Oscarine Masuluke makes final three for Puskas award

Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke has been shortlisted alongside Olivier Giroud and Deyna Castellanos for the prestigious Fifa Puskas Award.

A shortlist of 10 was announced last month but has now been trimmed down based on initial votes from supporters, with fans still holding the opportunity to pick their winner until 23 October.

Seven goals have dropped out of the running, including Mario Mandzukic’s magnificent chest and volley in Juventus’ Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

Masuluke is not only the first of South Africa to reach the Puskas Award top three, but the first player from the continent to be named a finalist.

The 24-year-old is also the first goalkeeper to reach the final three, with his incredible last-minute bicycle kick equaliser for Baroka against Orlando Pirates understandably capturing the imagination of fans across the world.

Giroud is the first Frenchman to reach the final three, becoming the lucky number seven of his compatriots to be nominated.

The Arsenal forward was shortlisted for his perfectly-executed, and wonderfully audacious, ‘scorpion kick’ goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Castellanos is the second Venezuelan teen in successive years to reach the final three, following in the footsteps of countrywoman Daniuska Rodriguez who was voted into the top three last year.

She is also a finalist for The Best Fifa Women’s Player 2017, was nominated for her extraordinary effort from the halfway line against Cameroon at the Fifa U17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.

Here are the top three finalist:

Oscarine Masuluke vs Orlando Pirates: