Newcastle Jets midfielder Alex Badolato was named Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Youth Player of the Year at the 2025 AFC Awards in Riyadh on Friday morning (AEDT).
The award caps off an unforgettable year for the 20-year-old, who was named Most Valuable Player at the 2025 AFC Under-20 Asian Cup in China.
Badolato played a crucial role in helping Australia clinch the continental title for the very first time, scoring the winning goal in a quarter-final triumph over Iraq and assisting against Japan in the semis before scoring a spot-kick in a 1-1 (5-4) penalty shootout win over Saudi Arabia in the final.
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Having sealed 2025 AFC Youth Player of the Year honours, the Newcastle Jets midfielder will now turn his attention to club football and an F3 Derby against Central Coast Mariners at polytec Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 1 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
2025-26 ULTIMATE GUIDE: Fixtures, signings, kits & more
