WATCH: Malaysian midfielder’s free kick that puts him ahead of Messi, Neymar for FIFA award

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.

“Football brings people together and football supporters here are of many races, Chinese, Indians and Malays, and they voted for my goal,” he added.

Ten FIFA Puskas Award 2016 finalists, chosen from thousands of goals scored around the world between September 2015 and September 2016, were revealed last month.

FIFA announced that Brazil’s Marlone and Venezuela’s woman footballer Stephanie Roche were joining Faiz on the shortlist.

The winner will be announced on January 9 in Zurich. For now, Malaysia’s football hero is playing it cool.

“It’s not time for partying yet,” Faiz said. “Let’s wait till January 9.”