Asian Footballer of the Year

Last updated

The Asian Footballer of the Year award is an annual prize awarded to the best Asian player in a calendar year.

Contents

History

A football handbook took a poll about who was the best Asian footballer in 1985, and this poll is regarded as the origin of the Asian footballer award. [1] [2] However, it was not a selection of clear process or official organization, and is generally excluded from the list. [3] [4] The award began in 1988 through International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) with sport magazines and journalists, then the presenter was changed to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1994. [3] [4]

Since 2005, the award gives its qualification to nominees who attend the awards ceremony, and so the rule caused much controversy about excluding players who could not attend the ceremony by playing for European clubs. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Among them, Park Ji-sung and Shunsuke Nakamura were nominated for Ballon d'Or. The AFC is awarding the "Asian International Player of the Year" award to reduce the controversy since 2012, but AFC awards were still having problems that the process and criteria of selection were obscure. Eventually, the "Best Footballer in Asia" award inspired by Ballon d'Or was made in 2013. [10]

When continental confederations including AFC cancelled their awards ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, IFFHS restarted to select the Players of the Year about the world and each continent.

Winners

IFFHS award

Son Heung-min won the IFFHS Asian Player of the Year award in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Team Korea Russia WorldCup 02 (cropped).png
Son Heung-min won the IFFHS Asian Player of the Year award in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The IFFHS Asian Player of the Year is an annual prize presented by International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). It had originally been the predecessor of the AFC Player of the Year, but was revived in 2020.

YearRankPlayerTeamPointsRef.
19881st Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Ahmed Radhi Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Rasheed 26 [3]
2nd Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Joo-sung Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Daewoo Royals 16
3rd Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Majed Abdullah Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 14
19891st Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Joo-sung Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Daewoo Royals 38 [3]
2nd Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Majed Abdullah Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 12
3rd Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Ahmed Radhi Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Al-Rasheed 6
19901st Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Joo-sung Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Daewoo Royals 36 [3]
2nd Flag of Iran.svg Farshad Pious Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis 28
3rd Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Adnan Al-Talyani Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Shaab 16
19911st Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kim Joo-sung Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Daewoo Royals 31 [11]
2nd Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Chung Yong-hwan Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Daewoo Royals 28
3rd Flag of Iran.svg Samad Marfavi Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 16
19921st Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Kazuyoshi Miura Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Verdy Kawasaki 30 [3] [12]
2nd Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Fahad Al-Bishi Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 17
3rd Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Fonounizadeh Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 13
Not awarded from 1993 to 2019
20201st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [13]
Flag of Iran.svg Sardar Azmoun Flag of Russia.svg Zenit Saint Petersburg
Flag of Japan.svg Takumi Minamino Flag of England.svg Liverpool
20211st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [14]
20221st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [15]

AFC award

Hidetoshi Nakata won the AFC Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998. Hidetoshi Nakata in Okinawa.jpg
Hidetoshi Nakata won the AFC Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998.
Server Djeparov in Iranian Esteghlal FC Who won the AFC Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2011. Server Djeparov playing for Esteghlal against Tractor Sazi 02.jpg
Server Djeparov in Iranian Esteghlal FC Who won the AFC Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2011.

The AFC Player of the Year is an annual prize presented by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is awarded to the Asian player who has the best performance at AFC club(s) in a calendar year.

