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From Saudi Arabia to Japan and beyond, the wide continent of Asia contains just among the most football-angry populations on earth.
And or now not it is produced its horny portion of top gamers for the length of history, from World Cup trailblazers to Premier League superstars.
Here, FourFourTwo counts down the most entertaining Asian footballers of all time…
33. Sun Jihai (China)
Sun Jihai changed into one among the first two Chinese gamers to play in England, within the foundation joining worldwide teammate Fan Zhiyi on mortgage at second-tier Crystal Palace in 1998.
Sun went one better than Fan, even though: in February 2002, he joined Manchester Metropolis, turning into the first Chinese participant to feature within the Premier League.
The defender remodeled 150 appearances for Metropolis, sooner than a temporary stint with Sheffield United within the Championship.
32. Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan)
Uzbekistan’s captain and all-time main goalscorer, Eldor Shomurodov is among a handful of gamers from the venerable Soviet republic to set themselves in a single among Europe’s top 5 leagues.
After impressing in his first season in Serie A with Genoa in 2020/21, the striker earned an even bigger pass to Roma – where he received the 2021/22 Europa Convention League.
31. Ahn Jung-hwan (South Korea)
Capped 71 times by South Korea between 2007 and 2010, Ahn Jung-hwan became a national hero in 2002 when he headed within the golden purpose that despatched his country thru to the World Cup quarter-finals at Italy’s expense.
On the general deployed as a second striker, Ahn also played domestically in Italy with Perugia – in addition to in France and Germany with Metz and MSV Duisburg respectively.
30. Wataru Endo (Japan)
A shock signing by Liverpool when he arrived from Stuttgart within the summer of 2023 on the age of 30, Japan midfielder Wataru Endo proved to be a diminutive of a revelation within the Premier League.
An terribly laborious-working ball-winner, Endo changed into a key member of the Japan facet who shrinking Germany and Spain en route to winning their community on the 2022 World Cup.
He captained the national team for the first time rapidly sooner than his swap to Anfield.
29. Salem Al-Dawsari (Saudi Arabia)
Skipper and somersaulting scorer of the decisive purpose as Saudi Arabia produced one among the indispensable World Cup shocks to defeat eventual winners Argentina at Qatar 2022, Salem Al-Dawsari changed into bestowed with the glory of 2022 AFC Participant of the Three hundred and sixty five days (awarded to best participant from golf equipment internal the Asian Soccer Confederation).
A plenty of Saudi Professional League champion with Al-Hilal, the tricky winger had a temporary mortgage spell at Villarreal in 2018.
28. Mohamed Al-Deayea (Saudi Arabia)
One in every of the most-capped gamers within the history of worldwide football, goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea represented Saudi Arabia a whopping 178 times – in only 13 years.
A 1996 Asian Cup winner, Al-Deayea – who lifted four Saudi Professional League titles with Al-Hilal – changed into named Asia’s Goalkeeper of the Century by IFFHS in 1999.
27. Younis Mahmoud (Iraq)
Captain of the Iraq national team for a decade, Younis Mahmoud scored 57 dreams in 148 caps, finishing as joint main marksman as the Lions of Mesopotamia sprung a shock to derive the 2007 Asian Cup.
Nominated for that year’s Ballon d’Or (he placed Twenty ninth), Mahmoud notched the best purpose of the sport within the closing against Saudi Arabia, firmly cementing his station as a national hero.
26. Eiji Kawashima (Japan)
Japan’s first-preference goalkeeper on the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, Eiji Kawashima helped his country reach the closing 16 of the latter match – where he produced a glorious efficiency within the Samurai Blue’s dramatic exit to Belgium.
A 2011 Asian Cup winner, Kawashima spent 14 years in Europe, turning out for golf equipment in Belgium, Scotland and France – and lifting the 2018/19 French League Cup with Strasbourg.
25. Yasuhito Endo (Japan)
The first Jap participant ever to jog the 150-cap mark, the enduring Yasuhito Endo grew to become out 152 times in all, featuring at four World Cups.
When he in a roundabout design retired in 2023, the midfielder – who received the Jap top-flight title, cup and the 2008 AFC Champions League with Gamba Osaka – had chalked up more than 1,000 profession appearances.
In 2009, Endo changed into voted Asian Footballer of the Three hundred and sixty five days.
24. Takumi Minamino (Japan)
A typical goalscorer for Japan since making his worldwide debut in 2015, Takumi Minamino featured within the Samurai Blue’s speed to the closing 16 of the 2022 World Cup, featuring within the historical victory over Germany.
Signed by Austrian giants Crimson Bull Salzburg rapidly sooner than his twentieth birthday, the versatile attacking midfielder joined Liverpool in January 2020 – and picked up a Premier League winners’ medal six months later.
He left the Reds for Monaco in 2022.
23. Ali Karimi (Iran)
Capped 127 times by Iran, Ali Karimi scored 38 worldwide dreams and helped Group Melli to Third space on the 2004 Asian Cup – in addition to featuring on the 2006 World Cup.
