Update: Faiz Subri has won the Puskas Award!

Malaysian footballer Mohd Faiz Subri of Kedah is on the shortlist for the FIFA Puskas Award for the most beautiful goal scored this year between 30th September 2015 and 30th September 2016. From thousands of goals scored in various leagues around the world, Faiz’s goal was among the 10 shortlisted, and the only Asian to make the cut.

Faiz’s stunning goal was a swerving ‘knuckleball’ free kick against Pahang in a Malaysian Super League match earlier this year in February. The goal even got the attention of Penang Chief Ministers Lim Guan Eng who praised Faiz’s skill and said that it was Malaysia’s best free kick goal ever and the world’s best that year. Lim Guan Eng will be proud that FIFA agrees with his assessment, as Faiz was listed among big names like Neymar and Messi in the same category.

Faiz readies himself for a free kick 35 meters out in the 62nd minute of the match, and the resulting performance was undeniably impressive – with even ESPN comparing it to Roberto Carlos’s free kick against France in 1997. Watch a video if the free kick on FIFATV on Youtube or check out the gif below:

Wait, how?! pic.twitter.com/DQRehbuR0F

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 16, 2016

The FIFA Puskas Awards finalists were chosen from thousands of goals scored in various leagues around the world between 30th September 2015 and 30th September 2016. Now, polls are open for fans to vote on the goal they feel is most remarkable. The final three will be announced by FIFA on 3rd December.

I think it’s safe to say that all Malaysians are extremely proud of Mohd Faiz Subri and we wish him luck. Go vote for Faiz here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIDAXrjjXe8

For those that don’t know about the Puskas Awards, they’re named after footballer Ferenc Puskas – a Hungarian man with an amazing ability to score ridiculously beautiful goals – and here are some of his best: