Watch: Ex-West Ham man Payet scores insane Puskas contender

Former West Ham United star Dimitri Payet scored a spectacular goal of the year contender in Marseille’s Europa Conference League first-leg tie with PAOK.

Brazilian midfielder Gerson broke the deadlock in the opening stages for Jorge Sampaoli’s side at the Orange Velodrome. But it was Payet’s goal on the brink of half time that sent the home crowd wild.

A corner was played to the 35-year-old who stood free as a bird on the edge of the Greek team’s box. On the half volley, the France international unleashed a thunderbolt which flew into the top corner.

Payet celebrated his jaw-dropping goal with a knee slide at the corner flag as his team-mates sprinted over to congratulate their talisman.

It’s sometimes easy to forget just how good this man was in the Premier League for the Hammers, but this goal reminded everyone about his ridiculous talent.

Since he joined the Ligue 1 outfit in January 2017, Payet’s powers haven’t shown many signs of waining – this season he’s racked up more than 10 goals for Marseille in all competitions.

“I left West Ham more for family reasons than sporting ones,” Payet said last month.

“To be good on the pitch, I have to be happy, and if my family isn’t happy, I can’t be. So I made the choice to go home.

“It wasn’t on a whim or a backtrack because, since I came back here, I haven’t moved and I don’t intend to. It was a thoughtful decision.

“I’d left Marseille when it wasn’t planned, because the club needed to sell. I’d said that the story wasn’t over. The EUROs in France, and in particular the matches at the Velodrome, rekindled the flame in me and in my family. This sped up the return process.”

Payet is still the class player we saw light up the English top-flight under Slaven Bilic.

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