A goal that leaves us with our wits about us. Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy won the Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of the year. What is his story?

Polish footballer Marcin Oleksy won the Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of last year. He became the first footballer with an amputated leg ever to be nominated for this award. What is his story?

The goal that went around the football world

The goal that took the football world by storm. Polish footballer Marcin Oleksy became one of the greatest football legends in history when he won the Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of the past football year.

He left behind Dimitri Payet’s long-range volley or Brazilian star Richarlison’s scissors. Oleksy thus became the first ever footballer with an amputated leg to achieve such a feat.

His scissors showed that you shouldn’t underestimate anyone. The Warta Poznań player managed to capitalise on his teammate’s centre in a way that stunned fans and pundits around the world.

“When I saw the centre from my teammate Dawid, I just focused on the kick and hit it absolutely cleanly,” Oleksy said at the award ceremony. “When I hit the ball, I watched it all the way until it went into the corner of the net.”

“I always wanted to score a beautiful goal. I felt really proud at that moment. I stood up, puffed out my chest and enjoyed that moment of happiness,” he described his feelings right after scoring that amazing goal.

The story of Marcin Oleksa, who had his leg amputated at the age of 23

Construction worker Marcin Oleksy, who is now 35 years old, suffered a tragedy on 20 November 2010. He was working on repairing holes in the roads when a repair truck ran off the track and crushed the then 23-year-old’s leg.

Oleksy fell unconscious immediately after the accident and only regained consciousness after surgery. “Immediately after the accident I could see my leg, so when I woke up I was kind of internally prepared for it,” he revealed in an interview with FIFA+ earlier this year about his immediate feelings after learning about the leg amputation.

He was in a wheelchair after his release from hospital and admits that it was a difficult time for him and his partner. “It was really difficult for me at the beginning because most of the responsibilities fell on my pregnant partner,” he recalled of the difficult period.

“She was pregnant and I felt like another child. I didn’t feel good about it at all. She didn’t have any time for herself because she was taking care of me,” he expressed great gratitude to his wife.

Kicking a ball with his son was a turning point for him

Before the accident, Oleksy was a talented goalkeeper who idolised Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas. He didn’t play for several years after losing his left leg, but he recalled moments with his son that ignited his desire to play football again.

“The first time I kicked a ball again with my son, it made me really mad happy. It was definitely a turning point for me. I started training again and then I started playing football alongside equally disabled footballers.”

Oleksy soon showed his enthusiasm and talent and his performances led to him being called up to the Polish national team, where he established himself as a key member of the squad. Winning the Puskás Award is thus recognition for his spectacular return to football.

Thanks to his popularity, he now hopes to bring the sport more to the attention of fans and sponsors. His story of perseverance and courage can be an inspiration to many disabled people around the world.

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