Iranian futsal pro Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh has nabbed this year’s prestigious Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Player of the Year Award after playing a key role in the year’s major competitions, including the AFC Futsal Championship, Iranian Futsal Super League, and FIFA Futsal World Cup.
This is the second time the 29-year-old striker has received the honor for his contributions on one of the world’s best futsal teams. He made his first appearance for the Iranian national futsal team in 2005, which currently ranks first in the AFC and fourth in the world. Hassanzadeh has notched 10 goals in 18 FIFA appearances, most notably scoring in Iran’s upset win versus Brazil in the 2016 Futsal World Cup. With his help, Iran also clinched the AFC Futsal Championships this year, beating Uzbekistan 2-1. With Iran and Japan dominating the AFC championships since its inception in 1999, it’s certain we will see more of this leading scorer commanding the pitch.
