheryshev, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Riley McGree, Lionel Messi, Benjamin Pavard, and Ricardo Quaresma. These wonder goals might make you think, that, perhaps, they had a greater chance to win.

Watch Top 10 Goals Shortlisted for FIFA Puskas Award 2018, Videos of Top 10 Goals:

On the one hand, where Mo Salah won the FIFA Puskas Award 2018, it was Croatia’s Luka Modric who won Best FIFA Men’s player, while Brazil’s Marta won the Best FIFA Women’s player award.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2018 03:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).