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Muhammad Faris bin Ramli (born 24 August 1992) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays primarily as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Penang and the Singapore national team. Considered one of the best players in the country, Faris is known for his dribbling skills, trickery, speed and finishing.
 Faris with LionsXII in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Muhammad Faris bin Ramli[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 August 1992 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Singapore | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger, attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Penang | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | National Football Academy | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Young Lions | 51 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | LionsXII | 59 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Home United | 38 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | PKNS | 21 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Perlis | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Hougang United | 24 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Terengganu | 11 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Lion City Sailors | 41 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | Tampines Rovers | 32 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2015 | Singapore U23 | 13 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013– | Singapore[2] | 86 | (15) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:49, 25 October 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 December 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
A forward, Faris primarily plays as a winger. In 2012, Faris made it to the top 52 of Nike's 'The Chance' competition, a worldwide talent hunt for young players.[3][4] However, he was not drafted in the selection of the final 16 in Barcelona.[5] Faris played for the Young Lions prior to featuring for LionsXII in the Malaysia Super League.
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Young Lions
Faris began his professional football career with Young Lions in the 2010 S.League.
LionsXII
In December 2012, the Football Association of Singapore announced that Faris was to join the LionsXII for the 2013 Malaysia Super League. He had his most prolific season yet in 2015, scoring 11 goals in all competitions, 8 in the MSL and 2 in the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup, which was won by the LionsXII, and 1 in the 2015 Malaysia Cup.[6] He had scored the first goal in the 3–1 win over Kelantan that brought the Malaysia FA Cup to Singapore.[7] His 8 goals in the league was good enough to see him finish the season as the LionsXII's top scorer in the league.[8]
Home United
In 2016, although courted by high spending Tampines Rovers as well as Malaysia Super League clubs, Pahang and Selangor, Faris instead choose to signed for Home United for the 2016 S.League campaign after the LionsXII was disbanded following the conclusion of the 2015 MSL season.[6] However, following the heights of 2015, Faris was brought down to earth by a disappointing 2016 as he was constantly plagued by injuries.[9][10]
Although he was once again wooed by some MSL sides, Faris chose to extend his contract with Home.[9] He started the 2017 season in sensation form, scoring 3 goals in 4 appearances in the league for Home.[11] He also has a further 4 goals in 6 games in the 2017 AFC Cup, helping his team become the first team to qualify for the zonal semi-finals.[12] The 9–3 thrashing of Brunei DPMM has to be his best game of the season as he scored 4 and assisted another 4. He eventually finished as the joint local top-scorer of the league with Shahril Ishak, amassing 11 goals in the league.[13] In total, Faris had a standout 2017, scoring 21 goals and notching 21 assists in all competitions, earning him an S.League Player of the Year nomination.[14]
PKNS
On 5 January 2018, Faris signed a contract with Malaysia Super League club PKNS based in Shah Alam.[15] He scored his first goal for his new club in a 3–4 defeat to Kedah FA. He had a good first season with PKNS, finishing joint-second top scorer for his team with 6 league goals to his name.[16]
Perlis
After speculations of a move to Perak, in January 2019, Faris signed a contract with newly promoted Malaysia Premier League club, Perlis. He was also linked up again with former PKNS teammates Safee Sali as well as Khyril Muhymeen, whom joined the club in December 2018. However, after revelation of Perlis financial difficulties and subsequent exclusion from the Malaysian league, Faris opted to terminate his contract in January 2019.
Hougang United
After Faris terminated his contract with Perlis, he returned to Singapore and sign with Singapore Premier League side, Hougang United on 7 February 2019. He made his debut in the opening match and scored his first goal in penalty against Tampines Rovers in a 5–1 defeat on 21 April 2019.
Faris was consistent in the year and was the top local-born goal scorer in the 2019 Singapore Premier League season, winning the Player of the Year award.
