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Doha, Qatar: Qatar national football team player and Al Sadd Club striker Akram Afif is in contention to become the first player to win the AFC Player of the Year award thrice as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the highly anticipated list of nominees for the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 today.
Presented by NEOM, the award ceremony will take place on October 16, 2025 and has a glittering cast contending for the prestigious Player of the Year accolades including Malaysian Arif Aiman Hanapi and Saudi Arabian maestro Salem Al Dawsari. Meanwhile Holly McNamara, Wang Shuang and Hana Takahashi will vie for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year.
After another stellar season, Akram Afif, who claimed the prize in the previous edition to add to his 2019 accolade, helped Al Sadd SC lift a record 18th league crown and reach the last eight of the AFC Champions League Elite in 2024/25. The 28-year-old also shone in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26, securing Qatar’s place at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 while staying in the hunt for FIFA World Cup qualification.
The first ever Malaysian to be nominated, Arif Aiman enjoyed a stunning 2024/25 campaign. He rose to the occasion on the Continent’s brightest stage for Johor Darul Ta’zim, bagging five goals as they reached the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite, while also winning the domestic treble. The 23-year-old forward is a key figure for his country as well, as they look to reach the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
Saudi Arabian maestro Salem Al Dawsari will hope to add to his 2022 win after a sparkling 2024/25 for Al Hilal SFC, whom he led to the Semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite with a tournament-best 10 goals. The attacker, 34, also impressed as Al Hilal reached the last eight of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, while he continues to be irresistible at the international level as Saudi Arabia chase FIFA World Cup qualification.
Hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time, the 29th edition of the gala ceremony will be staged at the magnificent King Fahd Cultural Center and recognise the Continent’s finest across a total of 20 award categories.
The full list of nominees for the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM is below:
AFC Player of the Year
Arif Aiman Hanapi (Johor Darul Ta’zim FC and MAS)
Akram Afif (Al Sadd SC and QAT)
Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal SFC and KSA)
AFC Women’s Player of the Year
Holly McNamara (Melbourne City FC and AUS)
Wang Shuang (Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC and CHN)
Hana Takahashi (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies and JPN)
AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Men)
Mehdi Taremi (Internazionale/Olympiacos and IRN)
Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad and JPN)
Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain and KOR)
AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women)
Stephanie Catley (Arsenal FC and AUS)
Maika Hamano (Chelsea FC and JPN)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City and JPN)
AFC Futsal Player of the Year
Moslem Oladghobad (Gohar Zamin and IRN)
Salar Aghapour (Gohar Zamin and IRN)
Muhammad Osamanmusa (Jimbee Cartagena and THA)
AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
Trevor Morgan (Australia U20 and AUS)
Ri Song Ho (DPR Korea U20 Women and PRK)
Song Sung Gwon (DPR Korea U17 Women and PRK)
AFC Coach of the Year (Women)
Lu Kuei-Hua (Taichung Blue Whale Women's FC and TPE)
Marziyeh Jafari (Bam Khatoon Women's FC and IRN)
Neungrutai Srathongvian (BG Asian Scholars College and THA)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men)
Alex Badolato (Melbourne Victory and AUS)
Hamed Yousef (Al Ittihad and KSA)
Sadriddin Khasanov (FC Bunyodkor and UZB)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women)
Choe Il Son (4.25 SC and PRK)
Jon Il Chong (Amnokgang SC and PRK)
Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage and JPN)
AFC Member Association of the Year (Platinum)
Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
Japan Football Association
Saudi Arabian Football Federation
AFC Member Association of the Year (Diamond)
Chinese Football Association
The Football Association of Thailand
Vietnam Football Federation
AFC Member Association of the Year (Gold)
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited
AFC Member Association of the Year (Ruby)
Bangladesh Football Federation
Guam Football Association
Lao Football Federation
AFC Regional Association of the Year
ASEAN Football Federation
East Asian Football Federation
South Asian Football Federation
AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Gold)
Chinese Football Association
Saudi Arabian Football Federation
United Arab Emirates Football Association
AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Silver)
Guam Football Association
All India Football Federation
Football Association of Malaysia
AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Bronze)
Bangladesh Football Federation
Northern Mariana Islands Football Association
Vietnam Football Federation
AFC Referees Special Award (All three to receive award)
Alireza Faghani (AUS)
Anton Shchetinin (AUS)
Ashley Beecham (AUS)
