A 25-year-old part-time footballer from Northern Ireland will battle it out with world great Lionel Messi to win the FIFA 2010 goal of the year.
Glentoran star Matty Burrows scored a stunning injury time winner against local rivals Portadown in October – turning himself into an overnight Youtube sensation.
With time running out, a team-mate crossed from the left and Burrows, with his back to goal, flicked the ball with the back of his foot, leaving the opposition’s goalkeeper helpless as it hit the back of the net.
The striker told the BBC: “It was one of those ones where if you don’t give it 110%, you’re going to look foolish. I turned my body in mid-air and just went for it.
“I’d tried it before in training, but not as far out as that. You need a wee bit of luck, but your technique has to be bang on.”
More than five million have logged on to Youtube to watch the wonder striker since October – turning the unknown amateur into an internet phenomenon.
Burrows, who has scored 16 goals in 14 games for Glentoran this season, will now go up against Argentinian ace Lionel Messi, Brazilian hotshot Neymar and Dutch veteran Giovanni van Bronckhorst for the coveted FIFA Puskás Award trophy.
The winner of the award will be announced at tonight’s Ballon d’Or in Zurich.
UPDATE: Matty Burrows missed out on the goal of the year award, with Turkey star Hamit Altintop taking the prize for his goal against Kazakhstan.
Lionel Messi picked up the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the second year running
good goal