Terengganu
In January 2020, Faris signed for Malaysia Super League side Terengganu ahead of the 2020 season. On 29 August 2020, he scored his first league goal of the season in a 4–0 victory against Sabah. On 25 September 2020, he scored a brace in a 4–0 victory against PDRM. He made only 10 appearances before leaving the club.
Lion City Sailors
On 21 January 2021, Faris returned to Singapore to signed with Lion City Sailors after leaving Terengganu. He won the league title in his first season at the club.
Faris started off the 2022 season on a sour note as he missed out on the first game against Hougang United due to contracting COVID-19. It was only until the Sailors' 10th league match when manager Kim Do-Hoon gave Faris his first start of the season in the league. He scored his first goal of the season against Balestier Khalsa in June 2022 but remained largely used as a substitute until Kim left the club in August. His successor, Luka Lalić, also used Faris as a substitute in his first two games, in which Faris bagged 2 assists apiece. Faris managed to make the starting lineup in the next game against Hougang United, in which he scored 2 goals in a 9–4 thrashing victory. However, as the Sailors suffered a massive dip in form in the closing stages of the season, Faris, too, struggled badly, missing several crucial chances. In the penultimate round of the league, he was told that he would be leaving the Sailors next season. Faris managed to score a brace against Young Lions on the final day of the 2022 season, ending off his 2022 league campaign with the Sailors with just 5 goals.
The Sailors remained sinking in the domestic cup tournament. While Faris did well to score in the first cup match against Balestier Khalsa, the Sailors were knocked out at the group stage after a defeat against Albirex Niigata (S). Faris ended off his journey with a marvelous goal with his weak foot against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly match which was a farewell goal of sorts. [17]
Tampines Rovers
On 18 January 2023, Faris signed for Tampines Rovers ahead of the 2023 season. In his first 4 games with Tampines, he has named been in the starting 11 and have scored a goal in each of the consecutive four matches.
On 24 May 2024, Faris scored his 100th professional career goal in a 4–2 league win over Balestier Khalsa.
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Faris made his first international debut on 9 September 2014 against Hong Kong. He scored his first international goal against Cambodia on 17 November 2014 at the Yishun Stadium. By early March 2017, he had garnered 29 caps for Singapore.[9]
In the 2016 AYA Bank Cup and the 2019 AIRMARINE Cup, Faris scored the only goal in both game against Myanmar and causeway rivals, Malaysia which see Singapore advancing to the final of the cup respectively.
In the 2020 AFF Championship, Faris made the front page for his stoppage-time penalty miss. Had Faris scored, Singapore would have defeated Indonesia and move on to the finals. However, the penalty miss ultimately caused 9-man Singapore to fall 4–2 to Indonesia after extra time, which caused some frustration amongst Singaporeans.
On 26 March 2023, Faris earned his 75th cap for Singapore against Macau at the Macau Olympic Complex Stadium.
In the 2022 AFF Championship, Faris failed to score despite two good opportunities against Laos, causing much widespread criticism for his playing style. While he managed to register his first goal of the tournament against Malaysia, Singapore would still go down 4–1.
In March 2024, Faris returned to the national team after nearly a year where on 21 March 2024, he scored the equaliser goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against China 8 seconds later from kick off after China scored a goal.
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Singapore Selection squad
He was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.[18]
Selangor Selection squad
As a player of PKNS in the 2018 Malaysia Super League season, Faris was selected as part of the Selangor Selection squad for the 2018 Sultan of Selangor's Cup that was held at the Shah Alam Stadium. He came on as a substitute for his PKNS teammate, Zac Anderson on the 60th minute. Selangor eventually won the match 1–1 (5–3) on penalties after he scored the winning penalty.
