Puskas Trophy: Yassine Benzia calls out scandal

Algerian international Yassine Benzia has challenged FIFA's decision to award the 2024 Puskas Trophy to Argentina’s Alejandro Garnacho, the Manchester United player.

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Benzia, who scored a sensational goal in 2024 during a friendly against South Africa and is a former Olympique Lyonnais player, believes he deserved to win this trophy, which honors the best goal of the season. He made his feelings clear in a statement to Azerbaijani site “futbolinfo.”

Honestly, I expected to win this award. I agree, Alejandro Garnacho also scored a superb goal. But you have to realize that Garnacho had the support of football fans from countries like Argentina, and Manchester United supporters were also very active in the voting. We've seen many goals like his, and I think the one I scored was better. I deserved it more. Because there’s no other goal like mine—at least, no one remembers one. If you ask most footballers, they would choose me too.

Benzia’s season in numbers

In 50 appearances for Qarabag FK, the Algerian international has netted 12 goals and provided 10 assists.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.