ERIK LAMELA’S mind-blowing rabona goal against Arsenal has won the 2021 Fifa Puskas Award.
Lamela, 29, produced the piece of magic for Tottenham in last year’s 2-1 derby defeat at the Emirates.
Lamela, who joined Sevilla last summer, saw off competition from Patrik Schick and Mehdi Taremi to claim the coveted prize.
It is Spurs' second Puskas award in a row after Son Heung-min picked up the gong for his wondergoal against Burnley in 2020.
Appearing on the screen at tonight’s award ceremony, Lamela said: "Thank you so much. I am very happy to win this award.
"In that moment, I didn’t think too much, I didn’t realise how special the goal was, I just kicked it and ran around."
The rabona strike came in a fiercely-competitive North London clash between Spurs and Arsenal on 14 March.
Sergio Reguilon met a cross on the left-edge of Arsenal's box and immediately hit it towards Lucas Moura, who was by the penalty spot.
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The Brazilian, without hesitation, laid it off to Lamela who was standing just to his left.
And using pure instinct, while also not taking a second touch, the playmaker wrapped his left foot around his right ankle to immediately pop the football at goal.
The ball nutmegged Arsenal's £45million midfielder Thomas Partey and sailed past Bernd Leno at the far post.
But despite later being sent off for two quick-fire yellow cards, Lamela has now been rewarded with one of football’s top prizes.
Former teammate Jan Vertonghen, now at Benfica, also stepped forward to take some credit, having tipped Lamela for the Puskas award immediately after the strike.
The Belgian defender tweeted: "Call me a visionaire."
It's not the first time the rabona has been recognised, with Lamela given the Premier League's Goal of the Season award last term.
But on Monday, the Argentine ace was crowned top of the pile at the Fifa Awards ahead of Schick’s effort against Scotland.
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The Czech Republic’s Bayer Leverkusen forward fired a 50 yard shot from the halfway line past David Marshall in July’s Euros clash.
And the magnificent effort was later named Goal of the Tournament.
Lamela also saw off Porto ace Taremi, who netted a fabulous bicycle kick in his side’s Champions League exit to Chelsea.
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