Jacqueline Ovalle Wins the 2025 Marta Award for Best Goal of the Year

Mexican women’s football has reached a historic milestone. Jacqueline “Lizbeth” Ovalle has been recognized on the global stage after winning the 2025 Marta Award, presented by FIFA to honor the best goal of the year in women’s football. Her stunning strike for Tigres Femenil against Chivas in Liga MX Femenil was deemed the most spectacular goal of the evaluation period.

The goal that stunned the world

The play that earned Ovalle the award took place on March 3, 2025, during a women’s Clásico Nacional against Guadalajara. With Tigres already in control of the match, a cross from Jenni Hermoso found Ovalle making a late run into the box. Showing incredible body control, she executed a breathtaking scorpion kick, sending the ball into the top-left corner.

The goal sealed a 2–0 victory for Tigres and quickly went viral across social media, international broadcasts, and sports media outlets around the world.

A historic recognition for Mexican football

With this honor, Jacqueline Ovalle becomes the second-ever winner of the Marta Award, a distinction recently created by FIFA and named after Brazilian legend Marta. The award celebrates the most spectacular goal in women’s football, evaluating creativity, technical difficulty, and aesthetic brilliance.

Ovalle’s goal was selected from eleven international nominees, covering the qualification period from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025.

A landmark year for Ovalle

The year 2025 has been pivotal in Ovalle’s career. In addition to this prestigious recognition, she made headlines in August after completing a transfer to Orlando Pride, becoming the most expensive women’s footballer in history, a move that further cemented her status as one of the world’s elite players.

Impact and legacy

Jacqueline Ovalle’s victory represents more than an individual achievement. It marks a significant moment for Mexican women’s football, proving that domestic talent can compete and be celebrated at the highest international level.

Her goal is now etched into football history and stands as a symbol of the continued global growth of the women’s game, inspiring future generations of players in Mexico and beyond.