Jonathan Le Ner's acrobatic bicycle kick is this year's People's Puskas winner
Frederik Hvillum
French player Jonathan Le Ner won this year's People's Puskas with his acrobatic bicycle kick and can call himself the winner of the best grassroots goal of the year.
"The moment I see my teammate in position to pass, I know I need to get into the box. The pass comes a bit behind me, and the only solution I have at that moment is to attempt this somewhat crazy acrobatic movement."
This is how Jonathan Le Ner describes the build-up to his goal, which has made him world-famous after he won this year's People's Puskas in a tight final.
More than 2000 goals were submitted from Veo's community for this year's campaign. These were then narrowed down to a list of 100 goals, of which the eight with the most votes advanced to the knock-out stage on Veo's official Instagram channel. In the final, the 35-year-old department store employee competed against the 24-year-old Thibaut Loubier from Etoile Sportive Trouy in a French showdown.
Both finalists created impressive campaigns on their social media, mobilizing their networks. Thanks to his two years at the academy of Ligue 1 club Angers, Le Ner got the club to share the competition with its 170,000 followers, while Loubier activated former Marseille and Aston Villa player and current Nice player Morgan Sanson, his teammate Santamaria Baptiste, French national team player Charlotte Bilbault, and a number of influencers. In the end, however, it was Le Ner who won the prize after 24 hours of voting and more than 12,000 votes. Only 88 votes separated the two goals, which were scored at the same amateur Regional 2 level of French football.
"I have received an enormous number of supportive messages after my goal has been shared across social media by everyone. It's even become crazy. Many inquiries from the media (radio, TV, newspapers). Many people have come to congratulate me on my goal. The goal has been around the world, I still receive messages, and I still see it being shared on social media. I didn't think it would reach such a scale. But I'm proud of it," says the winner of this year's People's Puskas, who, since the announcement, has been busy with both national and international media.
From instinct to worldwide recognition
In the Veo recording, after the goal, Le Ner merely clenches his fist and runs toward the sideline in celebration while his teammates follow him in wild jubilation. The goalscorer himself explains the somewhat restrained celebration by saying that he wasn't quite aware of what had just happened.
"When I strike the ball, I think that I hit it very well, and I manage to put power into my movement. Afterward, I fall to the ground and discover that the ball is in the goal. At the moment, I don't quite know what happened. My reaction comes after when my teammates come to congratulate me and are in shock over what I've done. In my head, I think that I must have done something extraordinary and impossible."
An explanation of what happened can be found from former Manchester United coach Mike Phelan and his team. Leading up to this year's final, the Mike Phelan Coaching Team analyzed this year's eight finalists, and they gave the following analysis of the winning goal:
"The right-winger then plays the ball first-time into the goal area where the striker has positioned himself blind-side of the right-sided center back of the three. Still a lot to do at this point, but an outstanding strike is manufactured through excellent bodily adjustment and a clean strike through the ball, giving the keeper no chance at all. A perfect team goal with only six passes from keeper to goal, involving switches of play, movement off the line, a one-touch cross, and a one-touch finish. Another outstanding goal was finished by Le Ner but with excellent team interplay in its creation."
The joy of spontaneity
Despite a lot of congratulations and attention after the goal, teammates and coaches at the club should not expect a completely new player on the field, but as the winner of People's Puskas, this might instill some fear in opponents in the amateur Regional 2 level.
"First and foremost, I am proud of myself, but also proud on behalf of my club, Avenir Sport Saint Pierre Montrevault. Personally, this goal will not change me or my confidence, but perhaps I will be more feared by my opponents and the teams we will play against."
Le Ner's acrobatic shot, which secured him People's Puskas 2024, reminds us of the spontaneous joy and creativity that can arise on the football field. When asked what advice he would give to other players, his message is simple.
"The advice I could give them is to have fun because football is just a game. And if enjoyment and self-confidence are present, then you are able to try any movement in any position and at any time," explains Le Ner.
He emphasizes that his spectacular goal was not the result of long-term planning but rather a moment of inspiration.
"I attempted this movement instinctively without thinking about what it could lead to afterward. I did it because it seemed like the right choice at that moment," says Le Ner.
The protagonist himself doesn't believe he will score a goal much better than this one. Should he create another People's Puskas finalist, however, he does have a wish.
"Honestly, I don't think that after this fantastic goal, I can do better in the coming years. But if I had the choice, I would like to make a volley from 30 meters straight into the top corner," concludes the winner.
