Poland’s Marcin Oleksy becomes first amputee soccer player to win Puskas Award

Polish amputee soccer player Marcin Oleksy receives the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal during the ceremony of the Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris, France, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Michel Euler/AP)

Poland’s Marcin Olesky became the first ever amputee soccer player to be awarded the Puskas Award for best goal of the year.

Playing Polish amputee soccer outfit Warta Poznán in a game against Stal Rzeszow on Nov. 6, Olesy held on his left crutch to score a bicycle kick goal before falling on his back.

The Polish player beat Brazil’s Richarlison and France’s Dimitri Payet for the award.

The Brazil international congratulated Olesky on social media saying that his goal was “a masterpiece and you are an inspiration for all of us.”

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