The AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award, officially known as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, is one of the most prestigious individual honors in Asian international football. It recognizes the player who has made the biggest overall contribution to his national team’s performance during the AFC Asian Cup.
Unlike the FIFA World Cup, the AFC Asian Cup does not officially use the term “Golden Ball” for this honor. The official terminology is Most Valuable Player (MVP), although football fans and media outlets sometimes refer to it as the Asian Cup Best Player or Golden Ball. The award has been presented since the 1972 edition, with the exception of the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, when no MVP was awarded.
Over the years, the award has been won by some of the biggest names in Asian football, including Iran’s Ali Parvin, Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura, Korea Republic’s Kim Joo-sung, Iraq’s Younis Mahmoud, Japan’s Keisuke Honda, Australia’s Massimo Luongo, Qatar’s Almoez Ali and Akram Afif.
The following is the complete AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award winners list from 1972 through the latest completed edition in 2023.
AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award Winners List
| Year | AFC Asian Cup | Best Player / MVP | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Thailand | Ebrahim Ashtiani | Iran |
| 1976 | Iran | Ali Parvin | Iran |
| 1980 | Kuwait | Not Awarded | — |
| 1984 | Singapore | Jia Xiuquan | China PR |
| 1988 | Qatar | Kim Joo-sung | Korea Republic |
| 1992 | Japan | Kazuyoshi Miura | Japan |
| 1996 | UAE | Khodadad Azizi | Iran |
| 2000 | Lebanon | Hiroshi Nanami | Japan |
| 2004 | China PR | Shunsuke Nakamura | Japan |
| 2007 | Southeast Asia | Younis Mahmoud | Iraq |
| 2011 | Qatar | Keisuke Honda | Japan |
| 2015 | Australia | Massimo Luongo | Australia |
| 2019 | UAE | Almoez Ali | Qatar |
| 2023 | Qatar | Akram Afif | Qatar |
The historical record identifies Ebrahim Ashtiani as the first MVP in 1972, followed by Ali Parvin in 1976. The award was not given in 1980 before returning in 1984 with China’s Jia Xiuquan as the winner.
1972 – Ebrahim Ashtiani, Iran
The first Best Player award in the period covered by this list went to Ebrahim Ashtiani of Iran at the 1972 AFC Asian Cup in Thailand.
Iran entered the tournament as defending champions after winning the 1968 edition on home soil. In 1972, Iran successfully defended its title, defeating Korea Republic 2–1 after extra time in the final.
Ashtiani was an important member of an outstanding Iranian generation. His recognition as the tournament’s MVP made him the first recipient of the award in this era.
The 1972 tournament also established Iran as the dominant force in Asian football. Four years later, Iran would win the competition again and complete an unprecedented run of three consecutive Asian Cup championships.
1976 – Ali Parvin, Iran
Iran continued its dominance at the 1976 AFC Asian Cup, hosted on home soil.
The tournament ended with Iran winning its third consecutive Asian Cup title. One of the stars of that generation was Ali Parvin, who was selected as the tournament’s Best Player.
Parvin was renowned for his technical ability, passing, vision and leadership. His influence went far beyond individual statistics, making him an important figure in one of the greatest periods in Iranian football history.
Iran’s three consecutive championships from 1968, 1972 and 1976 remain an unmatched achievement in AFC Asian Cup history.
1980 – No Best Player Award
The 1980 AFC Asian Cup, hosted in Kuwait, is the unusual entry on the MVP list.
No Most Valuable Player award was officially given for this edition.
Kuwait won the tournament on home soil, defeating Korea Republic 3–0 in the final. Despite the absence of an official MVP award, the tournament featured several outstanding players.
The decision not to award an MVP makes 1980 different from most other editions in the history of the competition.
1984 – Jia Xiuquan, China PR
The Best Player award returned in 1984, with Jia Xiuquan of China PR receiving the honor.
The tournament was held in Singapore, with Saudi Arabia winning its first Asian Cup title after defeating China PR 2–0 in the final.
Jia was one of the most influential players of the tournament. Interestingly, he also finished among the leading scorers with three goals.
The 1984 edition therefore remains a memorable tournament for Jia, even though China PR did not win the championship. The official tournament records list Jia Xiuquan as both a leading scorer and the Most Valuable Player.
1988 – Kim Joo-sung, Korea Republic
The 1988 AFC Asian Cup was held in Qatar, with Saudi Arabia successfully defending its title.
