Unbelievable achievement - Ashfaq

Male’, MALDIVES – Ali Ashfaq named as the world’s second best top goal scorer of 2013 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) ahead of four time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Speaking to maldivesoccer.com from Malaysia, Ashfaq said that it was an unbelievable achievement for him as well as for the Maldives.

“I don’t know what to say. First I want to thank almighty Allah.”

“I am really happy for this achievement. Being in the second of such a list ahead of four times Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and one of the deadliest strikers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is something not easy to achieve.”

“I don’t know about this before but when I heard about the news I am really happy for this achievement and for sure it is not a good name for mine only but a good name for the whole Maldivians.”

Maldives and New Radiant SC forward Ali Ashfaq scored 23 goals last year 9 of them with New Radiant and 14 with Maldives. Ashfaq has scored a double hat trick against Sri Lanka in last edition of SAFF Championship 2013. And his 14 goals for his country was the highest for national team goals n 2013.

Ronaldo, who hit the target 9 times for Portugal and 16 times for Real in international competitions last year win the first place in the list.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi came in fourth and fifth position respectively, while Fernando Torres placed eighth. Tunisia's Issam Jemaa lies in the third position of the list with 20 goals.

The ranking, which has been put together every year since 1991, only takes into account goals scored in full 'A' internationals and both continental and intercontinental club competitions endorsed by FIFA.