GEORGE TOWN: Mohd Faiz Subri has done his part to put Malaysia on the world footballing map.
Now, the Penang footballer needs Malaysians to play their part to help put him on top of the world.
The 29-year-old striker has been nominated for FIFA’s Puskas Award with nine other players, including Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar, for the best goal in the world scored between Sept 30, 2015, and Sept 30, 2016.
The Kedah-born Faiz is the first Malaysian player to be nominated for the award. He is also the only Asian among the 10 finalists this year.
Football fans around the globe can vote online for their favourite goal at http://fifa.to/Puskas until Dec 2 in the first round of voting. Only the three goals with the highest number of votes will progress to the second and final round of voting.
The goalscorer with the highest number of votes will receive the Puskas Award during the FIFA Annual Awards ceremony in Switzerland on Jan 9.
“I have done my part. Now, it is up to the football supporters worldwide to make their pick,” said Faiz.
“I hope my fellow Malaysians will give me their full support by voting for my goal. Even if I don’t win, I will not be disappointed.
“Getting nominated in a FIFA year-end list for the first time is already a proud achievement ... not just for me, but for the entire country.”
Faiz became an overnight sensation worldwide when video clips of his wonder goal during Penang’s Malaysian Super League match against Pahang at the City Stadium on Feb 16 went viral.
He curled a free-kick which swerved towards one corner of the goal before dipping into the opposite end, leaving Pahang goalkeeper Nasril Nourdin bamboozled.
Besides having Messi and Neymar to contend with, Faiz is also up against Mario Gaspar (Spain), Hlompho Kekana (South Africa), Marlone (Brazil), Saul Niguez (Spain), Hal Robson-Kanu (Wales), Daniuska Rodriguez (Venezuela) and Simon Skrabb (Finland) on the shortlist.
Initially, Faiz wasn’t too optimistic of his chances of bagging the Puskas Award.
However, following overwhelming support and congratulatory messages online from Malaysian supporters, he has started believing.
“When the list came out on Monday, I looked at the names ... Messi, Neymar, Saul ... these are superstars and I was intimidated.
“Now, I’m starting to believe that I have a fighting chance to win it. I’m not saying I’m the favourite ... but I have the same chance as the other nine players on that list,” said Faiz.
