Ranking the greatest Asian football players ever

Legendary figures

Asia is not one of the football powerhouses, but it has been home to some legendary figures in the game. Here are the greatest Asian players in history.

(20) Makoto Hasebe

Captain, Leader, Legend: Makoto Hasebe is one of Japan's greatest servants in football. He played for Frankfurt until he was 40 and amassed over 200 appearances for the club in ten years, winning the Europa League in 2022. He captained the Japanese team to Asian Cup success in 2011 and appeared at three World Cups.

(18) Kazuyoshi Miura

A player who has played professional football well into his 50s, Kazuyoshi Miura is one of the all-time greats of Japanese football. He has played in Brazil, Italy, and Croatia and tasted glory with Japan at the 1992 Asian Cup. He scored 55 goals in 89 games.

(17) Yuto Nagatomo

Yuto Nagatomo is one of the greatest defenders in Asian history. He made over 100 appearances for Japan and played over 200 times for Inter Milan. He won the Coppa Italia in 2011 with Inter and the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray in 2018 and 2019.

(16) Kim Min-jae

Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae is one of the world's best defenders, earning recognition for his incredible performances when he won the Serie A title with Napoli in 2023. He won the East Asian Football Championship with South Korea in 2019 and the Bundesliga title with Bayern in 2025.

(15) Javad Nekounam

Iran's Javad Nekounam amassed 149 caps for his country over 15 years, playing at the 2006 and 2014 World Cups. He spent most of his career with Iranian club Pas, but also had spells with La Liga club Osasuna, reaching the 2007 UEFA Cup semi-final.

(14) Shunsuke Nakamura

The master of the set-piece and legend of Celtic and Japan, Shunsuke Nakamura, is a cult legend of the early 21st century for his playmaking and wizardry with his left foot. He played 98 games for Japan and won three Scottish Premierships. He was the first Japanese player to score in the Champions League.

(13) Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Al-Jaber is the youngest player to reach 100 international caps for any country. He reached the total with Saudi Arabia in 1998 at the age of 25 years and four months. He won the 1996 Asian Cup and is a five-time Saudi champion with Al-Hilal.

(12) Kunishige Kamamoto

With 75 goals in 76 games for Japan, Kunishige Kamamoto is an undisputed legend. Although he couldn't lead his country to the World Cup Finals, he did top score at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

(11) Mehdi Mahdavikia

Mehdi Mahdavikia is an Iranian icon who won the 2003 Asian Footballer of the Year award. He had a distinguished career with Hamburg and Persepolis and played 110 times for his country. He helped Iran reach third place at the 1996 and 2004 Asian Cups.

(10) Hong Myung-bo

With 136 appearances for South Korea, Hong Myung-bo is a true legend of the nation. A defender with incredible passing, dribbling, and vision, Myung-bo played in four consecutive World Cups and won the Bronze Ball at the 2002 edition, the first Asian player to do so.

(8) Ali Daei

With 108 goals in 148 games for Iran, Ali Daei was the leading international goalscorer in history until Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him in 2021. He was the 1999 Asian Footballer of the Year and won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.

(7) Kim Joo-sung

Nicknamed the 'Wild Horse' for his long and wavy hair, Kim Joo-sung was one of the finest players in South Korean history, earning 76 caps. The winger, who could also operate as a sweeper, spent most of his career with Daewoo Royals.

(6) Hidetoshi Nakata

Hidetoshi Nakata was nominated for the Ballon d'Or on three occasions in his career and played the bulk of his career in Italy, winning the Scudetto with Roma in 2001. He made 77 appearances for Japan and helped the team qualify for their first World Cup in 1998.

(5) Keisuke Honda

A player who prided himself on excellence and consistency, Keisuke Honda was an incredible football player with skills and scored goals as well as anyone. He made 98 appearances for Japan, representing the team at the 2010 World Cup and winning Player of the Tournament at the 2011 Asian Cup.

(4) Paulino Alcántara

For 87 years, Paulino Alcántara held Barcelona's record for most goals scored in official and friendly matches (369) until Lionel Messi surpassed the total in 2014. While he represented Spain, he also represented the Philippines in a 15-2 victory over Japan in 1917.

(3) Park Ji-sung

Park Ji-sung was the glue for many of Manchester United's successes during the latter part of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. With United, he won four Premier League titles and the Champions League. He also helped South Korea reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002.

(2) Cha Bum-kun

Cha Bum-kun was the first South Korean player to establish himself in Europe. He made nearly 400 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Leverkusen combined, winning the UEFA Cup with both. He also made 136 appearances for South Korea and scored 58 goals.