Saudi Arabian sensation Salem al-Dawsari and Australian icon Samantha Kerr have clinched the prestigious AFC Player of the Year Award in the men’s and women’s categories respectively at the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022 on Tuesday at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre. The Saudi star fought off competition from Australia’s Mathew Leckie and Qatar’s Almoez Ali for the award.
Al-Dawsari’s brilliant winning strike for the Green Falcons against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was just one of numerous highlights over the past season, when he also helped Al Hilal reach both the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022 and AFC Champions League 2022, in addition to winning the 2021/22 Saudi Pro League and 2022/23 King’s Cup.
The exciting forward is the sixth Saudi player and the fifth from Al Hilal to win the AFC Player of the Year award – the most from any country and club respectively – and the 32-year-old said: “I am very happy with this achievement and I would like to thank the leadership in Saudi Arabia for their keen interest in athletes and support for sport. I also want to thank the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Al Hilal, Saudi national team as well as the fans. Of course, I am grateful to my parents and wife, who is my number one supporter.”
Six years after her first triumph, during which she has become an established global superstar, Kerr collected her second AFC Women’s Player of the Year accolade. The 30-year-old striker was at her prolific best for both country and club – she supplanted Tim Cahill as the all-time leading scorer for Australia, men or women, and plundered 30 goals to lead Chelsea FC to a league and cup double in the 2022/23 season.
The Matildas captain, who joins Aya Miyama (2011, 2012, 2015) and Homare Sawa (2004, 2008) as the only players to win the award more than once, said in an acceptance speech via video: “I just want to say what an honour it is to win this award, especially up against some amazing finalists. It has been an amazing year for me and my team and I just want to thank all my teammates, my coaches, my family and friends – thank you very much again.”
Claiming top honours in the coaching category, Japan’s Hajime Moriyasu, who orchestrated the Blue Samurai’s stunning comeback victories over former champions Germany and Spain to qualify for the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, received the men’s AFC Coach of the Year award.
At the same time, Shui Qingxia, who ended China’s 16-year wait for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup trophy when she led the Steel Roses to victory in India in 2022, and in doing so became the first to win the coveted title both as a player and head coach, was presented with the AFC Coach of the Year award in the women’s category.
Iran’s Moslem Oladghobad was confirmed as the AFC Futsal Player of the Year after guiding his nation to the Final of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Roll of Honour
Player of the Year: Salem al-Dawsari (Al Hilal SFC and KSA)
Women’s Player of the Year: Samantha Kerr (Chelsea and AUS)
Coach of the Year (Men’s): Hajime Moriyasu (JPN)
Coach of the Year (Women’s): Shui Qingxia (CHN)
Futsal Player of the Year: Moslem Oladghobad (IRN)
Diamond of Asia: Saoud al-Mohannadi of Qatar (posthumous)
Member Association of the Year: Platinum: Uzbekistan Football Association; Diamond: Lebanese Football Association; Gold: The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited; Ruby: Guam Football Association
Regional Association of the Year: Central Asian Football Association
President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football: Gold: Football Australia; Silver: Guam Football Association; Bronze: All India Football Federation
Asian International Player of the Year: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich and KOR)
Youth Player of the Year (Women’s): Maika Hamano (INAC Kobe Leonessa/Chelsea FC and JPN)
Youth Player of the Year (Men’s): Kuryu Matsuki (FC Tokyo and JPN)
Referees Special Award: Chris Beath (AUS) – Referee; Anton Shchetinin (AUS) – Assistant Referee; Ashley Beecham (AUS)