Ranking the 2018 FIFA Puskas Award nominees

#9 Denis Cheryshev v Croatia

Cheryshev netted four times at the World Cup

Hosts Russia were the surprise package at the World Cup this summer. Many expected them to struggle, and even the press in the country described the team as one of the weakest at the tournament. Instead, they shocked us all, and reached the quarter-finals, knocking out Spain along the way. Denis Cheryshev was the star, netting four times, including two brilliant strikes.

The best of which came against Croatia in the quarter-finals. Cheryshev picked the ball up deep and drove at the Croatian midfield. He played a clever one-two with Artem Dzyuba, left behind Luka Modric, and smashed a shot past Danijel Subasic. Sadly, his side went on to lose the game, but it was still a memorable strike.