NO.30 FAHAD AL-MUWALLAD
As fast as they come, Al-Muwallad has established himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in the whole of West Asia and at the tender age of just 22, there is still plenty more to come.
The winger has been used sparingly to some effect by Saudi Arabia coach Bert Van Marwijk during qualification for the 2018 World Cup, but with his pace and dribbling skills, he has added an extra dimension to their attack.
Few would have expected the Green Falcons to be level on points with Japan atop of their group with three games remaining, but that is where they sit and the Al Ittihad man has played his part, most notably in a 3-0 win over local rivals United Arab Emirates in October.
Al Ittihad fans love their home-grown star, while wishing that he could be just a little more consistent. That seems to be coming and, when it does, the man known as ‘The Cheetah’ will really be one to watch. – John Duerden
NO.29 MEHDI TAREMI
Not just a regular scorer but a regular scorer of key goals, Iranian standout Taremi is one of the hottest properties in West Asia.
Following on from his Golden Boot-winning season the year prior (where he finished a full five goals clear of his next challenger), he once again topped the charts domestically in Iran this season with his 18 goals coming at better than one every couple of matches.
If that wasn’t enough his goal plundering ways continued on the continent as he grabbed a hat-trick on the final Asian Champions League matchday against Al Wahda to confirm Persepolis’s place in the second round.
Moreover, of the nine goals his club scored in the group stage, the 24-year-old from south-western Iran was responsible for no fewer than six of them as his power, pace, touch and finishing shone throughout.
Having scored the match-winning goal in each of Iran’s past two World Cup qualifiers to boot, this is a young forward very much on the rise. – Scott McIntyre
NO.28 IGOR SERGEEV
Just 24, the tall striker has already packed plenty into his career. With Uzbek giants Pakhtakor, he took a little time to get settled but once he did, and the service started coming into the penalty area, Sergeev started scoring for fun.
In the past three seasons at the club, he netted well over a goal every other game.
That took him to China in 2016 for a loan-spell with Beijing Guoan that never worked out and he was soon returning back home.
Sergeev is young enough to try his luck abroad again, however, and has already shown that he can score goals in Asia, with eight in his last 12 appearances in the Asian Champions League.
The goals have dried up a little for the national team, but the headache he presents for defenders remains, as does the confidence that when Uzbekistan needs its star striker, Sergeev will be there. – John Duerden
NO.27 MILE JEDINAK
Finishing 28th on last year’s list, Jedinak has risen one place this season, just reward for a solid first campaign with Aston Villa.
Emerging as a critical figure in the heart of the Villa midfield, the club won 44 per cent of its matches and drew 26 per cent when the Aussie was on the pitch.
Without him, that win percentage plummets to just seven per cent, with one victory in 14 matches.
Used at times as more of a defensive midfielder by new manager Steve Bruce, his tackling and clearances proved crucial to a side that at one stage flirted with disaster before finishing in mid-table, following its relegation from the Premier League at the end of 2016.
“He doesn’t play in a spectacular way, but defensively he’s given us that solidness and he makes us difficult to beat,” Bruce said of Jedinak’s performances this season. – Tio Utomo
NO.26 TEERASIL DANGDA
Having demonstrated a winning mentality and leadership skills at club side Muangthong United, the striker was selected to wear the captain’s armband at the 2016 Suzuki Cup.
It was a role he clearly relished, scoring six goals to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer and lead his nation to glory for a record fifth time.
A former striker with La Liga side Almeria, Teerasil has taken over the mantle as the No.1 marksman at club and national level over the past couple of seasons.
The 28-year old scored 11 goals last season and made history by taking his tally past 100 strikes with one club in the Thai League back in March.
He is also developing into a proven performer on some of the biggest stages. As well as his Suzuki Cup exploits, Teerasil scored twice in a 2-2 draw against Australia at Rajamangala Stadium, helping Thailand secure their first point in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifying. – Kritikorn Thanamahamongkhol
NO.25 MASSIMO LUONGO
The box-to-box midfielder does not provide a glut of goals, but is still regarded as a key player by Queens Park Rangers (QPR) boss Ian Holloway, who has said "the squad is weaker without him in the line-up".
