DAVID Ball once shared a short-list with Lionel Messi for the world’s best goal.

But he admitted nothing could top the last-gasp effort that saw off Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

City’s stoppage-time hero knows all about big goals after being nominated for FIFA’s prestigious Puskas award in 2015.

His stunning chip for Fleetwood against Preston – a clip that has been immortalised to music on Youtube – was named as one of the top 10 around the globe.

Ball was in rarified company, including Messi for a goal in the Copa Del Rey final for Barcelona and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez.

He missed out on a trip to Paris for the Ballon d’Or presentation as Brazilian Wendell Lira picked up the trophy.

But it remains a surreal memory for the 29-year-old – though that was still trumped by what happened at Valley Parade in midweek.

Ball said: “I was up against Messi and a few others, so it was tough with the voting.

“The top three went to the ceremony but it was a great achievement for me.

“I never thought in the whole world it would happen and it’s a good one to tell my kids when they get older.

“But in terms of significance, the goal against Shrewsbury was more important if it can spur us on to build some momentum again.

“It was right up with the good moments in my career. To hear the place erupt like that – and afterwards it felt like all the lads were doing their own celebration.

“That’s why you come into football and it was great to see the changing room rocking afterwards.”

Tuesday’s win felt all the sweeter, not just for the timing of Ball’s decisive strike but having seen the visitors claw back a two-goal deficit moments before.

Paul Caddis, who gave away the penalty for Shrewsbury’s equaliser, was so happy after Ball’s goal that he gave him a smacker.

Ball added: “It shows how far the squad has come. People may have looked at us three or four months ago and said we almost don’t know each other.

“But you can see we’re coming together as a team. Cadds has been unbelievable since he came in and he actually kissed me because he was so relieved!

“We’ve shown that we can come back because we did against Burton. It’s a bit of trust between the lads now knowing that if we do go behind, we are going to get goals.”

City’s first trip to Wycombe since 2013 offers the next test against a side punching above their weight in the top 10.

“They are a good, battling team like the way the manager (Gareth Ainsworth) used to play,” said Ball.

“It’s quite a big pitch and they are certainly going to work hard. It’s going to be tough but we’ll have a right go.

“We’re going there in good confidence, knowing that we can come back in games and get goals as well.”

City also have the potential to make further decisive strides out of trouble with so many clubs now dragged into the survival dogfight at the bottom end.

Ball said: “This is the time now to put a run together and hopefully emulate the type we went on around Christmas.

“There are seven or eight teams in it now and we’ve brought them all in. It’s been hard work to get there but we’ve got to work even harder to start moving up the table.

“We want people to look around and think ‘Bradford are on it again’. Psychologically it can hurt other teams.”