Top 10 Asian football players making waves in world football
Asian football has grown significantly, with more players joining and becoming key players in European and American leagues. Some of the top Asian football players include Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Mehdi Taremi, and Salem Al-Dawsari. These talented players show the world that Asia is a serious growing force in global football.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- South Korea's Son Heung-min is considered an Asian global icon, consistently performing well in his former club Tottenham Hotspur and the Korean national team.
- Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich is one of the best defenders from Asia.
- Rising stars like Uzbekistan's Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City, and South Korea's Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain showcase Asian new talent.
- Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari, Japan's Kyōgo Furuhashi, and Iran's Sardar Azmoun represent the mature players impacting teams in top leagues like the Premier League and Saudi Pro League.
Top 10 Asian football players
This list of top Asian football players is based on club performance, experience, and public recognition. Data was collected from reliable sources such as Onefootball, Dailysports, and similar sources. The list is unordered and may not be exhaustive, as new talents continue to emerge.
| Name | Country | Team |
| Son Heung-min | South Korea | Los Angeles FC |
| Lee Kang-in | South Korea | Paris Saint-Germain F.C. |
| Mehdi Taremi | Iran | Olympiacos F.C. |
| Salem Al-Dawsari | Saudi Arabia | Al Hilal SFC |
| Kim Min-jae | South Korea | Bayern Munich |
| Kaoru Mitoma | Japan | Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. |
| Kyōgo Furuhashi | Japan | Birmingham City F.C. |
| Hwang Hee-chan | South Korea | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| Sardar Azmoun | Iran | Shabab Al Ahli |
| Abdukodir Khusanov | Uzbekistan | Manchester City |
1. Son Heung-min (South Korea)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Son Heung-min
- Date of birth: 8 July 1992
- Age: 33 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Chuncheon-si, South Korea
- Teams: Los Angeles FC, South Korea national football team
Son Heung-min is widely considered the best Asian footballer of all time. The South Korean forward officially signed with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) on 6 August 2025.
Before joining LAFC, Son played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. He has also represented South Korea in three FIFA World Cups: 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Son Heung-min is the first and only Asian player to win the prestigious football trophy, Golden Boot in the Premier League. He scored 23 goals, tying with Mo Salah.
2. Lee Kang-in (South Korea)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Lee Kang-in
- Date of birth: 19 February 2001
- Age: 24 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Incheon, South Korea
- Teams: Paris Saint-Germain F.C., South Korea national football team
Lee Kang-in is a midfielder playing for Paris Saint-Germain since 2023. He first gained attention as a child prodigy on the Korean TV show Shoot Dori.
The sports personality joined Valencia's youth system at age 10. He made his professional debut at 17. Kang-in won the 2019 Asian Young Footballer of the Year and the FIFA U-20 World Cup's Golden Ball award.
In 2021, Lee joined Mallorca, establishing himself as one of Europe's top dribblers. His professional career trajectory is upward as he weighs options for leaving Paris Saint-Germain. The experienced footballer also plays for the South Korea national football team.
3. Mehdi Taremi (Iran)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Mehdi Taremi
- Date of birth: 18 July 1992
- Age: 33 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Bushehr, Iran
- Teams: Olympiacos F.C., Iran national football team
Mehdi Taremi is an Iranian professional footballer and striker for the Super League, Greece club Olympiacos. Last season, Taremi played for the prestigious Italian club Inter Milan. He made 26 appearances, scoring once and providing two assists.
Taremi began his career at Shahin Bushehr and Iranjavan before playing for Persepolis between 2014 and 2018. The Iranian player won his country's Player of the Year award in 2016 and 2017. The footballer represented Iran at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, and the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023.
4. Salem Al-Dawsari (Saudi Arabia)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Salem Mohammed Shafi Al-Dawsar
- Date of birth: 19 August 1991
- Age: 34 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Teams: Al Hilal SFC, Saudi Arabia national football team
Salem Al-Dawsari is a Saudi Arabian midfielder for Al Hilal SFC and the Saudi Arabia national football team. He joined Al Hilal's youth academy at 14.
Besides a year-long loan spell at Villarreal, al-Dawsari has spent most of his career at Al Hilal. He was named the Asian Footballer of the Year for 2022, for players at clubs within Asia. Salem struck 10 goals in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite.
5. Kim Min-jae ( South Korean)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kim Min-jae
- Date of birth: 15 November 1996
- Age: 28 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Tongyeong-si, South Korea
- Teams: Bayern Munich, South Korea national team
Kim Min-jae, or Monster, is a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the South Korea national team. He was the most expensive Asian player ever when Bayern Munich bought him in 2023.