Though not a regular starter for the Socceroos in their World Cup qualifying campaign, Luongo is a valuable part of Ange Postecoglou's planning.
The 24-year-old reportedly turned down offers to play in the lucrative Chinese Super League when he signed a contract extension in February, tying him to the Championship side until 2020, stating he wanted to work his way into the English Premier League.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and MVP of Australia’s victorious campaign at the 2015 Asian Cup seems to have his head in the right place, rejecting a switch to then-EPL side Aston Villa in favour of regular football at QPR back that same year. – Vijhay Vick
NO.24 KOO JA CHEOL
Having commenced his career with Jeju United in his native South Korea, Koo has spent the past seven years competing in the Bundesliga, making stops with Wolfsburg, Augsburg and Mainz before returning to the Wolves in 2015.
The midfielder was having a strong season this year, providing three goals and three assists in 25 games, before his campaign ended early due to a torn ligament in his right knee.
It was a cruel blow for the 28-year-old, who has been forced to miss the closing stretch of the German season as well as upcoming World Cup qualifiers. He has made over 50 appearances for his country and takes great pride in representing his nation.
"When you wear the national team jersey, that means you're ready to play and give your best," he has said previously.
Prior to his injury he had been used in various positions, including as a defensive midfielder and wider on the left, and is blessed with great technique and vision.
Last year he became the second Korean to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga, after ex-Bayer Leverkusen star Son Heung-min, who did it twice before his switch to Tottenham. – Tio Utomo
NO.23 HIROKI SAKAI
Arriving in France at the start of the 2016/17 season on a free transfer, Sakai quickly became a fan favourite with standout performances in his right-back role.
Sakai has been among the best players in his position in Ligue 1 in his first season and Marseille fans may be wondering how Bundesliga side Hannover allowed his contract to run out after a four-year stay.
Sakai, who began his career at Japanese outfit Kashiwa Reysol as a teenager back in 2009, provides an attacking flair down the right with his overlapping runs and is a tough defender to get past.
Sakai has also been a hit with his teammates, many of whom have gone on record to praise his attitude. The club even offered him a sushi with a candle in it on his 27th birthday last month.
Marseille have picked themselves up this season after finishing 13th last year, with Sakai helping the club climb all the way to fifth and secure a Europa League place. – Vijhay Vick
NO.22 TOM ROGIC
It was another good year for the former A-League star and it would have been a good deal better if it wasn’t for an ankle injury that kept him out of a chunk of the second half of the European season.
Yet he has shown the mental strength to bounce back from setbacks before and even with his absences, the elegant midfielder has established himself as one of the best players in the Scottish League.
The big question ahead of next summer is whether he will leave for a bigger stage.
Celtic fans know that their ‘Wizard of Oz’, as they have nicknamed the 24-year-old, will be going sooner or later. He has the technique, awareness as well as a fine football brain to shine on a bigger stage.
He will also be back among the Socceroos in June to help them in their bid to clinch a place on the biggest of all, the 2018 World Cup. – John Duerden
NO.21 ODIL AHMEDOV
The Arsenal link that followed the midfielder after his breakout performance for Uzbekistan at the 2011 Asian Cup was premature and unsettled the player for a while. The move to Shanghai SIPG at the start of 2017, however, seemed perfectly timed.
Perhaps the biggest compliment to be paid to this driving midfielder is that he has not looked out of place at all alongside Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson.
Indeed, while rule changes have made it harder for Asian players to get Chinese Super League playing time, Ahmedov is bucking that trend and sometimes keeps one of the much bigger names out of the matchday squad – coach Andre Villas-Boas is clearly a fan.