YearRankPlayerTeamPointsRef.
19941st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saeed Owairan Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Shabab [3]
19951st Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Masami Ihara Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Yokohama Marinos [3]
19961st Flag of Iran.svg Khodadad Azizi Flag of Iran.svg Bahman [3]
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Daei Flag of Qatar.svg Al Sadd
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Ko Jeong-woon Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Cheonan Ilhwa Chunma
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohamed Al-Deayea Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Tai
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Yousuf Al-Thunayan Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
19971st Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Hidetoshi Nakata Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Shonan Bellmare [3]
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Choi Yong-soo Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Sangmu FC
Flag of Iran.svg Karim Bagheri Flag of Germany.svg Arminia Bielefeld
Flag of Iran.svg Khodadad Azizi Flag of Germany.svg 1. FC Köln
19981st Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Hidetoshi Nakata Flag of Italy.svg Perugia [3]
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Daei Flag of Germany.svg Bayern Munich
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Fan Zhiyi Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace
Flag of Kuwait.svg Jasem Al Huwaidi Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Salmiya
19991st Flag of Iran.svg Ali Daei Flag of Germany.svg Hertha BSC [3]
Flag of Kuwait.svg Bashar Abdullah Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Salmiya
Flag of Japan.svg Hidetoshi Nakata Flag of Italy.svg Perugia
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Hwang Sun-hong Flag of Japan.svg Cerezo Osaka
Flag of Japan.svg Masashi Nakayama Flag of Japan.svg Júbilo Iwata
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Sun Wen [note 1] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai SVA
20001st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Nawaf Al-Temyat Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal [3]
Flag of Japan.svg Hiroshi Nanami Flag of Japan.svg Júbilo Iwata
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Lee Dong-gook Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Pohang Steelers
Flag of Japan.svg Ryuzo Morioka Flag of Japan.svg Shimizu S-Pulse
20011st Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Fan Zhiyi Flag of Scotland.svg Dundee [3]
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Abdullah Al-Shehan Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Shabab
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Karimi Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ahli
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Li Tie Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Fushun Tegang
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Mirjalol Qosimov Flag of Russia.svg Krylia Sovetov Samara
20021st Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Ono Flag of the Netherlands.svg Feyenoord [3]
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Ahn Jung-hwan Flag of Italy.svg Perugia
Flag of Japan.svg Junichi Inamoto Flag of England.svg Fulham
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Li Tie Flag of England.svg Everton
20031st Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Mahdavikia Flag of Germany.svg Hamburger SV [3]
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Maxim Shatskikh Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv
Flag of Thailand.svg Therdsak Chaiman Flag of Thailand.svg BEC Tero Sasana
20041st Flag of Iran.svg Ali Karimi Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ahli [3]
Flag of Bahrain.svg A'ala Hubail Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Ahli
Flag of Japan.svg Shunsuke Nakamura Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg Reggina
20051st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hamad Al-Montashari Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad [note 2]
2nd Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Maxim Shatskikh Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv
20061st Flag of Qatar.svg Khalfan Ibrahim Flag of Qatar.svg Al Sadd [18]
Flag of Kuwait.svg Bader Al-Mutawa Flag of Kuwait.svg Qadsia
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohammad Al-Shalhoub Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal
20071st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Yasser Al-Qahtani Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal [19]
Flag of Iraq (2004-2008).svg Nashat Akram Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain
Flag of Iraq (2004-2008).svg Younis Mahmoud Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Gharafa
20081st Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Server Djeparov Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Bunyodkor [20]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ismail Matar Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Wahda
Flag of Qatar.svg Sebastián Soria Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar SC
Flag of Japan.svg Yasuhito Endō Flag of Japan.svg Gamba Osaka
Flag of Japan.svg Yuji Nakazawa Flag of Japan.svg Yokohama F. Marinos
20091st Flag of Japan.svg Yasuhito Endō Flag of Japan.svg Gamba Osaka 120 [note 3]
2nd Flag of Japan.svg Kengo Nakamura Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki Frontale 100
Flag of Bahrain.svg Sayed Mohamed Adnan Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Khor 100
20101st Flag of Australia (converted).svg Saša Ognenovski Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma [22]
Flag of Kuwait.svg Bader Al-Mutawa Flag of Kuwait.svg Qadsia
Flag of Iran.svg Farhad Majidi Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal
Flag of Iran.svg Farshid Talebi Flag of Iran.svg Zob Ahan
Flag of Bahrain.svg Hussain Salman Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Riffa
2011 1st Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Server Djeparov Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Shabab [note 2]
2nd Flag of Iran.svg Hadi Aghily Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Arabi
2012 1st Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Keun-ho Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai [23]
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Karimi Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zheng Zhi Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangzhou Evergrande
20131st Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zheng Zhi Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangzhou Evergrande [24]
Flag of South Korea.svg Ha Dae-sung Flag of South Korea.svg FC Seoul
Flag of Iran.svg Javad Nekounam Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal
2014 1st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Nasser Al-Shamrani Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal [25]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ismail Ahmed Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain
Flag of Qatar.svg Khalfan Ibrahim Flag of Qatar.svg Al Sadd
20151st Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ahmed Khalil Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ahli [26]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Omar Abdulrahman Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zheng Zhi Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangzhou Evergrande
20161st Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Omar Abdulrahman Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain [27]
Flag of Iraq.svg Hammadi Ahmed Flag of Iraq.svg Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Wu Lei Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai SIPG
20171st Flag of Syria.svg Omar Kharbin Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal [28]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Omar Abdulrahman Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Ain
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Wu Lei Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai SIPG
20181st Flag of Qatar.svg Abdelkarim Hassan Flag of Qatar.svg Al Sadd [29]
Flag of Japan.svg Kento Misao Flag of Japan.svg Kashima Antlers
Flag of Japan.svg Yuma Suzuki Flag of Japan.svg Kashima Antlers
2019 1st Flag of Qatar.svg Akram Afif Flag of Qatar.svg Al Sadd [30]
Flag of Iran.svg Alireza Beiranvand Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis
Flag of Japan.svg Tomoaki Makino Flag of Japan.svg Urawa Red Diamonds
Not awarded from 2020 to 2021
2022 1st Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salem Al-Dawsari Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal [31]
Flag of Qatar.svg Almoez Ali Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Duhail
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mathew Leckie Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne City

