Syria's Khrbin named AFC Player of the Year

The award, at a glittering ceremony in Bangkok, goes some way to compensate for the disappointment endured by the 23-year-old over the weekend when his Al Hilal side narrowly lost 1-2 on aggregate to Japan's Uwara Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League final.

Australia's Samantha Kerr claimed the women's Player of the Year title in Bangkok, after tearing through defences for US-based Sky Blue FC and her national side.

Khrbin was selected ahead of last year's winner Omar Abdulrahman -- Asia's hottest rising star -- and Wu Lei, the skilful Chinese winger.

The Syrian national football team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing last month in agonising fashion by a single goal over two legs to Australia.

Yet is was an inspiring sporting journey for the team -- and their top scorer -- against the backdrop of Syria's grinding six-year civil war.

Khrbin showed a knack for scoring key goals, both in his country's qualification campaign and in Al Hilal's run to the AFC Champions League Final.

He scored the equaliser for the Saudi outfit in the home leg with Urawa Red Diamonds, before they went down by a single goal in Japan.

In receiving the award, the 23-year-old thanked God and members of the national team.

"We apologise to all the fans because we did not achieve the greatest results but we promise them to keep trying our best," he said.

The AFC award for the best international player -- an Asian based outside the region -- went to South Korean Son Heung-Min, who has become a fans' favourite at Tottenham Hotspur.