Forward for Independiente, Santiago Montiel, has won the FIFA Puskás Award for his scissor kick goal against Independiente Rivadavia from Mendoza, in Avellaneda, during the round of 16 of the past 2025 Torneo Apertura of the Professional League. In a match that was covered live by the Argentine News Agency, the player from Gregorio de Laferrere opened the scoring and gave Independiente the victory that Sunday, May 11. With that result, the team then coached by Julio Vaccari advanced to the quarter-finals of the Torneo Apertura, where they beat Boca 1-0 at La Bombonera stadium. In an extremely tight and friction-filled match, at the 12th minute of the second half, the former Argentinos Juniors player broke the deadlock with a spectacular goal that left everyone present speechless. After a corner kick and a short clearance by the Mendoza team's defense, forward Montiel feinted past Colombian Sebastián Villa in the edge of the area and, with the ball in the air about to come down, he executed a perfect scissor kick. The ball curved precisely over goalkeeper Ezequiel Centurión, who had no reaction to such an acrobatic feat. Montiel's goal traveled the world and went viral on social media, which is why FIFA nominated him for the Puskás Award, which recognizes the best goal of each season, and this Tuesday, the Argentine ended up winning said award.
