Midfielder Arif Aiman Hanapi from Malaysia's national squad has drawn significant attention by being shortlisted in the top 3 candidates for the AFC Player of the Year 2025.
Malaysian football recently received great news as midfielder Arif Aiman Hanapi from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and the national team officially made it to the shortlist for the prestigious AFC Player of the Year 2025 award. This category is one of the continent’s highest honors, recognizing outstanding stars for their contributions over the past year.
According to the latest announcement by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Arif Aiman will compete against two leading regional stars: Akram Afif (Al Sadd Club, Qatar) and Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal Club, Saudi Arabia). All three are considered exemplary representatives of the current generation of Asian footballers, making a strong impact both at club and national team levels.
Arif Aiman’s nomination is a great source of pride for Malaysian football, as he is the only Southeast Asian player included in this category. The winger, born in 2002, had a brilliant year playing for Johor Darul Ta’zim, significantly contributing to the team’s dominance in the Malaysian league, while also showing impressive form with the national team in international competitions.
Experts highly praise Arif Aiman for his speed, technique, and ability to create breakthroughs. He is becoming a new icon of Malaysian football and is viewed as the hope to elevate the "Harimau Malaya" to continental prominence in the near future.
The winner of the AFC Player of the Year 2025 will be announced at the AFC Awards ceremony in Riyadh on October 16, 2025, held in the capital of Saudi Arabia. This event honors the best individuals and teams in Asian football over the past year.
The three nominees—Arif Aiman, Akram Afif, and Salem Al-Dawsari—are seen as key representatives of Asia’s emerging football nations. Which of them will be named Asia’s Best Player 2025? The answer will be revealed at the much-anticipated gala in Riyadh.