In early December, FIFA will award the Puskás Award for the best goal in the world over the past year. Among the nominees is Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Deiola , for his individual and team-building feat that sealed the Rossoblu's 3-0 victory over Venezia on May 18th, the match that saved the Rossoblu from relegation. It was a memorable goal, not least for its construction, a move involving 13 passes and a magnificent, unstoppable curling shot. "I'm happy because awards like this are goals a player always sets for himself," Deiola commented. "The nomination brings happiness, and I'm happy for the visibility it brings to me, to the club, and to our homeland, Sardinia."

Given that the Puskás Award takes into account a huge number of goals from around the world, it wasn't a given that a Cagliari player would be in the running. "When I heard about it, I was with my wife and daughters: I was away for a moment and felt a sensation inside me that I can't even explain," Deiola says. "A shiver ran through my whole body, which I continue to feel as I do this interview. I showed my two daughters the goal, and they asked me, 'Dad, did you score it?' 'Yes, love,' I replied, 'now Dad is in the running for an award.' They asked me to bring it to them if I win it, hopefully ."

And he wasn't even sure that such a move could work so well. "I didn't even think about it," Deiola admits. "You can't see it from the pitch, but when I connected with the ball, I felt the urge to celebrate and I said to myself, 'If I hit the back of the net, it's a goal.' Those are perfect shots that go in." He then describes the move: "It all started with a pass from Augello; Gaetano and I had raised our hands because we thought the ball had gone out. Then from there, a game of interchanges, one-time passes, backheels, nutmegs began, and from there the stadium lit up. When I passed the ball back to Gaetano, I went to occupy the space, thinking about how the ball might reach me. So when I controlled it, I already had my mind on shooting."

For Deiola, a goal like that ("PlayStation-worthy," he says) has added significance given his past. " It was always a pretty emotional match against Venezia, because we were relegated due to a 0-0 away draw on the final day of the 2022 season , so it was a bit scary, and it was also felt by the fans. It was like closing a circle. Fate wanted me to finish off that wonderful move. It was the icing on the cake."

Along with Deiola, 10 other goals are nominated, including those from world-class players like Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Arsenal's Declan Rice. "I've seen them all, and each one is more beautiful than the last. I like De la Vega's, he kicks incredibly well, then there's Montiel's overhead kick... They're all beautiful, so may the best one win," said Deiola, who didn't vote for himself "because it's right that others choose." Meanwhile, he's only the fifth Italian nominated in the history of the Puskás Award, following Antonio Di Natale, Alessandro Florenzi, Fabio Quagliarella, and Federico Dimarco . "It makes me feel honored."

Against Fiorentina, on the first day of Serie A, Deiola reached his 200th appearance for Cagliari. "It was 2006 when I signed for the first time. I wanted to become a symbol for this club and for this jersey," he said. "I'm slowly realizing this dream, and now I've been nominated for the Puskás Award. Then, of course, a player always hopes to make it to the national team. If you believe in it, nothing is impossible. I would give my younger self all the advice I received throughout my career; I would tell him to face all the difficulties he faced to get to this point."

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