Stephanie Roche, James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie finalists for 2014 Puskas Award

It doesn't have the panache of the Ballon d'Or, but on Monday FIFA announced the three players in the running for the the 2014 Puskas Award - bestowed annually for best goal in the calendar year.

If you've yet to see Roche's stunning strike, you're missing out. The Irish striker, who now plays her club football with French side ASPTT Albi, fired home what should be the odds-on favorite in October of 2013, when she was plying her trade with Irish club Peamount United.

Words simply don't do it any justice.

Colombian darling James Rodriguez has been nominated for his wondrous volley during this summer's World Cup, when he fired home what was eventually named the goal of the tournament in his side's Round of 16 victory over Uruguay.

While James' stunner captured goal of the tournament honors, and Mario Gotze's epic winner in the final was obviously the most dramatic tally, the enduring image of that competition in Brazil will be Van Persie soaring through the air to get onto the end of a scrumptious long-ball from Daley Blind against Spain.

The goal itself, and the magnitude of it - in that it was the lasting image of Spain's historic downfall - make it a deserving candidate.