Kim, who comes from a family of athletes, began his football career at a young age. He played for Suwon Technical High School before joining the Gyeongju KHNP club.
Min-jae quickly rose, winning two K League titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He has played for Beijing Guoan, Fenerbahce, and Tripoli.
6. Kaoru Mitoma (Japan)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kaoru Mitoma
- Date of birth: 20 May 1997
- Age: 28 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Oita, Japan
- Teams: Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., Japan national team
Kaoru Mitoma is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. He signed a four-year deal with Brighton in August 2021. Before joining Brighton, he had a successful loan spell in Belgium. Kaoru also plays for the Japan national team.
7. Kyōgo Furuhashi (Japan)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kyōgo Furuhashi
- Date of birth: 20 January 1995
- Age: 30 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Ikoma, Nara, Japan
- Team: Birmingham City F.C., Japan national football team
Kyōgo, as he is popularly known, is a striker at the Birmingham City club and the Japan national team. He began his professional career in Japan at F.C. Gifu before moving to Vissel Kobe. Kyōgo's strong performances in Japan earned him a place at the Celtic club in 2021.
At Celtic, Kyōgo became known for his prolific goal scoring, helping his team win multiple league titles. He won the Scottish Premiership Golden Boot in 2023. The soccer player moved to Birmingham City F.C. in 2025.
8. Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Hwang Hee-chan
- Date of birth: 26 January 1996
- Age: 29 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Chuncheon-si, South Korea
- Team: Wolverhampton Wanderers, South Korea national team
Hwang Hee-chan is a forward or winger for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League. At a young age, he developed a passion for soccer, earning an award for playing for the Pohang Steelers.
Hwang Hee-chan began playing with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria before joining RB Leipzig in Germany. The athlete joined Wolverhampton in 2021. He also plays for the South Korean national team.
9. Sardar Azmoun
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sardar Azmoun
- Date of birth: 1 January 1995
- Age: 30 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran
- Team: Shabab Al Ahli, Iran national team
Sardar Azmoun plays with UAE Pro League club Shabab Al Ahli and the Iranian national team. He started his career in 2013 at Rubin in Russia. Azmoun has since played with several clubs, including Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, and AS Roma in Italy.
Sardar Azmoun is the youngest Iranian to score in the UEFA Champions League. He is also the second most expensive Iranian player in history. The soccer player has played for the Iranian national team since 2014.
10. Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan)
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Abdukodir Khikmatzhon Ugli Khusanov
- Date of birth: 29 February 2004
- Age: 21 years old as of 2025
- Place of birth: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Team: Manchester City F.C., Uzbekistan national football team
Abdukodir Khusanov is a young rising football star from Uzbekistan. He plays defence at Manchester City, making him the first Uzbek player in the English Premier League.
Khusanov started his career at Bunyodkor youth academy in Uzbekistan before moving to Belarus to play for Energetik-BGU. His impressive skills earned him a place at the French club Lens in 2023.
The footballer's strong performances at Lens earned him a place at Manchester City, who signed him in January 2025. Khusanov also made history when he helped his Uzbekistan national football team qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 2025.
Who is the best Asian football player?
According to FourFourTwo, Son Heung-min of South Korea is widely regarded as the best Asian football player in 2025. He plays for Los Angeles FC in the Major League Soccer.
Who was the first Asian footballer in Europe?
Cheung Chi Doy was the first Asian footballer to play in Europe. He played for the English side Blackpool in the early 1960s.
Who are the famous Asian football players?
Many famous Asian football players have made a mark in the top leagues and international competitions. Some of the famous Asian football players include Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Mehdi Taremi, and Gaku Nawata.
Who are the Asian football players in Europe?
Asian players currently playing in European leagues, include Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae.
Who are the Asian football players in the Premier League?
Notable Asian players in the English Premier League include Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton and Wataru Endo of Liverpool.
Asian footballers continue to prove their talent on the global stage, inspiring millions with their skill and determination. From Europe’s biggest leagues to international tournaments, their impact is undeniable. As more players rise through the ranks, Asia’s influence in world football is only set to grow stronger.
Legit.ng recently published a list of the highest-paid college athletes and their earnings. The landscape of college athletics has shifted, allowing student-athletes to generate income.
The recent name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill enables athletes to be compensated for their brand. The compensation is done through endorsements, interviews, andappearances.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
