FIFA, the international governing body of football, futsal and beach soccer, in an Instagram post felicitated Iranian goalkeeper Peyman Hosseini on winning the Goal of the Tournament award at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017.
According to a report by IFP, FIFA’s congratulatory message, which was posted along with a photo showing Hosseini in the tournament, read: “The #FIFABeachSoccer Goal of the tournament was scored… by a goalkeeper! Congratulations to #Iran’s @peymanhosseinii!”
From more than 260 goals scored at the FIFA Beach Soccer Bahamas 2017, it was ultimately, the very first goal scored at the tournament that captured the votes of thousands of fans from all over the world.
Just 19 minutes into the opening game of the tournament, Hosseini stunned the crowd when, deep into his own half, he coolly flicked it up with his right foot and then fired a volley across the pitch that ended in the top corner of the Mexican net. From that moment, the very first goal of the tournament was a contender for the Goal of the Tournament!
Hosseini’s strike defeated nine other incredible goals to become Goal of the Tournament.
Other candidates for the award were Italy’s Paolo Palmacci (for his goal against Nigeria), Ecuador’s Daniel Cedeno (for his goal against Switzerland), Brazil’s Bruno Xavier (for his goal against Tahiti), Italy’s Gabriele Gori (for his goal against Mexico), Switzerland’s Dejan Stankovic (for his goal against Senegal), Portugal’s Bruno Novo (for his goal against the UAE), Brazil’s Rodrigo (for his goal against Portugal), Japan’s Takasuke Goto (for his goal against Poland) and Nigeria’s Azeez Abu (for his goal against Mexico).
Real Achievement
Commenting on his award in a Farsi interview with the Tasnim News Agency, Hosseini said, “I became very happy at hearing the news. Nevertheless, Iran’s success to stand third at the tournament has helped this achievement of mine and other individual awards to become more valuable. In case we had not managed to finish in third place, none of these individual accomplishments would have had the same value they have now.”
Hosseini, who also won adidas Golden Glove award at the end of the tournament, was of great assistance to his side in their success to claim a historic third place finish in the meet.
Brazil was crowned champion after thrashing Tahiti 6-0 in the final.