AFC award (international)

Son Heung-min won the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Team Korea Russia WorldCup 02 (cropped).png
Son Heung-min won the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

The AFC Asian International Player of the Year is an annual prize presented by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is awarded to the Asian player who has the best performance outside Asia in a calendar year.

YearRankPlayerTeamRef.
2012 1st Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Kagawa Flag of England.svg Manchester United [32]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Schwarzer Flag of England.svg Fulham
Flag of Japan.svg Yuto Nagatomo Flag of Italy.svg Internazionale
20131st Flag of Japan.svg Yuto Nagatomo Flag of Italy.svg Internazionale [33]
Flag of Japan.svg Keisuke Honda Flag of Russia.svg CSKA Moscow
Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of Germany.svg Bayer Leverkusen
2014 1st Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mile Jedinak Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace [34]
Flag of South Korea.svg Ki Sung-yueng Flag of England.svg Swansea City
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Cahill Flag of the United States.svg New York Red Bulls
20151st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [35]
Flag of South Korea.svg Ki Sung-yueng Flag of England.svg Swansea City
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Massimo Luongo Flag of England.svg Queens Park Rangers
20161st Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Okazaki Flag of England.svg Leicester City [36]
Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Kagawa Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Dortmund
Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur
20171st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [37]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Mooy Flag of England.svg Huddersfield Town
Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Kagawa Flag of Germany.svg Borussia Dortmund
20181st Flag of Japan.svg Makoto Hasebe Flag of Germany.svg Eintracht Frankfurt [38]
2019 1st Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min Flag of England.svg Tottenham Hotspur [39] [40]
Flag of Japan.svg Makoto Hasebe Flag of Germany.svg Eintracht Frankfurt
Flag of Iran.svg Sardar Azmoun Flag of Russia.svg Zenit Saint Petersburg
Not awarded from 2020 to 2021
2022 1st Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Min-jae Flag of Italy.svg Napoli [41]
Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Taremi Flag of Portugal.svg Porto
Flag of Japan.svg Kaoru Mitoma Flag of England.svg Brighton & Hove Albion

Statistics

Wins by player

PlayerWinsYears won
Flag of South Korea.svg Son Heung-min 62015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Joo-sung 31989, 1990, 1991
Flag of Japan.svg Hidetoshi Nakata 21997, 1998
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Server Djeparov 22008, 2011
Flag of Iraq.svg Ahmed Radhi 11988
Flag of Japan.svg Kazuyoshi Miura 11992
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saeed Owairan 11994
Flag of Japan.svg Masami Ihara 11995
Flag of Iran.svg Khodadad Azizi 11996
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Daei 11999
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Nawaf Al-Temyat 12000
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Fan Zhiyi 12001
Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Ono 12002
Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Mahdavikia 12003
Flag of Iran.svg Ali Karimi 12004
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hamad Al-Montashari 12005
Flag of Qatar.svg Khalfan Ibrahim 12006
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Yasser Al-Qahtani 12007
Flag of Japan.svg Yasuhito Endō 12009
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sasa Ognenovski 12010
Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Keun-ho 12012
Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Kagawa 12012
Flag of Japan.svg Yuto Nagatomo 12013
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zheng Zhi 12013
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mile Jedinak 12014
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Nasser Al-Shamrani 12014
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ahmed Khalil 12015
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Omar Abdulrahman 12016
Flag of Japan.svg Shinji Okazaki 12016
Flag of Syria.svg Omar Kharbin 12017
Flag of Qatar.svg Abdelkarim Hassan 12018
Flag of Japan.svg Makoto Hasebe 12018
Flag of Qatar.svg Akram Afif 12019
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Min-jae 12022
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salem Al-Dawsari 12022

