The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) officially announced its 2025 Asian Team of the Year, a move that recognizes the excellence of Asian stars and their improved performances on both the continental and global stages. The list featured a notable and distinguished Saudi Arabian presence, reflecting the significant progress Saudi football and the Roshan Professional League have made in recent years.
Al-Hilal's duo: The only exception on the continent
In a first that underscores the strength of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Hilal and Saudi national team duo Salem Al-Dawsari and Mohamed Kanno were included in the selected list. The significance of this selection lies in the fact that they are the only players in the ideal lineup who play in Asian domestic leagues, while the rest of the team's stars are spread across major European and American leagues. This presence highlights the high technical value of Al-Hilal and its ability to retain its stars at a level comparable to professionals at the world's top clubs.
Details of the ideal Asian squad for 2025
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics' selections were balanced across all lines, based on the individual and collective performance of players with their clubs and national teams. The list is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Zion Suzuki (Parma FC – Japan National Team).
- Defense: Abdulkadir Khusanov (Manchester City – Uzbekistan), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich – South Korea), Rio Hatate (Celtic – Japan).
- Midfield: Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain – South Korea), Mohamed Kanno (Al-Hilal – Saudi Arabia), Keisuke Sano (Mainz – Japan), Ritsu Doan (Frankfurt – Japan).
- Forwards: Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal – Saudi Arabia), Son Heung-min (Los Angeles – South Korea), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad – Japan).
Implications of selection and the development of Asian football
This lineup carries profound implications for the future of Asian football. The presence of names like Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich and Lee Kang-in at Paris Saint-Germain confirms that Asian players are no longer merely supplementary figures in Europe, but have become essential pillars of clubs competing in the Champions League. Furthermore, the potential move of stars like Son Heung-min to Major League Soccer (according to the 2025 list) indicates the expanding global influence of Asian players.
Continued Saudi leadership
Historically, Saudi football has always been a breeding ground for stars who make their mark on continental stages. The selection of Salem Al-Dawsari, a former Asian Player of the Year, confirms his continued presence at the top for many years, maintaining a consistent and impactful level of performance. The presence of Mohammed Kanno in midfield alongside stars from the German and French leagues is a testament to the high physical and technical abilities of modern Saudi players and their capacity to keep pace with global standards.
This announcement reinforces the Saudi League’s position as a global destination, proving that playing in the Kingdom does not diminish a player’s chances of being among the continent’s elite, but may even be a gateway to surpassing professionals in foreign leagues, which aligns with the Kingdom’s sporting vision of making its league one of the best in the world.