A divine dribbler who left opposition gamers “dizzy” – so said ex-Germany defender Per Mertesacker – Karimi did the 2005/06 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Bayern Munich, and he later returned to Europe with Schalke.
22. Shinji Okazaki (Japan)
Completely a handful of gamers beget bagged more dreams for Japan than Shinji Okazaki (50) – who became the second participant from his country to derive the Premier League title, making 36 appearances and netting 5 times for the length of Leicester’s miraculous 2015/16 marketing and marketing campaign.
Having made his World Cup debut at South Africa 2010, Okazaki starred as Japan lifted the 2011 Asian Cup. He featured at two more World Cups and received 119 caps in all.
21. Saeed Al-Owairan (Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia marked their World Cup debut in 1994 by reaching the closing 16 – and in addition they bought there on account of Saeed Al-Owairan making slightly a mark of his find by scoring one among the most entertaining dreams of all time, a Maradona-esque solo winner to knock out Belgium.
Capped 75 times by his country, Al-Owairan spent his whole profession with Al-Shabab, where he received three straight Saudi titles on the beginning of the 90s.
20. Makoto Hasebe (Japan)
Unruffled going solid for Eintracht Frankfurt venerable 40, venerable Japan skipper Makoto Hasebe has to head down as one among his nation’s most winning exports.
The ex-Urawa Crimson Diamonds centre-attend joined Eintracht in 2014, going on to derive the 2017/18 DFB-Pokal and 2021/22 Europa League.
At worldwide stage, he captained the Jap to 2011 Asian Cup victory and looked in three World Cups.
19. Ahmed Radhi (Iraq)
Iraq’s most entertaining participant of all time, Ahmed Radhi starred in his country’s first and handiest World Cup appearance in 1986, scoring their sole World Cup purpose against Belgium.
Named Asian Footballer of the Three hundred and sixty five days for 1988, the legendary striker averaged better than a purpose every utterly different sport for Iraq, netting 62 times in 121 caps.
18. Kazuyoshi Miura (Japan)
Astonishingly restful taking half in professionally into the latter half of his 50s (yes, you be taught that appropriate), Kazuyoshi Miura is one among the all-time greats of Jap football.
Whereas he changed into unlucky never to play on the World Cup, the striker – who, curiously, started his profession in Brazil and has also had spells in Italy and Croatia – tasted glory on the 1992 Asian Cup and racked up 55 dreams in 89 caps.
17. Yuto Nagatomo (Japan)
One in every of Asia’s best ever defenders, Yuto Nagatomo received his first Japan cap mere months after making his official debut for FC Tokyo – and he would jog on to amass neatly over 100 appearances for his nation.
The adaptable full-attend – a 2011 Asian Cup winner and a passe of three World Cups – joined Inter Milan in 2011 and featured more than 200 times for the Serie A giants, sooner than spells with Galatasaray and Marseille.
16. Kim Min-jae (South Korea)
Courted by just among the sphere’s greatest golf equipment after accurate one season with Napoli – where he received the Serie A title – and handiest two seasons in Europe general, South Korea’s Kim Min-jae joined Bayern Munich for €58m within the summer of 2023, making him the most costly Asian footballer in history.
An elite, total original centre-attend, Kim uncared for the 2018 World Cup thru wound but changed into concerned four years later.
15. Javad Nekounam (Iran)
Amongst the very best gamers in Iran’s history, Javad Nekounam accrued 149 caps over the direction of a 15-year worldwide profession, starring on the 2006 and 2014 World Cups – the latter as skipper.
The goalscoring midfielder played made nearly all of his membership appearances for Tehran membership Pas, but he also spent seven years, all the design in which thru two spells, with La Liga outfit Osasuna – who he helped to the 2006/07 UEFA Cup semi-finals.
14. Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)
The first ever Asian participant to appear at four consecutive World Cups, South Korean sweeper Hong Myung-bo changed into included in Pele’s 2004 FIFA 100 list of the most entertaining living footballers.
Capped for the first time in 1990, his worldwide profession went on accurate prolonged sufficient for him to captain his country at their residence World Cup of 2002 – where he scooped the Bronze Ball as one among the gamers of the match.
13. Shunsuke Nakamura (Japan)
A Japan worldwide on 98 times, featuring on the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, legendary playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura spent the best years of his membership profession at Celtic – where he received three Scottish top-flight titles and beget turn into the first Jap participant to attain within the Champions League.
An indispensable free-kick taker, Nakamura changed into once said in train to “begin a tin of beans with his left foot”. High praised indeed.
12. Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan)
Japan’s file scorer by far, the prolific Kunishige Kamamoto bagged 75 dreams in 76 caps between 1964 and 1977.
The Samurai Blue never licensed for the World Cup for the length of his profession, but Kamamoto – who top-scored on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico Metropolis – is an undisputed story of Jap football.
