DOHA, QATAR – Qatari forward Akram Afif has been named Best Footballer in Asia 2024, making history as the first player from Western Asia to win the prestigious award since its inception in 2013.
The Al Sadd star claimed 181 points in voting conducted by a panel of 63 Asian football journalists and experts, edging out Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min in one of the closest contests in recent years.
Akram Afif with the Best Footballer in Asia Prize. (Photo courtesy: The Asian Sports 2050)
A Landmark Victory for Western Asia
Afif’s triumph ends a decade-long dominance of the award by South Korean and Japanese players, with Son Heung-min winning nine of the last ten editions. The Qatari forward played a key role in his club and national team’s success during the judging period, from January 1 to August 15, 2024.
Son finished as runner-up with 168 points, just 13 points behind Afif—marking the tightest race for the title since 2016, when Shinji Okazaki edged out Omar Abdulrahman by just three points.
Rahimi and Ronaldo in the Top Four
Soufiane Rahimi, the Moroccan forward playing for Al Ain, secured third place with 115 points, making him the highest-ranked non-AFC player in the list. Cristiano Ronaldo, a previous third-place finisher, came fourth with 109 points, representing Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
The top ten included a mix of Asian and international stars, with Aleksandar Mitrović (Al Hilal), Musa Al Tamari (Montpellier), Mehdi Taremi (Porto), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) all making the cut.
Changing Calendar, Growing Recognition
This edition of the Best Footballer in Asia marks a transition, as the award shifts from a Gregorian calendar format to align with the Asian football season. Voting will now take place at the end of each season, ensuring that performances across AFC competitions are better reflected.
The 2024 edition saw votes cast for 34 different players, demonstrating the growing depth and diversity of elite football talent across Asia.
Final Ranking – Best Footballer in Asia 2024
Akram Afif (Qatar/Al Sadd) – 181 points
Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham Hotspur) – 168 points
Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco/Al Ain) – 115 points
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Al Nassr) – 109 points
Aleksandar Mitrović (Serbia/Al Hilal) – 69 points
Musa Al Tamari (Jordan/Montpellier) – 53 points
Mehdi Taremi (Iran/Porto) – 45 points
Wataru Endo (Japan/Liverpool) – 44 points
Lee Kang-in (South Korea/Paris Saint-Germain) – 41 points
Takefusa Kubo (Japan/Real Sociedad) – 39 points
Afif’s victory represents a breakthrough moment for Gulf and West Asian football, signaling a broader shift in power dynamics within the continent’s elite ranks.
On February 6th, our representatives arrived in Doha to present the trophy to Akram Afif, the winner of the Best Footballer in Asia 2024. (Photo courtesy: The Asian Sports 2050)
Kawasaki Frontale beat Al Sadd 3-2 after extra time to become the only East Asian club in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinals.