London - Oscarine Masuluke lost out to Frenchman Olivier Giroud for the Puskas award for goal of the year at the Best FIFA football awards in London on Monday.
Arsenal forward Giroud's 'scorpion kick' goal against Crystal Palace in January received the Puskas award in a tightly contested race with Cristiano Ronaldo saying during the ceremony that both men deserved the award.
"It's hard to name one, but I have to give credit to the goalkeeper," Ronaldo said when asked who he favoured.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane also named Masuluke when asked who he backed to win.
"It had to be the goalkeeper, with the bicycle kick. Incredible goal and celebration as well," he said.
Masuluke missed out on becoming the first African to win the prize.
The Baroka goalkeeper netted a spectacular stoppage time overhead kick goal against Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership clash last year. Masuluke’s wonder goal received the backing of Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt who told Fifa.com he would pick it for the winner.
“I’d vote for Oscarine Masuluke. For a goalkeeper to score an overhead kick in stoppage time like that is impressive,” he said.
Christiano Ronaldo gave credit to #OscarineMasuluke goal ?? too pic.twitter.com/u4Krzcn9Nm
— Azania Afrika (@SAYoungLion) October 23, 2017