DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A scorpion kick by Lizbeth Ovalle, the most expensive player ever in women’s soccer, and Santiago Montiel’s long-distance overhead shot won the FIFA awards on Tuesday for best goals last season.
Both had their backs to the net when scoring the winners. Fans voted for Ovalle and Montiel to receive the Marta Award and Puskas Award, respectively.
Ovalle flicked the ball with her heels in a midair leap facing away from goal playing in the Mexican league for Tigres against Guadalajara.
The women’s award is named for Brazil great Marta who is now Ovalle’s teammate at Orlando Pride. Marta won the award last year and also had a goal nominated by FIFA for this year’s edition.
Ovalle, who is also known as Jacquie, moved for a women’s world record transfer fee of $1.5 million to join the Pride from Tigres in August.
Montiel scored for Independiente in a game in Argentina’s Primera Division against Independiente Rivadavia. He leaped in the air about 22 meters (yards) out rising to meet a bouncing ball after a defender’s clearing header from a corner.
FIFA is staging its annual Best Awards at a private dinner in Doha on the sidelines of Paris Saint-Germain playing Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup game on Wednesday.
The awards for best player and best coach in men’s and women’s soccer were due later Tuesday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Orlando Pride midfielder Jacqueline Ovalle (13) kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC defender Mandy Freeman, left, during the second half of an NWSL women's semifinal soccer match, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski, File)
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl is leaving the team with immediate effect as the club undergoes a major shakeup after what will be a trophyless season.
Dortmund said Sunday Kehl and the club had “mutually agreed to end their collaboration” after reaching an “amicable” decision with management.
“The summer is the right time for a change. To allow both sides to prepare, we mutually agreed to an immediate termination of Sebastian’s contract,” managing director Lars Ricken said in a statement. “Sebastian and I also share a long history. We not only played together for Borussia Dortmund, but we also won the German championship together in 2002. Sebastian has made enormous contributions to our club.”
Kehl, a former team captain who helped lead Dortmund to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, took over as the club’s director of licensed players in 2018 before he was promoted to sporting director in 2022.
“The departure of Sebastian Kehl naturally represents a significant change in our sporting leadership,” said Carsten Cramer, who took over as CEO from Hans-Joachim Watzke last October. “To facilitate the necessary changes for the upcoming season and also to give Sebastian time to consider the next steps in his professional career, this separation is the logical step at this time.”
Kehl, who joined Dortmund from Freiburg in January 2002, said it “has been a part of my life for half my life, and I have an extremely strong connection to this great club … Dortmund, the incredible stadium, and the Südtribüne (south stand) will always hold a special place in my heart. It has been an honor.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl is seen prior the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum at the Signal-Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
