The ambition to relentlessly strive for more is one of the hallmarks of world-class players. That was certainly on display from Saudi Arabian superstar Salem al-Dawsari and Qatari talisman Almoez Ali on Monday as they addressed the press on the eve of the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022.
The pair, along with Australian forward Mathew Leckie, have been nominated for the AFC Player of the Year accolade, with the winner to be revealed at the 27th edition of the Awards set to take place at the Al Mayassa Theatre of the Qatar National Convention Centre today.
Both players expressed their delight to be in contention for the prestigious award, while at the same time asserting that the recognition only serves as a platform to drive them on in their playing careers.
“Thankfully, I was nominated for this,” said al-Dawsari, who is the first Saudi player to be in the running since Nasser al-Shamrani won in 2014. “I want to thank all my colleagues at Al Hilal and the national team because they have helped me reach this achievement and go this far.”
The 32-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Al Hilal SFC’s 2021/22 Saudi Pro League and 2022/23 King’s Cup triumphs, as well as their march to the AFC Champions League 2022 and FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 Finals, added: “It will be a great achievement for Saudi Arabia if I win. A player has to be passionate and ambitious. If I win tomorrow, my ambition will not stop at that and it will just give me more of a boost to keep performing for my club and national team.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Ali, who helped Al Duhail SC win a remarkable domestic quadruple last season and record a run to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 2022 – their best ever finish.
“Of course, it is such a beautiful feeling to be among the top three players on the Continent,” said the 27-year-old, who became his country’s joint-record all-time top scorer last November. “That goes to show that we have been doing a good job, together with my teammates at the club and Qatari national team.
“As a player, I have a great ambition, be it with my club or national team, to show what I can do. Football is a team game and you have to play as a team in order to distinguish yourself. It has always been one of my childhood dreams to be among the top Asian players and to be honest, I used to look up to Salem and see his good performances, so this nomination is very motivational for me.”
When asked to single out their most memorable moment from the stunning 2022/23 campaigns they have both enjoyed, al-Dawsari – perhaps unsurprisingly – pointed to his sensational winning goal against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“It was such a happy feeling and a historic moment to score against Argentina,” he said. “But, my ambition will never be to win just one game; a player should always work harder and harder (to achieve more).”
For Ali, sweeping all four domestic titles was a highlight he savoured: “After the World Cup, when we were back to playing with our club, it was the best because I was able to bring the experience from the national team to my club. Thankfully, it was very successful, and we were able to gain all the titles.”
While there will only be one winner of the AFC Player of the Year today evening, there was plenty of mutual respect and camaraderie on show between two of Asia’s finest ever players, which was summed up best by al-Dawsari.
“Undoubtedly we are here as brothers and what I can say is also congratulations to Ali for such an achievement,” he said. “I hope one of us will be the winner.”