AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 nominees revealed

— Arif Aiman, Akram Afif and Salem Al Dawsari up for AFC Player of the Year

—- Holly McNamara, Wang Shuang and Hana Takahashi to vie for AFC Women’s Player of the Year

—– The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced the highly anticipated list of nominees for the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM, which will take place on October 16.

Hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time and presented by NEOM, 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.

A glittering cast will contend for the prestigious Player of the Year accolades: Arif Aiman Hanapi, Akram Afif and Salem Al Dawsari are in the running for the AFC Player of the Year, while Holly McNamara, Wang Shuang and Hana Takahashi will vie for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year.

AFC Player of the Year

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™.

After another stellar season, Akram Afif is in contention to become the first player to win this award thrice. The Qatari superstar, 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.

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.

AFC Women’s Player of the Year

Following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in late 2023, Holly McNamara bounced back superbly in the 2024/25 season. Finishing as top scorer with 15 goals in 17 regular season appearances, the forward spurred Melbourne City FC to their fourth A-League Women Premiership crown and scored once in the AFC Women’s Champions League™ as they reached the Final. The 22-year-old also returned to the Matildas’ set-up and scored her first international goal in June 2025.

The talismanic Wang Shuang was central to Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC’s historic triumph in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™, scoring a late penalty in the Final to equalise before triumphing in the shootout. The 30-year-old, capped 130 times for China PR, remains one of Asia’s most influential playmakers and could add a second award to her 2018 win.

A stalwart for Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, Hana Takahashi helped them win a second domestic cup title and finish third in the league, on top of a run to the Quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25. The centre-back, 25, has also established herself for Japan in recent times, featuring in their successful 2024 Olympic Games qualification and subsequently in every match in Paris as they reached the last eight.

Elsewhere, UEFA Champions League winners Lee Kang-in and Stephanie Catley headline the AFC Asian International Player of the Year nominees, while DPR Korea’s astonishing success at the global women’s U17 and U20 levels is reflected in the cast as well.

The AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM is set to commence at 8pm (GMT +3) and the dazzling ceremony can be followed on the AFC’s YouTube and other digital platforms.

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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 Awards for Grassroots Football (Gold)

Chinese Football Association

Saudi Arabian Football Federation

United Arab Emirates Football Association

AFC President’s Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Silver)

Guam Football Association

All India Football Federation

Football Association of Malaysia

AFC President’s Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Bronze)

Bangladesh Football Federation

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association

Vietnam Football Federation

AFC Referees Special Award

Alireza Faghani (AUS)

Anton Shchetinin (AUS)

Ashley Beecham (AUS)

Note: all three to receive award

AFC Diamond of Asia Award and AFC President’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement

Note: Recipients to be announced during ceremony

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