The Asian Football Confederation announced the official finalists for its annual continental awards, placing Saudi internationals Salem Al-Dawsari and Firas Al-Buraikan alongside Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand in the final three-player shortlist for the Men’s Asian Player of the Year award for 2026. The announcement on Friday, October 16, 2026, set the stage for the 30th edition of the annual awards ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026, at the True Icon and King Power complex’s Aksra Theatre in Bangkok, which is hosting the event for the second time.
Federation Clarifies Candidate Selection Criteria
The unveiling of the finalists prompted extensive local debate regarding the selection mechanism and the criteria used to filter candidates. Sports commentator Khaled Al-Shehail clarified on the program Dawryna Ghair that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is directly responsible for putting forward candidates who meet the structural baselines established by the continental governing body. According to these explanations, the evaluation system relies on three principal pillars: individual accolades—such as best player, best goalkeeper, top scorer, and man of the match honors—collective team achievements across international competitions including the FIFA World Cup and its qualifiers, the AFC Asian Cup, and the Olympic Games, alongside club-level tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and domestic league and cup competitions.
The exclusion of other prominent names, such as Al-Nassr defender Abdulelah Al-Amri, sparked public discussion among analysts and supporters over whether collective titles or individual metrics hold greater weight. While commentators like Falah Al-Qahtani argued for Al-Amri’s merits following domestic campaigns and international duty, other voices, including Sami Al-Qurashi, championed Al-Buraikan for his contributions as an offensive centerpiece.
🚨 The nominees for the AFC Asian Player of the Year award are:🇸🇦 Salem Al-Dawsari🇸🇦 Firas Al-Buraikan🇮🇷 Alireza Beiranvand🏆 The award ceremony will take place in Bangkok on November 19.Firas Al-Buraikan is considered a strong contender following his contribution to Al… pic.twitter.com/r03RkEKYBP
— https://x.com/AhliCentral1/status/2111037946212093999
Al-Dawsari Pursues Historic Third Award
Al-Dawsari enters the final shortlist carrying a legacy as a two-time recipient of the award, having secured the accolade in 2022 and 2025. The Al-Hilal captain and national team leader aims to secure an unprecedented third title, supported by a resume that includes guiding his club to a runner-up finish in the domestic league without defeat, capturing the King’s Cup for the tenth time in club history, and earning top-scorer honors in the previous edition of the AFC Champions League Elite. Al-Dawsari increased his career World Cup appearance total to nine matches during the 2026 tournament, tying him for the second-most appearances by a Saudi player in tournament history.
Al-Buraikan reached the final three for the first time in his career following a standout campaign with Al-Ahli. His nomination was bolstered by his decisive game-winning goal in the final of the 2025–2026 AFC Champions League Elite, an achievement that made Al-Ahli only the second team to successfully defend the continental crown consecutively. Rounding out the category, Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand earned his nomination following defensive performances that helped propel Tractor into the round of 16 in continental play and anchored Iran’s qualification efforts for the 2026 World Cup.
The upcoming ceremony will distribute honors across 19 distinct categories, maintaining a tradition where Arab football stars have maintained a dominant presence in the premier men’s category since 2014.
