FIFA Puskas Award winner Faiz Subri got another dream come true taking a picture with Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA Puskas Award winner Faiz Subri got another dream come true taking a picture with Cristiano Ronaldo

I was so nervous, says Faiz

THE STAR

- Reuters pic

PETALING JAYA: FIFA Puskas Award winner Faiz Subri (pic) has thanked Malaysians for their prayers and support following his victory in Zurich, Switzerland, adding that he was a little nervous when his name was called out.

"I was a bit nervous at first but now I feel elated," he said when interviewed by FIFATV on Tuesday on the award which is handed out for the most beautiful goal in the world.

Faiz spoke in Bahasa Malaysia during the interview, with Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah acting as the interpreter.

On Twitter, Faiz also shared a snap of his acceptance speech with the caption: "I'm so nervous, lucky I can find this on my cellphone."

The player had made the audience in Zurich wait as he searched for the prepared speech on his phone.

In his acceptance speech, the footballer said it had never crossed his mind that he would arrive at this level and "be able to stand tall amongst the world class footballers in this amazing place".

In another tweet, Faiz posted a selfie with Portugal and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo with the caption: "Finally, another dream come true, with THE BEST @Cristiano".

He also shared photos with Germany captain Manuel Neuer and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Faiz was the architect of a spellbind goal against Pahang in a Malaysian Super League match on Feb 16.

The ball was heading towards one corner but ended up deceptively in the other, leaving the Pahang goalkeeper - and football fans around the world - dumbfounded.

Faiz garnered 59.46% of the votes for the Puskas Award to pip Brazil's Johnath Marlone Azevedo da Silva (22.86%) and Venezuela's woman player Daniuska Rodriguez (10.01%) to the award, first won by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Malaysia's Mohd Faiz Subri Receiving The Puskas Award From Ronaldo of Brazil

KUALA LUMPUR: Thank you, Faiz, and thank you Malaysia!

Mohd Faiz Subri made football history when he became the first ever Malaysian to clinch the prestigious FIFA Puskas Award, presented to him at the star-studded 2016 FIFA Football Awards in Zurich tonight.

The 29-year-old deadball specialist beat two other finalists, Brazil's Marlone and Daniuska Rodriguez of Venezuela to clinch the award for goal of the year.

The win also makes Faiz the first ever Asian to pick up the Puskas Award in its eight-year history. He now joins the ranks of legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have won the title.

The trophy was presented to him by Brazilian football legend Ronaldo.

Faiz, looking dapper in a tuxedo, took his time at the podium, scrolling through his hand phone before giving his brief acceptance speech.

Speaking in English, he gave thanks to God, as well as his family, the Penang Football Association as well as the FA of Malaysia (FAM).

Faiz's momentous win came courtesy of his miracle strike in Penang's victory againt Super League side Pahang on February 16 last year.

The so-called "physics-defying" strike, which looped wickedly into the Pahang net from a distance, quickly gained him worldwide fame and soon after, put him in the running for the Puskas Award.

The video of Faiz's goal has since been viewed more than 2.3 million times on FIFATV's YouTube channel.

Observers have gushed that his strike was reminiscent of Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos' brilliant free kick against France in the Tournoi de France in 1997.

Faiz is accompanied in Zurich by his wife and two children, as well as FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah.

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