Hal Robson-Kanu nominated alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar for goal of the year award

West Bromwich Albion forward Hal Robson-Kanu has been named alongside the likes of Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Neymar as one of 10 nominees for the latest edition of Fifa's prestigious Puskas Award. The former Reading stalwart's nomination is in recognition of the superb goal he netted for surprise Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales in their last-eight upset of Belgium in Lille.

With Chris Coleman's side level at one apiece after Radja Nainggolan's 25-yard strike was cancelled out by a header from Ashley Williams, Robson-Kanu, who went into the tournament eager to impress as a free agent, became a social media superstar by slotting past Thibaut Courtois after executing a sublime Cruyff turn that sent defenders Thomas Meunier and Jordan Lukaku into a different postcode. Wales eventually sealed a historic 3-1 win courtesy of a late header from Sam Vokes.

Messi finished second to Wendell Lira last year and merits inclusion again for his bewitching free-kick against hosts the Unites States that helped propel Argentina into their second consecutive Copa America final.

2011 winner Neymar, meanwhile, makes the cut for a truly tremendous three-touch individual goal against Villarreal in November 2015 that saw him flick the ball over the defender's head before dispatching a low volley.

Yellow Submarine right-back Mario Gaspar is in the running thanks to an inventive scissor-kick strike scored on only his second start for Spain in last winter's 2-0 friendly defeat of England.

Compatriot Saul Niguez has also been nominated for his fine solo goal that secured Atletico Madrid a slender first-leg lead in April's Champions League semi-final meeting with Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.

Up next is another acrobatic scissor-kick golazo from Corinthians midfielder Marlone, scored in a 6-0 Copa Libertadores drubbing of Chilean club Cobresal.

lf that does not quite tickle your fancy, how about a goal from inside his own half by South Africa's Hlompho Kekana in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon?

Challenging Messi in the free-kick stakes is Malaysian star Mohd Faiz Subri. The Penang playmaker managed to produce swerve so wicked on his effort against Pahang FC in February that you would think he had been perfecting his so-called 'knuckleball' technique on a balloon.

Rene Higuita's famous scorpion kick performed for Colombia in a 1995 friendly against England at Wembley helped cement the eccentric goalkeeper's status as a household name. This extraordinary effort scored for Gefle in a Swedish Allsvenskan clash against Atvidabergs FF is unlikely to do the same for young Finnish international Simon Skrabb, but it's still excellent.

The sole representative from women's football this year is Daniuska Rodriguez, who simply would not be denied after collecting an overhit cross for Venezuela in the 2016 South American Under-17 Women's Football Championship. She utterly bamboozled two Colombian defenders in a remarkable display of persistence and skill before hammering home past the helpless goalkeeper.

The Fifa Puskas award, named after Hungary and Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas, is awarded annually to the player deemed to have scored the most beautiful goal in the 12-month period from September to September. This year's efforts were chosen by world football's governing body and a star-studded committee featuring legendary trio Marco van Basten, Gabriel Batistuta and Martha.

Public votes between now and 2 December will determine which three goals make it through to the final phase. Fans will then vote for their favourite from that trio, with the winner set to be announced on 9 January 2017 at Fifa's Best Football Awards ceremony in Zurich.

Here is a reminder of last year's winning effort from Wendell, a stunning half-bicycle kick that lit up Goianesia's win over Atletico Goianiense. Cristiano Ronaldo, Hamit Altintop, Neymar, Miroslav Stoch, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and James Rodriguez have also claimed the award since its inception in 2009.