Kim Joo-sung of Korea Republic was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Kim was one of the most famous Korean footballers of his generation and became known for his versatility, athleticism and defensive strength.
Although Korea Republic lost the final to Saudi Arabia on penalties, Kim’s performances throughout the tournament earned him individual recognition.
The 1988 tournament records list Kim Joo-sung as the MVP, while Lee Tae-ho finished as the leading goalscorer with three goals.
1992 – Kazuyoshi Miura, Japan
The 1992 AFC Asian Cup represented a major turning point for Japanese football.
Hosted in Japan, the tournament was won by the host nation, which defeated Saudi Arabia in the final to claim its first Asian Cup championship.
One of the key figures was Kazuyoshi Miura, who was named Most Valuable Player.
Miura was one of the most recognizable Japanese footballers of his era and played an important role in Japan’s emergence as a major force in Asian football.
The 1992 award was especially significant because Japan would go on to become the most successful nation in AFC Asian Cup history.
1996 – Khodadad Azizi, Iran
The 1996 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates produced another memorable MVP performance.
Iran’s Khodadad Azizi was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Iran did not win the tournament, but Azizi was one of the standout players of the competition. His performances helped establish him as one of the leading Iranian footballers of the 1990s.
The AFC has described the 1996 tournament as a particularly important moment in Azizi’s career. He was named MVP before later receiving the AFC Player of the Year award for the same year.
Azizi would subsequently become internationally famous for his role in Iran’s dramatic qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
2000 – Hiroshi Nanami, Japan
The 2000 AFC Asian Cup was hosted by Lebanon.
Japan eventually won the championship, defeating Saudi Arabia in the final.
Japanese midfielder Hiroshi Nanami was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Nanami played a crucial role in Japan’s successful campaign and was recognized for his technical quality and influence in midfield.
The AFC’s retrospective coverage describes Nanami as leaving the tournament with both an Asian Cup winners’ medal and the tournament’s MVP award.
His achievement became another chapter in Japan’s growing dominance of the competition.
2004 – Shunsuke Nakamura, Japan
The 2004 AFC Asian Cup was hosted by China PR.
Japan successfully defended its title, defeating China in the final.
One of the stars of the tournament was Japanese playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, who was named MVP.
Nakamura was famous for his exceptional technique, passing ability and set-piece expertise. His performances in the tournament helped Japan secure another continental championship.
The official tournament records list Nakamura as the Most Valuable Player, while Bahrain’s A’ala Hubail and Iran’s Ali Karimi shared the top-scorer award.
Nakamura’s success also strengthened Japan’s reputation as the leading Asian football nation of the era.
2007 – Younis Mahmoud, Iraq
The 2007 AFC Asian Cup produced one of the most emotional stories in the competition’s history.
Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the final to win its first AFC Asian Cup title.
Iraq’s captain and striker Younis Mahmoud was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Mahmoud was also among the leading scorers and scored the decisive goal in the final.
His performances made him one of the defining figures of the tournament. The achievement was particularly significant because Iraq’s diverse squad captured the imagination of football supporters around the world.
The AFC records and historical accounts identify Mahmoud as the tournament MVP.
Mahmoud remains one of the most iconic players in Iraqi football history.
2011 – Keisuke Honda, Japan
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was held in Qatar.
Japan eventually defeated Australia 1–0 after extra time in the final, with Tadanari Lee scoring the decisive goal.
The tournament’s Best Player award went to Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda.
Honda was one of Japan’s most influential attacking midfielders and played a major role in the team’s championship campaign.
The AFC officially describes Honda as the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 tournament.
Honda’s award was another milestone for Japan, which captured its fourth Asian Cup title in 2011.
2015 – Massimo Luongo, Australia
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup was hosted by Australia.
The hosts made history by winning their first Asian Cup title after defeating Korea Republic 2–1 after extra time in the final.
Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Luongo scored twice during the competition, including Australia’s opening goal in the final.
The AFC described his MVP award as recognition of his outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
His achievement was particularly notable because Australia had only joined the AFC in 2006.
The 2015 tournament therefore represented both a historic team achievement and a major individual milestone for Luongo.
2019 – Almoez Ali, Qatar
The 2019 AFC Asian Cup marked the beginning of Qatar’s modern golden era.
