Stephanie Roche's amazing strike makes shortlist for Fifa goal of the year award

That's because – for the first time – Fifa's Puskas Award could be awarded to a woman. Ireland's Stephanie Roche is one of three names on the final shortlist for the best goal of 2014, along with Colombia's James Rodriguez and the Netherlands' Robin van Persie.

Roche scored her world-beating strike while playing for Irish women's team Peamount United in October last year.

Juggling the ball with her back to the goal, Roche swivelled before volleying past the flailing keeper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p14HdFA0lbY

Roche explained that her matches with the club are normally not filmed, but footage uploaded by her manager of the goal went on to be watched more than three million times on YouTube.

"Most of our games aren't filmed so I was lucky enough in that respect," said Roche. "My manager Eileen Gleeson got the DVD off the Wexford Youths manager, then edited the clip and put it up on YouTube and it all went from there."

https://twitter.com/daraobriain/status/539457272834170880

Roche joins World Cup stars van Persie and Rodriguez on the final shortlist – the first time a woman has even made it this far in Fifa's Puskas Award.

Rodriguez was nominated for this summer's World Cup goal against Uruguay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESyL3MkgNU

Van Persie's flying headed goal also came during the World Cup, during the Netherlands' 5-1 win against then-holders Spain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeKSmd-hjwo