At the moment, he is not only helping the Reds challenge on two fronts, but trying to lead Uzbekistan to a first-ever World Cup. His winning goal against Qatar in March has given the Central Asians renewed hope. – John Duerden
NO.20 JAMES TROISI
In a career that promised so much but had often been a rollercoaster ride due to injury and perhaps some poor moves, Troisi's last 12 months have been a fulfillment of all that promise.
A key contributor for a Melbourne Victory team that in any other year would have been the A-League’s dominant force (Sydney FC only lost one match all year), so irresistible was the 28-year-old’s form that he won his place back in the Socceroos squad.
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Sitting at the point of the middle line in the Victory’s 4-3-3, Troisi was a key creator, providing more assists (seven) than any other local midfielder in the league and chipping in with six goals to boot.
That saw him finish fourth (and the highest-placed Australian) in the tally for the A-League’s Player of the Year at the conclusion of a season where he was a consistently impressive threat with his movement, passing and vision. – Scott McIntyre
NO.19 SHINJI KAGAWA
After losing confidence at Manchester United under David Moyes, Kagawa returned to German giants Borussia Dortmund in 2014, the club where he made his name as part of title-winning teams in 2011 and 2012.
The 2015/16 season would prove one of his best, selected to the Bundesliga team of the year after scoring nine goals and adding as many assists to be an integral part of one of the more revered attacking teams in Europe.
The 28-year-old is one of the most successful Asian players in Europe, featuring in more than 200 matches and adding the 2012/13 Premier League title to his German accomplishments.
Also a member of Japan’s Asian Cup-winning side back in 2011, if the Samurai Blue want to make an impact at next year’s World Cup in Russia, it’s likely their No.10 will need to be firing on all cylinders. – Kritikorn Thanamahamongkhol
NO.18 HAMMADI AHMED
A talented sharpshooter, Ahmed also possesses skills away from the pitch.
“He was very fast and technically good,” former Iraq coach Zico said in November last year. “He was a maths professor in his spare time.”
He has an excellent record in Asian Football Confederation tournaments, scoring the only goal in last year’s AFC Cup final as his club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya overcame Bengaluru and won the tournament for the first time in its history.
Having netted 16 goals in just 11 games, he finished as the tournament’s top-scorer and was also runner-up in the Asian Footballer of the Year award to Omar Abdulrahman.
With his team still in contention to defend its AFC Cup title this year, competing in the West Asia Zonal semi-finals, plenty of their success is down to the versatile Ahmed, who can play as a striker or a right-winger. – Tio Utomo
NO.17 MAKOTO HASEBE
The Japan national captain continued his stellar European career with yet another season in the top flight of one of global football’s best leagues.
Whilst the 33-year-old’s pace may be slowing, his football intelligence remains as high as ever and whether as the lone anchor in a 4-1-4-1 or as part of a double pivot in Frankfurt’s shifting 4-2-3-1, he was a key presence in both breaking up play and then keeping things ticking over when in possession.
Having played all bar 66 minutes of Frankfurt’s league and cup ties since early October, there aren’t many players on our list who’ve contributed as regularly for a team in one of the planet’s most competitive leagues.
He’s even managed to chip in with a goal and an assist from his deep station. – Scott McIntyre
NO.16 MAYA YOSHIDA
This Japanese international only really got his career going in England in the 2016/17 season.
Merely a back-up in most of his previous four seasons with Premier League regulars Southampton, the defender has made the most of opportunities provided following the departure of Jose Fonte and injury to skipper Virgil van Dijk.
So much so he is now a beloved figure by the fans and coach Claude Puel, who anointed Yoshida among his captain's in the squad behind van Dijk and Steven Davies.
He captained the side in a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and also scored the winning goal against Crystal Palace in April.
A steady member of the national team, inheriting the armband when usual skipper Makoto Hasebe is unavailable, Yoshida demonstrated his resilience by playing almost 3,000 minutes in over 30 games this season.
