Who is the best player in AFC Asian Cup history?

The Asian Cup has produced remarkable football moments and iconic players from across the continent for over six decades — from Iranian strikers to Japanese playmakers and Iraqi heroes. Who is the tournament's ultimate legend?

Ali Daei

Iran's legendary striker dominated the Asian Cup throughout the 1990s and 2000s, finishing as one of the competition's all-time top scorers with his towering presence and clinical finishing.

1/12

Keisuke Honda

Japan's influential playmaker won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2011 Asian Cup triumph, delivering a commanding and decisive tournament performance with goals and assists.

2/12

Kunishige Kamamoto

Japan's all-time leading scorer and first true international star inspired the country's early Asian Cup campaigns in the 1960s and is considered the father of Japanese international football.

3/12

Younis Mahmoud

Iraq's talismanic captain headed home the winning goal in the 2007 Asian Cup final, providing one of the tournament's most iconic and emotionally charged moments for a war-torn nation.

4/12

Sami Al-Jaber

Technically gifted Saudi Arabia forward represented his country across four Asian Cups over two decades, becoming one of the most recognised faces in Asian football history.

5/12

Cha Bum-kun

South Korea's greatest ever player, a dynamic forward who was devastating in Asian Cup play throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, later becoming a Bundesliga legend.

6/12

Yasser Al-Qahtani

Saudi Arabia's prolific modern striker lit up multiple Asian Cup tournaments with his goals and was named the best player at the 2007 Asian Cup edition in Indonesia-Thailand-Malaysia-Vietnam.

7/12

Shinji Kagawa

Japan's creative playmaker starred in their 2011 Asian Cup triumph, combining creative genius with decisive goals in a tournament that confirmed his readiness for Europe's top clubs.

8/12

Masoud Shojaei

Iran's combative and technically accomplished captain performed consistently across multiple Asian Cup campaigns and is revered as one of modern Iranian football's all-time greats.

9/12

Ali Hassan Salmin

Kuwait's legendary forward powered their shock 1980 Asian Cup win, tearing apart defences and being the central figure in Kuwait's only continental title.

10/12

Son Heung-min

South Korea's greatest modern player has starred in multiple Asian Cup campaigns with his combination of pace, technical quality, and match-winning goals that make him Asia's finest modern footballer.

11/12

Park Ji-sung

South Korea's Champions League-winning midfielder brought his tireless, dynamic playing style to multiple Asian Cup campaigns, consistently energising and inspiring the Taeguk Warriors.

12/12