KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian footballer has beaten the likes of Neymar and Messi to score a place in FIFA’s shortlist for top three goals of the year.
Midfielder Mohamad Faiz Subri’s cracker of a free kick for Penang state in the Malaysian Super League in February was reminiscent of the swerving thunderbolt by Brazil legend Roberto Carlos France in 1997.
Footage of the 29-year-old scoring a viciously swerving goal from 35 metres (115 feet) out has gone viral, making him a sensation in football-crazy Malaysia.
“This is something I will never forget and it motivates me to improve my game further,” Faiz told AFP on Thursday.
