These players have made a name for Asia in the Eurocentric football world.
Spanning from Saudi Arabia to Japan and beyond, the expansive continent of Asia is home to some of the most fervent football enthusiasts on the planet. It has also nurtured a multitude of exceptional players, ranging from trailblazers in the World Cup to superstars gracing the Premier League stage. In this list, we will look at the greatest Asian footballers of all time.
In 2023, Son Heung-min, South Korea's premier sporting icon and arguably Asia's most prominent figure, wrote his name in history by becoming the first Asian player to achieve the milestone of 100 goals in the Premier League. Having shared the Golden Boot title in the 2021/22 season, the revered Tottenham star, who has proudly represented his nation in multiple World Cup tournaments, was also honoured with the prestigious 2020 Puskas Award for his remarkable solo goal against Burnley.
One of the pioneering Asian players to make a mark in European football, Cha Bum-kun stands as an icon of South Korean football. The dynamic winger represented his country with distinction, accumulating an impressive 136 caps from 1972 to 1986, during which he scored 58 goals and participated in the 1986 World Cup. Cha enjoyed successful stints at Eintracht Frankfurt, amassing over 150 appearances, and Bayer Leverkusen, where he featured in more than 200 matches. Notably, he achieved the outstanding feat of winning the UEFA Cup with both clubs.
Keisuke Honda stands prominently as Japan's foremost football player in history. His illustrious career is highlighted by a display of brilliance, marked by 37 goals in 98 appearances for the Samurai Blue. He earned the prestigious title of Japanese Footballer of the Year in 2010. The following year, the former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow midfielder, known for his expertise in set-pieces, notably netted a spectacular 30-yard free-kick against Denmark during the 2010 World Cup. Moreover, he played a pivotal role in guiding his nation to victory in the Asian Cup.
Park Ji-sung earned high praise from Sir Alex Ferguson, who labelled him as one of the most underrated players he had the privilege of working with. Ferguson even speculated that Manchester United could have secured victory in the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona had they utilised the talents of the South Korean maestro to man-mark Lionel Messi. Park had previously been part of United's Champions League-winning squad three years prior. This level of admiration illustrates the esteemed status held by the midfielder, who amassed 100 caps for his country and played a pivotal role in South Korea's remarkable journey to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
For a span of 87 years, Paulino Alcantara held Barcelona's record for the highest number of goals scored in official and friendly matches, until Lionel Messi surpassed his tally of 369 in 2014. Originally from the Philippines, Alcantara relocated to Barcelona at the age of three as his family sought refuge following a period of revolution in their homeland. Throughout his career, he achieved significant success with the Blaugrana, clinching five Copa del Rey titles. Although later representing Spain internationally, the striker also proudly sported the Philippines' jersey, notably exhibiting his talent in a memorable 15-2 victory over Japan at the 1917 Far Eastern Games.
Other prominent figures such as Kim Joo-sung (South Korea), Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan), Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Ali Daei (Iran) and Mehdi Mahdavikia (Iran) were also in contention for the spot on the list, but these players take the cake!
