GOAL 25 | Best 25 Arab Players of 2017

GOAL gives you the best 25 Arab Players of 2017.

Arabian Football has never been in a better state after four nations qualified for the 2018 World Cup and three Arabian clubs out of four reached the Asian and African Champions League Finals in 2018. We have also seen Arabian players excel in one of the strongest, if not the strongest league in the world, the English Premier League and the leagues around it.

Hence, we at GOAL welcome you to the 2017 GOAL Best 25 Arab Players Award, where we give you the best players in and out of the Arab World across the last 12 months.

25 | Ali Mabkhout - Al Jazira - UAE
The talented Emirati striker led Al Jazira to the UAE Arabian Gulf League, scoring 33 goals in the league to win the top scorer award.

24 | Muaiad Ellafi - Al Shabab (KSA) - Libya
The Libyan was excellent with Ahli Tripoli in Libya and contributed to their qualification to the quarter finals of the CAF Champions league.
23 | Abdulla Al-Mayouf - Al Hilal - Saudi Arabia
The Al Hilal goalkeeper was a key player for the side that won the league and reached the final of the AFC Champions League alongside earning qualification to the FIFA World Cup with Saudi Arabia.

22 | Rachid Ghezzal - Lyon - Algeria
The Algerian midfielder helped Olympique Lyonnais to a 4th placed finish in the French League and the semi final of the UEFA Europa League.
21 | Ahmed Fathy - Al Ahly - Egypt
The joker won the Egyptian league with Al Ahly and scored the winner in the final of the Egypt Cup against El Masry.
20 | Achraf Hakimi - Real Madrid - Morocco
Helped Morocco qualify to the FIFA World Cup, and was the first ever Arab player to play for Real Madrid, also scoring a goal for them.
19 | Taha Yassine Khenissi - ES Tunis - Tunisia
Led Tunisia to the FIFA World Cup and helped ES Tunis win the Tunisian league thanks to his 14 goals that made him finish as top scorer of the league.
18 | Mahmoud Kahraba - Al Ittihad (KSA) - Egypt
Scored the winning goal for Egypt against Morocco to qualify for the semi finals of the African Cup of Nations alongside helping the national team reach the FIFA World Cup. He also won the Crown Prince Cup with Al Ittihad, scoring 16 goals for them last season and finishing the season in 3rd place.
17 | Trezeguet - Kasimpasa - Egypt
Performed excellent for Kasimpasa in Turkey alongside helping Egypt to a runners-up spot in the African Cup of Nations and helped the nation qualify to the FIFA World Cup.
16 | Nawaf Al Abed - Al Hilal - Saudi Arabia
Helped Saudi Arabia qualify to the FIFA World Cup, Al Hilal win the league and reach the final of the AFC Champions League.
15 | Karim Al Ahmadi - Feyenoord - Morocco
Al Ahmadi won the Eredivise with Feyenoord last season for the first time in 20 years and helped Morocco qualify to the FIFA World Cup.
14 | Medhi Benatia - Juventus - Morocco
Won the double with Juventus in Italy alongside being very close to winning the UEFA Champions League when they lost to Real Madrid in the final last year. He also helped Morocco qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
13 | Abdallah Said - Al Ahly - Egypt
Al Ahly’s excellent attacking midfielder was one of Egypt’s most important players in qualifying to the FIFA World Cup in Russia and helped Al Ahly earn the domestic double.
12 | Mohamed Elneny - Arsenal - Egypt
Contributed to Egypt’s qualification to the FIFA World Cup, and won the FA Cup with Arsenal.
11 | Ali Maaloul - Al Ahly - Tunisia
Maaloul contributed to Tunisia’s qualification to the FIFA World Cup and Al Ahly’s domestic double in the league and cup, in addition to their qualification to the CAF Champions League Final where they lost against Wydad.
10 | Fahad Al Muwallad - Al Ittihad - Saudi Arabia
Fahad Al Muwallad led his country Saudi Arabia to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006, and his club Al Ittihad to the Crown Prince Cup title for the 8th time in their history.
9 | Youssef Msakni - Al Duhail - Tunisia
Led Tunisia to the FIFA World Cup, and Al Duhail (previously Lekhwiya) to the Qatari Stars League title.
8 | Omar Abdulrahman - Al Ain - UAE
Amoory, the UAE star, led Al Ain to fourth place in the UAE Arabian Gulf League and the quarter finals of the AFC Champions League.
7 | Ahmed Hegazy - West Brom - Egypt
The Egyptian defender contributed to Al Ahly’s Egyptian League win and the qualification of Egypt to the FIFA World Cup alongside the final appearance in the African Cup of Nations. In the second half of 2017, he moved to West Bromwich Albion and excelled.
6 | Hakim Ziyech - Ajax - Morocco
The Moroccan player excelled and helped Ajax finish in 2nd place in the Eredivisie and qualify for the final of the UEFA Europa League where they lost against Manchester United. He also helped Morocco qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
5 | Faouzi Ghoulam - Napoli - Algeria
The Algerian full back contributed to Napoli’s 3rd place finish in the Serie A, round of 16 finish in the UEFA Champions League and reaching the semi-final of the Italian Cup, while also winning Algeria’s Best Player for the year 2017.
4 | Riyad Mahrez - Leicester City - Algeria
The Algerian star contributed to Leicester’s qualification to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, alongside scoring and creating goals for his side.
3 | Omar Khribin - Al Hilal (KSA) - Syria
Khrbin won the AFC Player of the Year of the Award after excelling with Al Hilal in the league and in the AFC Champions League, while also providing great performances for the Syrian national team.
2 | Omar Al Somah - Al Ahli (KSA) - Syria
The Syrian striker led Al Ahli to 2nd place in the Saudi League after he won the top scorer award with 24 goals scored, but also excelled on the national level, helping Syria to a World Cup playoff spot before losing to Australia.
Goal
1 | Mohamed Salah - Liverpool - Egypt
Mohamed Salah had an amazing first half of the season with Roma, and an excellent second half of the season with Liverpool. He also led Egypt to the finals of the 2017 African Cup of Nations and the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 28 years, alongside receiving an award for the Best African Player by the BBC and CAF.