Regarded as a potential superstar during his rise, Arif Aiman has blossomed into a mercurial attacker in recent seasons and enjoyed his best Continental campaign in 2024/25.

The Kuantan-born forward, who turned 23 in May, is the first ever Malaysian to be nominated in this category as well as the youngest nominee since 2019 (Akram Afif).

Arif bagged five goals and added two assists for Johor Darul Ta’zim in their thrilling run to the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Elite™, on top of another 14 goals and 13 assists to help his side power to a third consecutive domestic treble. Such incredible form saw him clinch the Football Association of Malaysia Most Valuable Player prize for a record fourth time, while adding the Best Midfielder accolade as well.

 

Having won on each of the previous two occasions (2019, 2023) when he was nominated, Afif is now in contention to become the first player to claim this award thrice.

Already one of the best to ever pull on the Qatar jersey and the fourth-most capped in their history, Afif helped the reigning Asian champions navigate the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 to secure a berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ and also stay in the hunt for back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualifications.

 

After winning this award in 2022 in his first nomination, Al Dawsari is in the running to become the fourth player to repeat the feat, off the back of a stellar 2024/25 campaign.

Such sensational form saw the 34-year-old pick up his maiden Best Saudi Player trophy at the end-of-season league awards ceremony, before taking his form to the global stage. At the inaugural expanded edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, the Al Hilal captain’s strike in a 2-0 Group Stage win against CF Pachuca saw him surpass Tsukasa Shiotani as the top Asian scorer in tournament history with five goals.

 

On the Continental stage, the New South Wales native featured in all three of City’s Knockout Stage matches, scoring once as they finished runners-up in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™.

 

There was further joy at the international level for McNamara, who made her Matildas bow at just 18 in 2021. Named to the squad in February for the SheBelieves Cup, her substitute appearance in the opener against Japan marked a fourth cap and ended a 1,119-day absence.

 

The skilful attacker slotted straight into their AFC Women’s Champions League™ squad and appeared in all three Knockout Stage matches, scoring in the penalty shootout in the Quarter-finals before netting the opener in the Semi-final. Wang saved the best for last – an ice-cool spot-kick in the eighth minute of added time sent the Final against Melbourne City into extra time and subsequently another shootout, where she was once again on target as ultimate glory was achieved.

Named in the league’s Best Eleven, the Kawaguchi native has also established herself at international level recently and played all five matches in Paris as they reached the last eight of the Olympic Games. Takahashi was part of the victorious Nadeshiko side at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup and has amassed five goals in 39 caps to date.

 

Taking place on October 16 at the King Fahd Cultural Center, the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 presented by NEOM will start at 8pm (GMT +3) and the star-studded ceremony can be followed on the AFC’s YouTube and other digital platforms.