Faiz's Spellbinding Goal Lands Him FIFA Puskas Award 2016

By Nursyabiha Sukri KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Mohd Faiz Subri has netted the FIFA Puskas Award for the most beautiful goal of 2016, putting his name on the same list as past winners such as famed football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. The 29-year-old player was handed the award for his spellbinding freekick at a glittering ceremony in Zurich on Monday (early Tuesday in Malaysia) as he brought joy to millions of Malaysians thousands of kilometres away from the wintry conditions of the lakeside Swiss city. Mohd Faiz also created history as the first Asian to be bestowed the gong named after Ferenc Puskas, the Hungarian football legend who enjoyed huge success with Real Madrid during the 1950s and 60s as well as his national team. The Malaysian footballer pipped Brazil's Johnath Marlone Azevedo da Silva and Venezuela's woman player Daniuska Rodriguez to the award first won by Ronaldo in 2009. The Penang striker was the architect of what has been described as a physics-defying swerving goal against Pahang in the Malaysian Super League match on Feb 16, so spectacular that it catapulted him to international recognition. The ball was heading towards one corner but ended up deceptively in the other, leaving the Pahang goalkeeper - and football fans - dumbfounded. Kedah-born Mohd Faiz received his gong during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 that was broadcast around the globe and live-streamed on the Internet from the Technology and Production Centre Switzerland. After Portugal's Ronaldo, the Puskas Award was won by Turkey's Hamit Altintop (2010), Brazil's Neymar (2011), Miroslav Stoch of Slovakia (2012), Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2013) and James Rodriguez from Colombia (2014). A virtually unknown player from Brazil, Wendell Lira, took home the 2015 award. The shortlist comprising Mohd Faiz, Marlone and Rodriguez was whittled down from the original 10 goals. Lionel Messi's long freekick in Argentina's 4-0 semifinal victory over the United States in Copa America and Neymar's flick and volley for Barcelona against Villarreal did not make the cut. -- BERNAMA