Benjamin Pavard stunner wins FIFA World Cup 2018 goal of the tournament

Benjamin Pavard’s sensational volley against Argentina has been voted the World Cup’s goal of the tournament, FIFA has announced.

The full-back’s sweet strike with the outside of his right boot into the top-left corner hadgoalkeeper Franco Armani grasping at thin air as France levelled thethrilling last-16 encounter at 2-2 shortly before the hour.

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Kylian Mbappe’s quickfire brace set Les Bleus on their way to a 4-3 victory and eventual glory in the final over Croatia, but it was Pavard’s stunning effort that endured asthe lasting memory of that run to lifting the trophy inMoscow.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Philippe Coutinho, Nacho Fernandez and Jesse Lingardall netted with spectacular efforts during the finals, but Pavard’sglorious volley - best viewed viaslow-motion replay from an angledirectly behind the defender - was voted as the best of the lot by fans from around the globe.

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 25, 2018

“The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn’t even think about it. I just tried to get over it and keep it down,”Pavard toldFIFA.comafter the clash in Kazan.

“I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me. I didn’t think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy.”

Pavard’s performances in Russia have seen him linked toa move away from Stuttgart, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich said to be interested in takingthe 22-year-old to the Allianz Arena.