Top 6 best football players in Asia 2025: Ronaldo only third, Benzema is a big disappointment

The "Best footballer in Asia" award was founded in 2013 by the Chinese sports newspaper Titan Sports. This prestigious accolade was created with the specific purpose of honoring the most outstanding football talent within the Asian continent, recognizing players who either represent an Asian national team or play for a club under the jurisdiction of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The scale of this award is truly global, as it is often referred to as the "Asian Ballon d'Or" due to its rigorous and professional selection process.

To decide the winner, a grand jury, which in 2025 consisted of 64 members, including 42 media representatives from AFC member associations and 22 international journalists, ranks their top 5 players. The scoring system follows a 6-4-3-2-1 scale, where a first-place vote earns 6 points, a second-place vote 4, and so on. 

Since its inception, the award has evolved into the most definitive individual honor in Asian football. The inaugural winner was the Japanese legend Keisuke Honda, who claimed the trophy in 2013 while playing for the Russian club CSKA Moscow. Over its 13-year history, the award has been dominated by a very select group, being bestowed upon only 4 different players: Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki, Akram Afif, and the record-breaking Son Heung-min.

The list of nominees for the male player of the year in 2025 featured a star-studded cast, including global icons and rising stars like Salem Al-Dawsari, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, and the duo of Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min. 

While Ronaldo is undeniably the most legendary name among the candidates, his failure to secure major collective silverware in 2025 meant he had to concede defeat. In a surprising turn for his fans, Ronaldo was not only unable to clinch the top spot but was also decisively outpaced by a dynamic South Korean duo. Can you guess who the two front-runners are? Let’s explore the top names in the best football player in Asia 2025 rankings according to Nowgoalpro below.

The ultimate rankings of the best football players in Asia 2025

6. Salem Al-Dawsari

Starting at sixth place is the Saudi Arabian icon Salem Al-Dawsari of Al Hilal. Al-Dawsari collected 72 points after a stellar 2024/25 season where he became the AFC Champions League Elite top scorer with 10 goals. In 2025, he remained a vital cog for the Green Falcons, though he was narrowly edged out of the top 5 by higher-ranking tie-breakers. 

5. Karim Benzema

Just above him in fifth place is the French maestro Benzema. Representing Al Ittihad, Benzema earned 73 points. In his second season in the Middle East, Benzema demonstrated his world-class caliber by directly contributing to 29 goals for Al Ittihad, including 21 of his own. He became an indispensable pillar, leading the team at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium to the Saudi Pro League title.

4. Riyad Mahrez

In fourth place, Mahrez of Al Ahli demonstrated his enduring class by securing 75 points. The Algerian winger was instrumental for his club, finishing the season with high assist numbers, yet he fell just short of the podium. 

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

The third-place position belongs to Ronaldo. The Al Nassr captain finished with 91 points, accounting for 8.89% of the total votes. Ronaldo’s 2024/25 campaign was individually historic, as he topped the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 25 goals. On the international stage, the 40-year-old was a regular starter for Portugal and helped them win the Nations League in June 2025 by defeating Spain in a tense final. 

2. Lee Kang-in 

The runner-up of 2025 is the 24-year-old sensation Lee Kang-in. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder earned 105 points (10.25% of the votes) after a phenomenal year in France. Lee featured 11 times in PSG’s victorious Champions League campaign and contributed 6 goals in 30 Ligue 1 matches, helping the club secure their fourth consecutive domestic title. His technical brilliance has made him the undisputed heir to the South Korean throne. 

1. Son Heung-min 

The number 1 spot was reclaimed by Son Heung-min. Collecting 146 points (14.26%), Son secured this award for a record-breaking 10th time. This victory follows his previous triumphs in 2014, 2015, and a consecutive streak from 2017 to 2023. In his final season with Tottenham Hotspur, Son ended a decade-long wait for silverware by lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy, scoring 10 goals in 46 appearances. 

After his legendary farewell in London, he moved to Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in the United States, where he has already scored 12 goals in just 13 MLS matches. Son also played a pivotal role in ensuring South Korea qualified for their 11th straight World Cup finals.

Top 6 best footballers in Asia 2025:

Son Heung-min (South Korea/LAFC) – 146 points

Lee Kang-in (South Korea/PSG) – 105 points

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Al Nassr) – 91 points

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Al Ahli) – 75 points

Karim Benzema (France/Al Ittihad) – 73 points

Salem Al-Dawsari (Saudi Arabia/Al Hilal) – 72 points

Nowgoalpro.net congratulates Son Heung-min on a truly unforgettable farewell after nearly a decade at Tottenham and his continued dominance on the continental stage. To you, our readers, does this ranking of the best football players in Asia 2025 truly reflect the reality of the past year?

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