KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The dreams of millions of Malaysians to see national and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi be crowned Asia’s Player of the Year were dashed when the coveted title went to Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari.

Still, it was a momentous achievement for Arif Aiman to be among the three players nominated for the award at the 2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Awards Night at the King Fahad Culture Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.