Qatar defeated Japan 3–1 in the final to win its first AFC Asian Cup title.
Qatari striker Almoez Ali was the tournament’s standout player.
He scored nine goals, setting a record for the most goals scored by an individual player in a single edition of the Asian Cup at the time.
He was rewarded with both the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards. The AFC confirmed that his nine goals helped Qatar win its first continental championship.
Ali also scored in the final against Japan, making his tournament even more memorable.
2023 – Akram Afif, Qatar
The latest completed AFC Asian Cup produced another outstanding performance from a Qatari player.
Akram Afif was named the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
Qatar defeated Jordan 3–1 in the final, with Afif scoring all three of Qatar’s goals from the penalty spot.
He finished the tournament with eight goals and three assists, while also winning the tournament’s top-scorer award.
The AFC officially confirmed Afif as the 2023 MVP and Top Scorer.
His performance was one of the defining individual displays in recent Asian Cup history.
Countries With the Most AFC Asian Cup MVP Winners
Japan has produced the largest number of different MVP winners since the award began in this era.
| Country | MVP Winners | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Kazuyoshi Miura, Hiroshi Nanami, Shunsuke Nakamura, Keisuke Honda | 4 |
| Iran | Ebrahim Ashtiani, Ali Parvin, Khodadad Azizi | 3 |
| Qatar | Almoez Ali, Akram Afif | 2 |
| China PR | Jia Xiuquan | 1 |
| Korea Republic | Kim Joo-sung | 1 |
| Iraq | Younis Mahmoud | 1 |
| Australia | Massimo Luongo | 1 |
Japan therefore leads the historical list with four different MVP winners, followed by Iran with three.
Japan’s Dominance in the MVP Award
Japan’s success in the MVP category reflects the country’s broader transformation into one of Asia’s football powerhouses.
Four Japanese players have won the award:
- Kazuyoshi Miura – 1992
- Hiroshi Nanami – 2000
- Shunsuke Nakamura – 2004
- Keisuke Honda – 2011
These awards came during four different Japanese championship campaigns.
Japan has also won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times, making the country the most successful nation in tournament history.
Iran’s Golden Generation
Iran has also had tremendous success in the MVP category.
Its three winners are:
- Ebrahim Ashtiani – 1972
- Ali Parvin – 1976
- Khodadad Azizi – 1996
The first two came during Iran’s historic three-title run between 1968 and 1976.
The third, Azizi, came two decades later during another important period in Iranian football.
Qatar’s Recent Rise
Qatar has produced the two most recent Asian Cup MVP winners:
- Almoez Ali – 2019
- Akram Afif – 2023
This is closely connected to Qatar’s recent tournament success.
Qatar won the 2019 tournament and then successfully defended the title in 2023.
Afif’s 2023 performance was particularly remarkable because he scored a hat-trick in the final and became both MVP and top scorer.
MVP vs Top Scorer: What’s the Difference?
The Best Player award should not be confused with the Top Scorer award.
Most Valuable Player
The MVP is selected based on the player’s overall impact on the tournament.
Factors can include:
- Goals
- Assists
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Defensive contributions
- Consistency
- Influence in important matches
Top Scorer
The Top Scorer award is primarily based on the number of goals scored.
A player can therefore win one award without winning the other.
However, several players have won both awards in the same tournament.
Examples include:
- Younis Mahmoud – 2007
- Almoez Ali – 2019
- Akram Afif – 2023
Players Who Won MVP Without Winning the Tournament
Winning the Asian Cup is not a requirement for becoming the tournament’s Best Player.
Several players have won the MVP award despite their teams not becoming champions.
Notable examples include:
Jia Xiuquan – 1984
China PR reached the final but lost to Saudi Arabia.
Kim Joo-sung – 1988
Korea Republic reached the final but lost to Saudi Arabia.
Khodadad Azizi – 1996
Iran did not reach the final, but Azizi was still selected as MVP.
This demonstrates that the award recognizes individual performance rather than simply giving the honor to a player from the winning team.
Most Memorable Recent MVP Performances
Almoez Ali – 2019
Nine goals and a championship made Almoez Ali’s tournament one of the most prolific individual campaigns in Asian Cup history.
Akram Afif – 2023
Afif produced eight goals and three assists and scored a hat-trick in the final against Jordan.
Massimo Luongo – 2015
Luongo scored in the final and played a key role in Australia’s first Asian Cup championship.
