A-Leagues stars Holly McNamara and Alex Badolato have been nominated for top individual honours in Asian football following their respective stellar 2024-25 campaigns.
The Asian Football Confederation has announced nominees for the annual AFC Awards, with Matildas and Melbourne City forward McNamara set to vie for the prestigious honour of AFC Women’s Player of the Year.
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Young Socceroos midfielder Badolato, meanwhile, has been nominated for AFC Men’s Youth Player of the Year, after winning the most valuable player award at the 2025 AFC Under-20 Asian Cup – a tournament Australia won to qualify for the Under-20 World Cup kicking off this weekend.
Badolato and McNamara are two of several Australians nominated for awards at the annual ceremony. Ninja A-League and Matildas legend Steph Catley will compete for the honour of AFC Asian Women’s International Player of the Year, while Young Socceroos head coach Trevor Morgan will hope guiding Australia to Under-20 Asian Cup glory will lead to him claiming AFC Men’s Coach of the Year honours.
Finally, A-Leagues officials Alireza Faghani, Anton Shchetinin and Ashley Beecham will all receive the AFC Referees Special Award at the ceremony in Riyadh on October 16.
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FULL FIXTURES:Â Every match of the Isuzu UTE A-League 25-26 season here
DERBY DATES:Â The matches to circle in your calendar now
List of nominees
AFC Women’s Player of the Year
Holly McNamara (Melbourne City FC and AUS)
Wang Shuang (Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC and CHN)
Hana Takahashi (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies and JPN)
AFC Asian International Player of the Year (Women)
Stephanie Catley (Arsenal FC and AUS)
Maika Hamano (Chelsea FC and JPN)
Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City and JPN)
AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
Trevor Morgan (Australia U20 and AUS)
Ri Song Ho (DPR Korea U20 Women and PRK)
Song Sung Gwon (DPR Korea U17 Women and PRK)
AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men)
Alex Badolato (Newcastle Jets and AUS)
Hamed Yousef (Al Ittihad and KSA)
Sadriddin Khasanov (FC Bunyodkor and UZB)
