I beat Tottenham star Richarlison to the Puskas Award but I work in construction and won’t let fame change me
MARCIN OLEKSY has insisted his new found fame won’t change him after he won the prestigious Puskas Award.
The Warta Pozna star is the first disabled winner of the gong and beat the likes of Richarlison to claim the prize.
Unlike some of the more high-profile stars he was up against, Oleksy does not play football full-time and has a day job working in construction as a excavator operator.
But he believes nothing much will change in his life – despite his extraordinary overhead kick gaining global recognition.
He told Eurosport: “I am still the same Marcin. I don’t think anything has changed.
“There are more phone calls and there is media interest but I haven’t changed. I watch the goal online with fans but it won’t change who I am.
“I love scoring goals like this. You can see that when I train, it’s very much part of my game.”
Oleksy suffered his life-changing accident in 2010 but has continued a career in football at Polish club Warta Poznan.
His extraordinary goal means he follows the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in winning the Puskas Award, given to the scorer of the most impressive strike of the year.
Oleksy was up against Stal Rzeszow when a brilliant cross was played in his direction.
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Using his crutches for balance, the Polish ace incredibly lifted his body off the ground before firing in a gorgeous overhead effort.
He is the latest winner of the prestigious award after ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela won it last year for his brilliant Rabona effort in the North London derby.