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Faris studied in Loyang Primary School and Loyang Secondary School.[19][20]
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Club
- As of match played 22 July 2024. Caps and goals may not be correct.
| Club | Season | S.League | Singapore Cup | Singapore League Cup |
Asia | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Young Lions | 2010 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 25 | 3 | ||
| 2012 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| Total | 51 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 7 | |
| Club | Season | Malaysia Super League |
Malaysia FA Cup |
Malaysia Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
| LionsXII | 2013[21] | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | |
| 2014[22] | 22 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 32 | 6 | ||
| 2015[23] | 17 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | 30 | 11 | ||
| Total | 59 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 18 | |
| Club | Season | S.League | Singapore Cup | Singapore League Cup |
Asia | Total | |||||
| Home United | 2016 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 39 | 20 | |
| Total | 38 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 55 | 25 | |
| Club | Season | Malaysia Super League |
Malaysia FA Cup |
Malaysia Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
| PKNS | 2018 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 29 | 9 | |
| Total | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | |
| Club | Season | Malaysia Super League |
Malaysia FA Cup |
Malaysia Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
| Perlis | 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Club | Season | S.League | Singapore Cup | Singapore League Cup |
Asia | Total | |||||
| Hougang United | 2019 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 17 | |
| Total | 24 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 17 | |
| Club | Season | Malaysia Super League |
Malaysia FA Cup |
Malaysia Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
| Terengganu | 2020 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 3 | |
| Total | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | |
| Club | Season | S.League | Singapore Cup | Singapore League Cup |
Asia | Total | |||||
| Lion City Sailors | 2021 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 |
| 2022 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 5 | |
| Total | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 8 | |
| Tampines Rovers | 2023 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 12 |
| 2024–25 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 9 | |
| Total | 44 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 58 | 22 | |
| Career total | 275 | 82 | 32 | 13 | 30 | 4 | 23 | 5 | 364 | 111 | |
International goals
- As of match played 5 September 2019. Singapore score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ramli goal.[24]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 November 2014 | Yishun Stadium, Singapore | 9 |  Cambodia | 2–1 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 31 March 2015 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore | 14 |  Guam | 1–1 | 2–2 | |
| 3 | 13 October 2015 | National Stadium, Singapore | 18 | Cambodia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 3 June 2016 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | 20 |  Myanmar | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2016 AYA Bank Cup |
| 5 | 5 October 2017 | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 34 |  Qatar | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 6 | 21 November 2018 | National Stadium, Singapore | 44 |  East Timor | 5–1 | 6–1 | 2018 AFF Championship |
| 7 | 20 March 2019 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 46 |  Malaysia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2019 AIRMARINE Cup |
| 8 | 8 June 2019 | National Stadium, Singapore | 48 |  Solomon Islands | 1–0 | 4–3 | Friendly |
| 9 | 5 September 2019 | 50 |  Yemen | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 10 | 8 December 2021 | 61 |  Philippines | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2020 AFF Championship | |
| 11 | 3 January 2023 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 73 | Malaysia | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2022 AFF Championship |
| 12 | 21 March 2024 | National Stadium, Singapore | 78 |  China | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 26 March 2024 | Tianjin Olympic Center, Tianjin, China | 79 | 1–1 | 1–4 | ||
| 14 | 11 December 2024 | National Stadium, Singapore | 84 | Cambodia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2024 ASEAN Championship |
| 15 | 17 December 2024 | 85 |  Thailand | 2–0 | 2–4 | ||
U23 International goals
- Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[25]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 July 2012 | Kaharudin Stadium, Pekanbaru, Indonesia |  Macau | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualification |
| 2. | 17 September 2014 | Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea |  Oman | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 3. | 4 June 2015 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore | Myanmar | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2015 Southeast Asian Games |
| 4. | 8 June 2015 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore | Cambodia | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2015 Southeast Asian Games |
| 5. | 5 December 2019 | Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines |  Brunei | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2019 Southeast Asian Games |
| 6. | 5–0 |
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Club
- Malaysia Super League: 2013
- FA Cup Malaysia: 2015
Individual
- Malaysia Super League: Best Asean Player of the Year: 2018
- Singapore Premier League Player of the Year: 2019[26]
- Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2019
- Singapore Premier League Player of the Month: February/March 2023
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