Life is all about finding beauty in unexpected places and Bristol City\u2019s Dom Ballard may have won this year\u2019s Puskas Award with a sensational backheel in Saturday\u2019s match at Birmingham.<\/p>\n
Part of maturing is realising the obvious isn\u2019t always the answer. The most attractive-looking people aren\u2019t always the sexiest, food slop on Instagram isn\u2019t always the tastiest and quality isn\u2019t exclusively the preserve of elite football.<\/p>\n
Sure, the chances of seeing ridiculously good goals are higher in the Premier League, Champions League and World Cup than the Dog & Duck.<\/p>\n
But how many goals have you ever seen better than the one Ballard scored at St Andrew\u2019s on Saturday?<\/p>\n
Bristol City were minutes away from a respectable away point when Rio Cardines whipped a cross into the Birmingham penalty area.<\/p>\n
Now, most strikers would\u2019ve attempted to control the ball before laying it off to a team-mate. Play it safe, open that packet of crisps with scissors, avoid the manager b*llocking you afterwards.<\/p>\n
Ballard\u2019s synapses worked differently here. There are few better feelings than surrendering rationality to pure instinct, releasing the body from the imprisonment of overthinking and just going for it.<\/p>\n
So, as Cardines\u2019 cross flew towards him, the 21-year-old took advantage of Birmingham\u2019s less-than-watertight marking by turning his back to goal and backflicking the ball towards it.<\/p>\n
Sensationally, it flew into the top corner. With an added chef\u2019s kiss of grazing the crossbar before nestling in the net. Behind the goal, the travelling section of cider-guzzling City fans had a collective orgasm.<\/p>\n
\nA quite frankly, ludicrous goal from Dom Ballard. \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/sHS6VlIZF9<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) August 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Birmingham did score a late, late equaliser through Demari Gray\u2019s penalty, but the day belonged to Ballard, who had a moment to cherish on his death bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fans were amazing and I ran straight to them when I scored which was an incredible feeling,\u201d the Bristol City striker said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t score many better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the stunning effort, Ballard said he was disappointed with the result.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are disappointed with the result in the end as I thought we were the better team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut everyone played their role well today and when you come to a new club, you want to hit the ground running so to get the goal today against a good Birmingham City side is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
There have been several more high-profile goals scored in 2026, but surely few match the criteria for the Puskas Award quite like this one.<\/p>\n
Ballard\u2019s backheel was a combination of jaw-dropping and life-affirming. Any Bristol City fan born after 1980 have never seen their team in the Premier League, but this goal belonged at the top level.<\/p>\n
It was also unique; watch any top-flight goal compilation these days and it\u2019s a glut of forwards cutting inside onto their stronger foot and curling a shot home. Once you\u2019ve seen one, you\u2019ve seen them all.<\/p>\n
That Ballard\u2019s moment of instinctive brilliance came in a second-tier match with a lunchtime kick-off is even more stupendous. Give him the award.<\/p>\n
By Michael Lee<\/strong><\/p>\n
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