Wins by nationality

CountryWins
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 11
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 10
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 6
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 4
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 2
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 2
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 1

See also

Notes

  1. The only woman player to be nominated for the award.
  2. 1 2 Only two players of the shortlist competed for the award under a new rule to omit nominees who didn't attend the ceremony. [16] [17]
  3. Points of the AFC were exceptionally released in this year. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mehdi Mahdavikia</span> Iranian football coach and former player

Mehdi Mahdavikia is an Iranian professional football coach and former player usually played as a right winger or right back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Myung-bo</span> South Korean footballer and manager

Hong Myung-bo is a South Korean football manager and former footballer who played as a sweeper. Hong is often considered one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time. He is the current manager of South Korea national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederation of African Football</span> Governing body of association football in Africa

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) (in French Confédération Africaine de Football) is the administrative and controlling body for association football, beach soccer, and futsal in Africa. It was established on 8 February 1957 at the Grand Hotel in Khartoum, Sudan by the national football associations of: Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa. following formal discussions between the aforementioned associations at the FIFA Congress held on 7 June 1956 at Avenida Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFC Champions League Elite</span> Asian association football tournament for clubs

The AFC Champions League Elite is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition in Asian football, played by the national league champions of their national associations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cha Bum-kun</span> South Korean association football player

Cha Bum-kun is a South Korean former football manager and player. A forward, he was nicknamed Tscha Bum or "Cha Boom" in Germany because of his name and thunderous ball striking ability. He showed explosive pace and powerful shots with his thick thighs. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohamed Al-Deayea</span> Saudi Arabian footballer

Mohamed Abdullaziz Al-Deayea is a Saudi Arabian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He participated in four FIFA World Cups for the Saudi Arabia national team and earned a total of 173 officially recognised caps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IFFHS</span> Organisation chronicling the history and records of association football

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) is an organisation that chronicles the history and records of association football. It was founded in 1984 by Alfredo Pöge in Leipzig. The IFFHS was based in Abu Dhabi for some time but, in 2010, relocated to Bonn, Germany, and then in 2014 to Zürich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bader Al-Mutawa</span> Kuwaiti footballer

Bader Ahmed al-Mutawa is a Kuwaiti professional footballer who plays for Qadsia. He usually operates as a second striker. He wears the jersey number 17. Al-Mutawa is the second-most-capped international player behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Server Djeparov</span> Uzbek footballer (born 1982)

Server Reshatovich Djeparov is a former Uzbek professional football midfielder who is the assistant coach of the Uzbek national team. He has won the Asian Footballer of the Year award twice in 2008 and 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 AFC Asian Cup</span> International football competition

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was the 15th edition of the men's AFC Asian Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The finals were held in Qatar from 7 to 29 January 2011. It was the second time that the tournament was hosted by Qatar, the previous occasion being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup. Japan won the cup after a 1–0 win against Australia, and earned the right to compete in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil as the representative from AFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soh Chin Ann</span> Malaysian footballer

Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann is a Malaysian former footballer who played as a defender. He was affectionately known as Tauke or Towkay (Boss) by his teammates and fans. RSSSF and IFFHS recognised Soh as the player with the most international caps in men's football with 219 caps. He formerly held the record of all-time most appearances in FIFA international recognised matches with 195 caps, before being overtaken by Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theerathon Bunmathan</span> Thai footballer (born 1990)

Theerathon Bunmathan is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a left back for Buriram United and Thailand national team. He has also been used as a midfielder during the later of his career. Considered one of the best defenders in the Southeast Asia region in history, he is renowned for his versatility, technical skills and ability to contribute effectively in both defensive and offensive roles on the field which he frequently takes set pieces scoring from a free kick and corners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Son Heung-min</span> South Korean footballer (born 1992)

Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korea national team. Considered one of the best wingers in the world and one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time, he is known for his speed, finishing, two-footedness, and ability to link play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 AFC Annual Awards</span>

The 2011 AFC Annual Awards was the top football players and coaches of the year in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akram Afif</span> Qatari footballer (born 1996)

Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and the Qatar national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best Footballer in Asia</span> Annual association football award

Best Footballer in Asia is an annual association football award organized and presented by Titan Sports. It is awarded to the player who had the best performance for Asian football during the previous calendar year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almoez Ali</span> Footballer (born 1996)

Almoez Ali Zainalabedeen Mohamed Abdulla is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains the Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail. Born in Sudan, he plays for the Qatar national team, and is currently the nation's all-time top goalscorer.

