Japan international Keisuke Honda says he won't be able to attend the AFC Annual Awards gala on November 24, ruling him out of the running to win the AFC Player of the Year award.
Honda was named in a list of 15 candidates and was arguably the favourite to be crowned his continent's best footballer after a stellar year for both club and country.
However, one of the criteria for the award is that the winner must be able to attend the ceremony.
The 24 year-old was quoted by the Asian Football Confederation's official website saying that he wouldn't be attending the awards given they were sandwiched between two "crucial" Russian Premier League games.
Shame. He's probably japan's best player
good player great world cup behind him