# 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?

*By YPB Team · Published May 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-afc-asian-cup-history*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **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.
2. **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.
3. **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.
4. **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.
5. **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.
6. **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.
7. **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.
8. **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.
9. **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.
10. **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.
11. **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.
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.

Tags: asia, sports, football, players, legends, tournaments