(Author: Mohammad Amin)

DOHA: Saudi Arabia’s football star Salem Al Dawsari won the AFC Player of the Year Award during a glittering ceremony held here at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre on Tuesday night.

Al Dawsari is best remembered for his winning goal against the eventual champions, Argentina, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup here.

Al Dawsari along with Qatar and Al Duhail superstar, Almoez Ali, and Australia’s Matthew Leki were on the nomination list. But the 32-year-old Al Hilal star pipped his nearest contestants for the elite award.

He became the sixth Saudi and fifth player from Al Hilal  to be crowned Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award.

“I am very happy with this achievement,” said an elated Al Dawsari at the post-event press conference.  

“I also want to thank the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Al Hilal, Saudi national team as well as the fans.”

The winger made his first appearance for Al Hilal in 2011 and he is the 25th recipient of the AFC Player of the Year award since its inception in 1994.

Besides the national team, Al Dawsari also helped Al Hilal reach both the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 and AFC Champions League 2022 Finals.

He also won the 2021-22 Saudi Pro League and 2022-23 King’s Cup.

Australia and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr won the women’s honour.

In the coaching category, Japan’s Hajime Moriyasu clinched the top honour.

Under Hajime, the Blue Samurai stunned former champions Germany and Spain to qualify for the Round of 16 at 2022  FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

China’s Shui Qingxia, who guided her country to victory at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022, bagged the award in the women’s category.