The top 5 players to watch out at the AFC Asian Cup 2023

The AFC Asian Cup will start on January 12, 2024. Qatar, the defending champions and host, will take on Lebanon in Group A.

The Lusail Stadium will light up for Asia’s biggest continental event in recent years. Players from Europe’s top five leagues give a break to their club careers to compete in Asia’s biggest football event.

Also Read: AFC Asian Cup 2023, fixtures and all you need to know about Indian Football team

1. Son Heung-min: South Korea

Spurs legend Son Heung-min will look to lead South Korea to their first-ever continental cup in 64 years. Definitely the best player in the AFC Asian Cup 2023, he has been in great form for his club in the ongoing season. The 31-year-old has scored 12 goals and assisted five times in the Premier League so far this season.

At the national level, the player has made 116 appearances and scored 40 goals so far. The 31-year-old is arguably the best Premier League player heading into the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

2. Takefusa Kubo

Takefusa Kubo is one of the best players in La Liga currently. The 22-year-old currently plays for Real Sociedad as an attacking midfielder at the club level.

Kubo started his professional career in Spain, playing for Real Madrid, but after a series of loans, it was Sociedad who signed Kubo in 2022 and gave him a consistent run in the first team. T

The 22-year-old has already made 29 appearances for his national team, scoring three goals for Japan, including two in 2023.

The 22-year-old has already scored six goals and assisted three times for Real Sociedad so far in the season.

3. Mehdi Taremi

Mehdi Terami is a 31-year-old Iranian international who plays for Portuguese side Porto. Terami made his Porto debut in August 2020, signing a four-year contract with the club.

The Iranian international has scored 44 goals in 76 appearances for his country. The 31-year-old ended up as the runner-up for the Asian best international player of the year in 2022.

Mehdi Terami came into recognition when he helped Porto win the league title last season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions. The striker has scored for FC Porto so far and now will look to guide his country to the Asian summit after 48 years. Iran has not come closer than they did in 1976 to winning the continental cup.

4. Kim-Min-Jae

South Korea will feature another European star alongside Son. Kim Min-Jae is a 27-year-old defender for Bundesliga club FC Bayern Munich. Min-Jae was awarded the South Korean football player of the year, breaking a four-year streak held by his national team captain, Son Heung-Min.

After helping Napoli win their first Serie A title after 33 long years,. Kim Min-Jae currently partners the defensive line with Dayot Upamecano at Bayern under manager Thomas Tuchel. The 27-year-old became the first Asian defender to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

He made 55 appearances for the Korean national side, scoring on four occasions. He was also part of the 2018 Asian Games medal-winning team.

5. Sunil Chhetri

Indian legend Sunil Chhetri will lead his nation to the 5th Asian Continental Cup. Chhetri is 39 years old and an inspiration to many young footballers around India.

The 39-year-old Indian legend has represented his country 145 times and has scored 93 goals so far in his career. He ranks behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the third-highest goal scorer in recent times.

Chhetri has helped India win the 2007–2009 and 2012 Nehru Cups, as well as the SAFF Championships in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023.

Chhetri has been one of India’s most important players and now aims to call off his career in style by helping India clear the line in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Credit: Getty Images

Source: Asian Football Federation