Son Heung-min Claims Asia's International Player of the Year Again

Tottenham Hotspur and South Korean captain Son Heung-min has been awarded Asia's International Player of the Year for the fourth time. Meanwhile, Ellie Carpenter won the first women's international award. Akram Afif and Kiko Seike received the main Player of the Year honors for their domestic achievements.

Son Heung-min, the forward for Tottenham Hotspur, has been recognized as Asia's International Player of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation for a remarkable fourth time, announced at the annual awards ceremony on Tuesday. This accolade highlights Son's continued excellence on the field as he also captains the South Korean national team.

Ellie Carpenter from Australia, representing the French club Lyon, made history by becoming the first winner of the AFC women's international award. The AFC maintains a distinct honor for players abroad, and this year's principal Player of the Year titles were awarded to Qatar's Akram Afif and Japan's Kiko Seike, recognizing their significant contributions to football.

Akram Afif's pivotal role in leading Qatar to an Asian Cup victory saw him emerge as the tournament's top scorer, securing eight goals. Meanwhile, Kiko Seike's performance was instrumental in a record-breaking season for the Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, culminating in a consecutive Japanese league title win. She has since transitioned to England with club Brighton.

(With inputs from agencies.)