Salem Al Dawsari wins AFC Men's Asian Player of the Year award

Salem Al Dawsari has been named the Asian Men’s Player of the Year, becoming the sixth Saudi Arabian to win the award.

The Al Hilal and Saudi Arabia star, who struck the winning goal in his country’s surprise victory against eventual winners Argentina at last year’s World Cup, collected the Asian Football Confederation’s premier individual men’s prize at an awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday night.

Al Dawsari, 32, pipped to the award Qatar striker Almoez Ali and Australia forward Mathew Leckie. He is the first Saudi footballer to be crowned Asian footballer of the year since Nasser Al Shamrani in 2014.

Al Dawsari was recognised for a stellar past couple of seasons with Hilal – the award straddles two campaigns – having been key to the Riyadh club’s 2021/22 Saudi Pro League title triumph and then last season’s King’s Cup success.

The winger, a double Asian Champions League winner with his boyhood club, scored four goals as Hilal finished runners-up in the 2022 edition. Al Dawsari was also an integral part of the Saudi side’s second-placed finish at the 2022 Fifa Club World Cup.

He netted two goals and registered an assist in the 3-2 semi-final win against Brazil’s Flamengo – a result that ensured Hilal became the first Saudi side to reach the competition’s final. Hilal lost the showpiece to Real Madrid.

However, Al Dawsari will be remembered more vividly for his decisive goal in last November's World Cup victory against eventual champions Argentina.

In the build up to the ceremony, Al Dawsari spoke of the honour of clinching the Player of the Year award.

Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari has been named the best player in Asia