He was also picked for the President's Choice Award in the 2016/17 Southampton player honours in a season where he became the first Japanese player to chalk up 100 Premier League appearances. – Vijhay Vick
NO.15 CHANATHIP SONGKRASIN
It’s been another excellent year for the “Thai Messi”, who improved his game significantly after moving from Tero Sasana to Muangthong United, winning his inaugural league title to qualify for the AFC Champions League for the first time.
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He began earning attention across Asia, winning the man of the match award three times from his first five matches in the group stage as the Twin Qilins reached the knockout round for the first time in their history.
The 23-year-old also earned a long sought after move overseas and will link up with Japanese side Consadole Sapporo in July.
At international level, Chanathip is also an indispensable member of the War Elephants. Even though Thailand only picked up one point from seven matches in the third round of World Cup qualifying, Chanathip earned plaudits for his classy performances against Japan, the UAE and Australia.
He was also named Suzuki Cup player of the tournament for a second consecutive time as Thailand won the title once again. – Kritikorn Thanamahamongkhol
NO.14 OMAR AL SOMAH
It is commonplace for footballers across Asia to be given nicknames related to some of the best to play the game, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona often referenced.
Omar Al Somah is another in this category, aka the “Syrian Ibrahimovic”.
Scoring at a rate of better than a goal a game for Saudi club side Al-Ahli, Al Somah is a lethal finisher renowned for his free-kicks. Standing 193cm tall and combining great strength with impressive jumping ability, he is a menace when it comes to aerial duels.
He helped Al-Ahli to the Saudi league title last season, pacing the competition with 27 goals from 26 matches.
Al Somah had a brief trial with Nottingham Forest back in 2012 that didn’t lead to a contract and while he has just turned 28 years old, if he continues scoring at his current rate perhaps he can earn another shot somewhere in Europe. – Tio Utomo
NO.13 YUYA KUBO
Having made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in his homeland, the continuing rise of the new starlet of the Japanese national team shows no sign of slowing down.
Now 23, the wide midfielder or forward has just capped off a stellar 12 months in Europe where he began the season in Switzerland, scoring five goals in 10 starts for Young Boys, before a high-profile move to Gent in Belgium in January.
To say he’s made a bit of an impact would be an understatement as he’s already scored at better than a goal every two matches, including some wonder strikes that will make the highlight reels for years to come.
Continuing on from his goals in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers for Japan in March, from the start of April to the start of May he scored in three straight league matches (with four goals in five overall) and he’s already been mentioned as a target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
This is a player who could well be in our top five this time next year. – Scott McIntyre
NO.12 ALI MABKHOUT
Over the past 12 months, the United Arab Emirates have emerged as a major player on the Asian stage, courtesy of a golden generation of talent, particularly in an attacking sense.
Sitting alongside Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil is striker Mabkhout, with all three making our Asia 50 for a second consecutive year.
The 26-year old Mabkhout made his mark by finishing as the top scorer in the 2015 Asian Cup with five goals as the Emirati ended the tournament in third place.
He then carried that form into the domestic league, producing an impressive 23 goals from as many games for his club side Al Jazira.
Throw in a further seven goals from 2018 World Cup Qualifying so far and it’s easy to see why his combination with Khalil and Abdulrahman has developed into one of Asia’s fiercest attacking threats. – Kritikorn Thanamahamongkhol
NO.11 ALIREZA JAHANBAKHSH
The speedy wideman is part of a growing band of Iranian stars who are impressing in Europe more and more every season.
Jahanbakhsh’s theatre of choice is the Netherlands and he has become one of the biggest talents in the entire league.
He headed to Holland in 2013 and after two seasons with NEC, joined Az Alkmaar.
His first season was affected by injuries but the winger still helped the club qualify for the Europa League. This season he has been fit and firing on all cylinders.
It could well be that he moves to a bigger club in a bigger league this summer and there has been plenty of interest, especially from the English Premier League.
Alternatively, suitors could wait to see him in the World Cup next year as he has become a vital part of Team Melli in their unstoppable run to Russia 2018. – John Duerden
Wednesday: The Top 10, an exclusive interview with our No.1 and much more
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