<p class="title">Benjamin Pavard's swerving strike from the edge of the area in France's round-of-16 win over Argentina in Kazan has been voted the best goal of the World Cup finals, FIFA has said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">France were trailing 2-1 and heading out of the tournament until the relatively unknown full-back got on the end of Lucas Hernandez's over-cooked cross on the edge of the area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leaning back and striking the ball on the half-volley with the outside of his boot, Pavard generated vicious top-spin which took it beyond the reach of Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">France went on to win the match 4-3 and then claimed the World Cup for the second time with a victory over Croatia in the final in Moscow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pavard's strike beat out 17 other goals, including a stunning long-range effort from Argentina's Angel Di Maria in the same match, to win the award after a vote by fans, FIFA said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Proud, honoured, and always a little bit hard to believe," Pavard said in a Twitter post in French.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Juan Fernando Quintero's free-kick for Colombia against Japan, a side-footed shot which went under the defensive wall and in off the hands of the goalkeeper, was second in the voting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Quintero's international team-mate James Rodriguez won the vote for the best goal of the 2014 tournament in Brazil with his chest down and volley from 30 yards against Uruguay. </p>
<p class="title">Benjamin Pavard's swerving strike from the edge of the area in France's round-of-16 win over Argentina in Kazan has been voted the best goal of the World Cup finals, FIFA has said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">France were trailing 2-1 and heading out of the tournament until the relatively unknown full-back got on the end of Lucas Hernandez's over-cooked cross on the edge of the area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leaning back and striking the ball on the half-volley with the outside of his boot, Pavard generated vicious top-spin which took it beyond the reach of Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">France went on to win the match 4-3 and then claimed the World Cup for the second time with a victory over Croatia in the final in Moscow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pavard's strike beat out 17 other goals, including a stunning long-range effort from Argentina's Angel Di Maria in the same match, to win the award after a vote by fans, FIFA said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Proud, honoured, and always a little bit hard to believe," Pavard said in a Twitter post in French.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Juan Fernando Quintero's free-kick for Colombia against Japan, a side-footed shot which went under the defensive wall and in off the hands of the goalkeeper, was second in the voting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Quintero's international team-mate James Rodriguez won the vote for the best goal of the 2014 tournament in Brazil with his chest down and volley from 30 yards against Uruguay. </p>