Johannesburg - Siphiwe Tshabalala left Zurich empty-handed on Monday night after Hamit Altintop walked away with the 2010 FIFA Puskas Award.

The Turkey international's splendid volley in the 3-0 win over Kazakhstan during the Euro 2012 qualifiers was voted to be better than the Bafana Bafana winger's left-footed rocket against Mexico in the World Cup opener.

Altintop beat off eight other contenders as well, including Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Ballon d'Or recipient Lionel Messi to earn recognition for the strike he described as the "most spectacular" of his career.

Amongst those in Switzerland cheering for 'Shabba' to lift the coveted gong was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the FIFA Presidential Award.

"We nearly won the opening match against Mexico and scored the very first goal [of the competition] - a beautiful goal," said the legendary freedom fighter.

Despite the Kaizer Chiefs ace not bagging honours on behalf of South Africa and the continent as a whole, Tutu was in a jovial mood as he spoke about the benefits of hosting the World Cup.

"We have set a benchmark. It was important for us as South Africans as it did something for our self-esteem," he said.

"We can all look back and realise what we are capable of achieving. The countries that are about to host the World Cup won't know yet what will hit them. It's electrifying!

"South Africans can walk tall. They know that they hosted the largest global sporting, and they did it extraordinarily well. The sky is the limit," concluded the Archbishop.