The Asian section of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification acted as qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar for national teams who are members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Apart from Qatar, a total of 4.5 slots in the final tournament were available for AFC teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IFFHS World's Best Player</span> Football award

The IFFHS World's Best Player is a football award given annually from 1988 to 1990, and since 2020, to the world's best player. The award is given by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

The 2019 AFC Annual Awards were the awards for football players and coaches of the year in Asia. The award ceremony was held in Hong Kong on 2 December 2019.

References

  1. Pierrend, José (3 January 2008). "Asian Player of the Year 1984". RSSSF . Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  2. "THE ASIA-OCEANIA SOCCER HANDBOOK". Sportsmemories by Heartbooks. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pierrend, José; Garin, Erik. "Asian Player of the Year". RSSSF . Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Asian Player of the Year". Infoplease. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. "Saudi Arabia's Hamad named Asia's top player". The Star Malaysia. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. "Saudi Arabian is Asia's footballer of the year". Rediff.com. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. Somerford, Ben (20 September 2011). "The Asian Football Confederation Needs To Change The Criteria Behind Its Player Of The Year Award". Goal. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. "Djeparov wins AFC Player award". Al Jazeera. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  9. "Class act Al Montashari". The World Game. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  10. "Best Footballer in Asia award: All you need to know". Fox Sports Asia. 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  11. "Asia's Footballer 1991". IFFHS. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  12. "Asia's Footballer 1992". IFFHS. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. "The Best Man Player in AFC 2020 by IFFHS : Heung Min Son (South Korea/Tottenham Hotspurs)". IFFHS. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  14. "IFFHS MEN'S CONTINENTAL AWARDS 2021 - AFC". IFFHS. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  15. "IFFHS MEN'S CONTINENTAL BEST PLAYERS 2022 - AFC". IFFHS. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. "Al Montashari named Asian Player of the Year". World Soccer. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  17. "Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov wins AFC Player of the Year award". Goal. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. "Qatari teenager Ibrahim named Asian Player of the Year". ChinaDaily.com. Reuters. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  19. "UPDATE 1-Soccer-Yasser Al Qahtani named Asian Player of the Year". Reuters. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  20. "Shamsaei Wins Best Asian Futsal Player Award". FutsalWire.com. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  21. "Japan's Yasuhito Endo Named AFC Player Of The Year". Goal. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  22. "AFC Player Of The Year Profiles: Bader Al Mutawa, Farhad Majidi, Farshid Talebi, Sasa Ognenovski, Husain Salman". Goal. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  23. "AFC Player of the Year: Lee Keun-ho". AFC. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  24. "Zheng Zhi is first Chinese to win AFC Player of the Year award in decade". South China Morning Post. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  25. "AFC Player of the Year: Nassir Al Shamrani". AFC. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  26. "AFC Awards: Ahmed Khalil wins Player of the Year award". Sportstar. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  27. "Al Ain's Omar Abdulrahman named AFC Player of the Year". ESPN. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  28. "Prolific Syrian Khrbin wins AFC Player of the Year award". NST.com.my. AFP. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  29. "Qatar's Abdelkarim Hassan is AFC Player of the Year". Gulf Times. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  30. "Player of the Year - Men and Women nominees". AFC. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  31. "AFC Player of the Year 2022: Salem Al Dawsari". AFC. 31 October 2023.
  32. "Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa wins inaugural Asian Player of the Year award". The Independent. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  33. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year:Yuto Nagatomo". AFC. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  34. "Gyan and Jedinak land AFC awards". AFC. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  35. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year 2015: Son Heung-min". AFC. 29 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  36. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year 2016: Shinji Okazaki". AFC. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  37. Kin Fai, Ooi (29 November 2017). "Son Heung-Min wins 2017 AFC Asian International Player of the Year". Goal.
  38. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year 2018: Makoto Hasebe". AFC. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  39. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year 2019: Son Heung-min". AFC. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  40. "AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 nominees revealed". AFC. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  41. "AFC Asian International Player of the Year 2022: Kim Min-jae". AFC. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.