Keisuke Honda – 2011
Honda’s creativity and influence helped Japan win its fourth Asian Cup title.
What About AFC Asian Cup 2027?
The next edition will be the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, scheduled to take place in January and February 2027.
The tournament’s Best Player award will be decided only after the competition is completed.
As a result, there is currently no AFC Asian Cup 2027 MVP winner.
Fans will be watching several established stars and emerging talents during the tournament, and the eventual winner could come from a traditional powerhouse or an unexpected breakthrough team.
The 2027 edition could therefore add another name to this historic list.
Complete AFC Asian Cup MVP Winners List at a Glance
| Year | Winner | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Ebrahim Ashtiani | Iran |
| 1976 | Ali Parvin | Iran |
| 1980 | Not Awarded | — |
| 1984 | Jia Xiuquan | China PR |
| 1988 | Kim Joo-sung | Korea Republic |
| 1992 | Kazuyoshi Miura | Japan |
| 1996 | Khodadad Azizi | Iran |
| 2000 | Hiroshi Nanami | Japan |
| 2004 | Shunsuke Nakamura | Japan |
| 2007 | Younis Mahmoud | Iraq |
| 2011 | Keisuke Honda | Japan |
| 2015 | Massimo Luongo | Australia |
| 2019 | Almoez Ali | Qatar |
| 2023 | Akram Afif | Qatar |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first AFC Asian Cup Best Player since 1972?
Iran’s Ebrahim Ashtiani was the first MVP recipient in the period beginning with the 1972 Asian Cup.
Who won the AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award in 1976?
Ali Parvin of Iran won the award in 1976.
Was an MVP awarded in 1980?
No. The Most Valuable Player award was not awarded in 1980.
Who won the 1984 AFC Asian Cup MVP award?
China PR’s Jia Xiuquan was named MVP.
Who won the 1988 Asian Cup Best Player award?
Kim Joo-sung of Korea Republic won the award.
Who was the MVP of the 1992 Asian Cup?
Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura won the award.
Who won the MVP award in 1996?
Iran’s Khodadad Azizi was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Who won the AFC Asian Cup MVP award in 2000?
Japan’s Hiroshi Nanami won the award.
Who won the 2004 AFC Asian Cup MVP?
Japan’s Shunsuke Nakamura was named Most Valuable Player.
Who was the MVP of the 2007 Asian Cup?
Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud won the award after leading Iraq to its first Asian Cup title.
Who won the 2011 Asian Cup Best Player award?
Japan’s Keisuke Honda was named MVP.
Who won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup MVP?
Australia’s Massimo Luongo won the award as Australia claimed its first Asian Cup title.
Who won the 2019 Asian Cup MVP?
Qatar’s Almoez Ali won the MVP award after scoring a record nine goals.
Who won the 2023 AFC Asian Cup MVP?
Qatar’s Akram Afif was named MVP after helping Qatar retain the Asian Cup title.
Which country has produced the most AFC Asian Cup MVP winners?
Japan has produced four different MVP winners since 1972, the most of any country.
Can a player win MVP without winning the Asian Cup?
Yes. The award recognizes individual tournament performance. Jia Xiuquan, Kim Joo-sung and Khodadad Azizi are examples of MVP winners whose teams did not win the championship.
Is the AFC Asian Cup Best Player officially called the Golden Ball?
No. The official designation is Most Valuable Player (MVP). “Golden Ball” is an informal description sometimes used by fans and media.
Conclusion
The AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award Winners List since 1972 provides a fascinating history of Asian football’s greatest individual performers.
From Iran’s Ebrahim Ashtiani and Ali Parvin in the 1970s to Japan’s Kazuyoshi Miura, Hiroshi Nanami, Shunsuke Nakamura and Keisuke Honda, the award has repeatedly recognized players who shaped their teams’ tournament campaigns.
Iraq’s Younis Mahmoud, Australia’s Massimo Luongo and Qatar’s Almoez Ali added their names to the list, while Qatar’s Akram Afif became the latest winner after his extraordinary 2023 campaign.
Japan currently leads the list with four different MVP winners, while Iran has three and Qatar has two. With the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 approaching, attention will soon turn to the next generation of Asian football stars.
The 2027 tournament will provide another opportunity for a player to produce a defining performance, make history and join this prestigious list of AFC Asian Cup Best Player Award winners.
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