11. Sami Al-Jaber (Saudi Arabia)
One in every of Saudi Arabia’s most-capped gamers, Sami Al-Jaber starred in his nation’s first four World Cups, scoring in three of them.
A 1996 Asian Cup winner, and a 5-time Saudi champion with Al-Hilal, the forward became the youngest men’s participant to 100 worldwide caps when he hit the milestone in 1998 venerable 25 years and 4 months.
10. Mehdi Mahdavikia (Iran)
Asian Footballer of the Three hundred and sixty five days in 2003, Iranian icon Mehdi Mahdavikia loved a indispensable profession on the ideal flank for Hamburg and Tehran giants Persepolis, among others.
Capped 110 times by his country, Mahdavikia played on the 1998 and 2006 World Cups, in addition to serving to Group Melli to Third-placed finishes on the 1996 and 2004 Asian Cups.
9. Ali Daei (Iran)
With 108 dreams in 148 caps, Ali Daei changed into the all-time main men’s worldwide goalscorer for more than 15 years (in a roundabout design dropping that crown to an very perfect Mr Ronaldo).
Voted AFC Asian Footballer of the Three hundred and sixty five days in 1999 – having received the Bundesliga title and reached the Champions League closing with Bayern Munich – Daei played on the 1998 and 2006 World Cups (sporting a sublime moustache on the venerable).
8. Shinji Kagawa (Japan)
Having spent most of his profession with two of Europe’s greatest golf equipment – Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund – Shinji Kagawa is one among the most prominent footballers in Japan’s history.
A Premier League and Bundesliga champion, the adaptable playmaker helped his country to victory on the 2011 Asian Cup and featured on the 2014 World Cup.
7. Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan)
In 1998, 77-cap Japan worldwide Hidetoshi Nakata became the first Asian participant ever to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or (he changed into nominated thrice within the house of 4 years, if truth be told).
A extremely proficient, tirelessly laborious-working midfielder, Nakata spent nearly all of his profession in Serie A – where he received the 2000/01 Scudetto with Roma – and completed his taking half in days within the Premier League, on mortgage at Bolton Wanderers.
6. Kim Joo-sung (South Korea)
Nicknamed ‘Wild Horse’ for his prolonged, wavy hair, Kim Joo-sung changed into one among South Korea’s first footballing superstars, incomes 76 caps for the Taegeuk Warriors from 1985 to 1996.
A swashbuckling winger who could maybe perhaps also operate as a sweeper, Kim played nearly exclusively for South Korean membership Daewoo Royals – but he did beget a mortgage spell at German outfit Bochum, where he received the 1993/94 2. Bundesliga title.
5. Paulino Alcantara (Philippines)
For 87 years, Paulino Alcantara held Barcelona’s file for the most dreams in legit and friendly matches (an very perfect Mr Messi surpassed his total of 369 in 2014).
Born within the Philippines, Alcantara moved to Barcelona venerable three as his family fled their space of start within the aftermath of revolution. He went on to derive 5 Copas del Rey with the Blaugrana.
Whereas he later played for Spain, the striker did signify the Philippines at worldwide stage, starring in a 15-2 victory over Japan on the 1917 A ways Jap Games.
4. Park Ji-sung (South Korea)
Sir Alex Ferguson described Park Ji-sung as one among the most underrated gamers he ever worked with – and went as far as to affirm that Manchester United would beget received the 2011 Champions League closing against Barcelona had he brought the South Korean indispensable on to man-mark Lionel Messi (Park changed into segment of United’s Champions League-winning squad three years earlier, even though).
That’s the regard in which the 100-cap midfielder – who starred in his nation’s speed to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals – changed into (and restful is) held.
3. Keisuke Honda (Japan)
Japan’s most entertaining participant of all time, the incredibly engaging Keisuke Honda scored 37 dreams in 98 caps for the Samurai Blue and changed into named 2010 Jap Footballer of the Three hundred and sixty five days.
A year later, the ex-AC Milan and CSKA Moscow space-half specialist – who struck an destructive 30-yard free-kick against Denmark on the 2010 World Cup – helped his country to Asian Cup victory.
2. Cha Bum-kun (South Korea)
Amongst the first Asian gamers to set themselves in Europe, Cha Bum-kun is an absolute icon of South Korean football. The explosive winger accrued 136 caps for his country from 1972 to 1986, scoring 58 dreams and featuring on the 1986 World Cup.
Cha remodeled 150 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt and more than 200 for Bayer Leverkusen, lifting the UEFA Cup with both golf equipment.
1 Son Heung-min (South Korea)
South Korea’s greatest sporting wide name – and arguably the best in Asia – Son Heung-min made history in 2023 by turning into the first Asian participant to attain 100 Premier League dreams.
Joint Golden Boot winner in 2021/22, the Tottenham story – who has represented his nation at plenty of World Cups – changed into bestowed with the 2020 Puskas Award for this simply sensational solo purpose against Burnley.
