Al Dawsari and Takahashi crowned Asia’s finest at AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Al Dawsari and Takahashi crowned Asia’s finest at AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM

Riyadh: Saudi Arabian maestro Salem Al Dawsari was named the AFC Player of the Year and Japan star Hana Takahashi claimed the AFC Women’s Player of the Year honour on Thursday night at the dazzling AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The pair took home the ultimate accolade of being Asia’s finest at the 29th edition of the gala, which also crowned winners from across 18 other categories on a memorable occasion at the iconic King Fahad Cultural Center.

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AFC Player of the Year 2025: Salem Al Dawsari

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

AFC Player of the Year 2025: Salem Al Dawsari

Riyadh: Asian icon Salem Al Dawsari was crowned the latest AFC Player of the Year on Thursday night in a milestone moment at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented be NEOM.

The Al Hilal SFC superstar became the first Saudi Arabian to win the prestigious accolade twice and the fourth to do so after Japan’s Hidetoshi Nakata (1997, 1998), Uzbekistan’s Server Djeparov (2008, 2011) and Qatar’s Akram Afif (2019, 2023).

AFC Women’s Player of the Year 2025: Hana Takahashi

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

AFC Women’s Player of the Year 2025: Hana Takahashi

Riyadh: A sparkling 2024/25 season saw Hana Takahashi land the coveted AFC Women’s Player of the Year accolade on Thursday night at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The 25-year-old became the 19th winner of the award on her first nomination and the sixth Japanese recipient—the most of any Member Association—after Homare Sawa (2004, 2008), Natsuko Hara (2005), Aya Miyama (2011, 2012, 2015), Saki Kumagai (2019) and Kiko Seike (2023).

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) 2025: Choe Il Son

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) 2025: Choe Il Son

Riyadh: Rising sensation Choe Il Son was crowned the AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) on Thursday at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM following a brilliant 2024/25 season.

It was the latest accolade for the DPR Korea forward, who basked in the glory of becoming a double world champion in 2024 after helping her side to lift both the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 trophies.

AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women) 2025: Maika Hamano

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women) 2025: Maika Hamano

Riyadh: Maika Hamano’s meteoric ascendency to superstardom was further cemented on Thursday after the Osaka native was named the AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women) at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The Chelsea FC forward surpassed compatriot Yui Hasegawa and Australia’s Stephanie Catley to become only the second player in history to clinch the esteemed accolade after it was introduced last year.

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men) 2025: Alex Badolato

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men) 2025: Alex Badolato

Riyadh: A new name was etched on the AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men) trophy on Thursday evening as Alex Badolato became its latest recipient at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The first-ever Australian nominee in the award’s history and now the first to win it, Badolato can add the prize to a trophy cabinet that already contains the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 winners’ medal and Most Valuable Player gong.

AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Men) 2025: Lee Kang-in

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Men) 2025: Lee Kang-in

Riyadh: Korea Republic icon Lee Kang-in was duly rewarded for his stunning form in the 2024/25 season after being named the AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Men) at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM on Thursday.

Held at the dazzling King Fahad Cultural Center, the 24-year-old fended off the challenge of Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mehdi Taremi and Japan’s Takefusa Kubo to land the accolade.

AFC Futsal Player of the Year 2025: Salar Aghapour

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

AFC Futsal Player of the Year 2025: Salar Aghapour

Riyadh: Islamic Republic of Iran futsal star Salar Aghapour took home the AFC Futsal Player of the Year trophy on Thursday evening at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

Aghapour’s eye-catching displays at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 saw him get the nod ahead of team-mate Moslem Oladghobad, the 2022 winner, and fellow first-time nominee Muhammad Osamanmusa, as he became the seventh IR Iran player and the 16th overall to win the prize.

AFC Coach of the Year (Men) 2025: Ri Song Ho

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

AFC Coach of the Year (Men) 2025: Ri Song Ho

Riyadh: DPR Korea U20 Women’s Head Coach Ri Song Ho, who led his charges to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 title, was named the AFC Men’s Coach of the Year at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM on Thursday.

Ri beat two other contenders to land the coveted accolade – compatriot and fellow FIFA age-group World Cup winner Song Sung Gwon and Trevor Morgan, who led the Australian U20 side to their first Continental title since 2015.

AFC MAs’ giant strides in grassroots growth commended

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

AFC MAs’ giant strides in grassroots growth commended

Riyadh: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Member Associations (MAs) were celebrated today for their unwavering dedication towards delivering the Confederation’s Vision of confirming football as the Continent's most popular sport at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The dazzling ceremony at the King Fahad Cultural Center highlighted the exceptional and tireless endeavours of the AFC’s MAs in developing a lifelong passion for the beautiful game through the creation of innovative, safe and engaging initiatives and platforms.

AFC Coach of the Year (Women) 2025: Marziyeh Jafari

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

AFC Coach of the Year (Women) 2025: Marziyeh Jafari

Riyadh: History was made at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM on Thursday as Marziyeh Jafari became the first-ever AFC Coach of the Year (Women) winner from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

An esteemed name in the Asian coaching landscape, Jafari was honoured for successfully leading IR Iran through the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers, sealing a second consecutive appearance at the Continental showpiece after their debut in 2022.

AFC celebrates exemplary MAs and RAs

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

AFC celebrates exemplary MAs and RAs

Riyadh: The steadfast resolve of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) to enhance football at all levels was commemorated on Thursday evening at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation was recognised as the AFC Member Association of the Year in the Platinum category. The Football Association of Thailand received the Diamond accolade for the second year in a row, while The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited was conferred the Gold award, with the Lao Football Federation retaining its Ruby status.

DPRK FA honoured with AFC President's Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

DPRK FA honoured with AFC President's Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement

Riyadh: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conferred the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement on the DPR Korea Football Association (DPRK FA) at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM on Thursday night in Saudi Arabia.

Presented by the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa to the DPRK FA General Secretary, Kim Jong Sik, at the King Fahad Cultural Center, the special award recognises the remarkable feats of DPR Korea at both the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024.

Prestigious AFC Diamond of Asia awarded to HKFA Honorary President Timothy Fok Tsun Ting

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Prestigious AFC Diamond of Asia awarded to HKFA Honorary President Timothy Fok Tsun Ting

Riyadh: Asian football's highest individual accolade – the AFC Diamond of Asia – has been awarded today to The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited (HKFA) Honorary President Timothy Fok Tsun Ting in recognition of his cherished contributions towards the Asian game and global sport at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM in Saudi Arabia.

Having served the Continent with distinction, Honorary President Timothy Fok stands unrivalled amongst a unique pool of Asian visionaries whose experience in the game spans more than five decades, having first been appointed as HKFA Council Member in 1973.