KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) star Arif Aiman Hanapi has made Malaysian football history by becoming the first player from the country to be shortlisted among the three finalists for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year award.
In a statement, the AFC said the Malaysian winger will be up against two of Asia’s top names – Qatar’s Akram Afif, the Golden Boot winner at the 2023 Asian Cup, and Al-Hilal striker Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia.
The 23-year-old was instrumental in JDT’s treble-winning campaign last season, helping the team clinch the Super League, FA Cup, and Malaysia Cup titles.
He also netted five goals in the AFC Champions League Elite, powering JDT into the tournament’s last-16.
The winner will be announced at the AFC Annual Awards 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct 16.