Shomurodov leads first round of Hyundai Goal of the Tournament voting

Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov has taken the lead in the first phase of voting for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award at the FIFA World Cup. The 31-year-old forward, widely regarded as one of his nation's finest players, secured 36 percent of the vote for his inch-perfect lob from a tight angle against Congo DR in Uzbekistan's final group stage match on 27 June in Atlanta.

Voting Results

Shomurodov's strike finished ahead of notable contenders including Lionel Messi and Vinicius Junior. Haiti's Wilson Isidor came second with 26.5 percent of the vote, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic placed third with 24.9 percent.

Background

Born in the small rural town of Jarkurgan, Shomurodov told FIFA before the tournament that he wanted to 'shatter perceptions' in North America. Although Uzbekistan made an early exit from their debut World Cup campaign, Shomurodov's individual achievement has brought recognition to his country.

Voting Process

This initial vote, which gave users 48 hours to cast their ballots, is the first step in determining the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament. Four subsequent voting windows will follow the same process after the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals (combined), and a final vote at the end of the tournament.