Top 24 in 2024. Best Asian Footballers of the Year According to Dailysports
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
The football year 2024 is coming to an end and will undoubtedly be remembered for many wonderful and spectacular events. As the year concludes, it is traditional to reflect on its highlights, and our team decided to uphold this custom.
We have prepared a series of materials about the best footballers from each part of the world in 2024, titled Top 24 in 2024. The Dailysports team is pleased to present the second article in this series, focusing on players from Asia.
24. Mousa Al-Tamari (Montpellier, Jordan)
A key player for Montpellier, Al-Tamari featured in 27 Ligue 1 matches last season and would have played even more if not for injuries at the end of the campaign. During those appearances, he scored five goals and provided four assists. This season, he remains an important figure for the club, playing ten matches and recording one assist. Additionally, he had an excellent Asian Cup, scoring three goals and delivering one assist in six matches. His contributions helped his national team reach the final, where they lost 1–3 to Qatar. Despite the loss, this achievement marked a historic milestone for Jordan.
23. Lucas Mendes (Al-Wakrah, Qatar)
At 34 years old, Mendes has not been a regular starter in recent matches, but he remains a legend for his national team and a vital component for his club. Last season, he played 26 matches, helping his team secure a fourth-place league finish and win the Qatar Cup. A consistent and reliable central defender, Mendes continues to play an essential role in his squad. In 2024, the domestic cup was not his only success. During the Asian Cup, he played six matches and made a significant contribution to Qatar’s victorious campaign.
22. Mees Hilgers (Twente, Indonesia)
A promising 23-year-old central defender who has firmly established himself in Twente's starting lineup, helping the team achieve strong results. Last season, Hilgers played 28 matches in the Eredivisie, with Twente finishing in third place. This season, the team continues to occupy third in the standings, and Hilgers remains a key figure, appearing in 13 out of 16 league matches. He has excellent potential to move to a more competitive league.
21. Mathew Ryan (AZ, Roma, Australia)
The goalkeeper had an impressive last season with AZ Alkmaar, playing 29 matches and conceding 28 goals. He recorded an average save rate of 74% per match, making 81 saves and preventing 4.43 expected goals. In the summer, Ryan transferred to a higher-profile club, Roma, where he has taken on the role of second-choice goalkeeper.
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For the Australian national team, Ryan has recently lost the starting spot to Joe Gauci but was the first-choice keeper in the 2024 Asian Cup, playing in all the matches. His excellent performance in the quarterfinal against South Korea, where he was named one of the match's best players, was not enough to secure a semifinal berth. Still, it’s worth noting that the Socceroos could have conceded far more than two goals in that match without him.
20. Mehdi Taremi (Porto, Inter, Iran)
Taremi had a strong last season in Portugal, featuring in 35 matches across all competitions for Porto, where he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists. This summer, he moved to Inter, where he has played ten Serie A matches and registered one assist. However, his more significant contributions have come in the UEFA Champions League, where he has one goal and two assists. Taremi also played a crucial role for Iran in the Asian Cup, scoring three goals in five matches as his team reached the tournament semifinals.
19. Keito Nakamura (Reims, Japan)
A key winger for French side Reims, Nakamura joined Ligue 1 last season from the Austrian Bundesliga. In his debut season, he played 26 matches, scoring four goals and providing one assist. This season has been even better for him, as he has already played 15 matches, scoring six goals and registering one assist. In the Asian Cup, he wasn’t yet a regular starter, playing three matches and scoring once. However, he has become nearly indispensable for the national team, appearing in six World Cup qualification matches with two goals and one assist.
18. Reo Hatate (Celtic, Japan)
Hatate had a challenging start to the year due to an injury that sidelined him until late March, causing him to miss over a month. Last season, he played 21 matches, scoring three goals and providing five assists. This season, he has been a reliable presence in Celtic’s midfield, appearing in 25 matches and continuing to showcase excellent performances. Hatate won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup with Celtic, further solidifying his importance to the team.
17. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic, Japan)
Another vital Celtic player, Furuhashi, has become indispensable for the Scottish champions. Last season, he had a stellar campaign, playing 50 matches across all competitions, scoring 19 goals, and providing five assists. So far this season, the 29-year-old Japanese forward has played 22 matches, scoring eight goals. He remains one of the key game-changers for Celtic.
16. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton, South Korea)
Hwang was a crucial player for Wolves last season, appearing in 31 matches across all competitions, scoring 13 goals, and providing three assists. Unfortunately, this season has been less successful, with just ten appearances and no goal involvements so far. One major reason for his struggles has been an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for over a month. It’s clear he will need time to regain his form and return to his best.
15. Abdikodir Khusanov (Lens, Uzbekistan)
A promising 20-year-old footballer, Khusanov was not a regular starter for Lens last season, playing just 16 matches in total. However, this season, the situation has changed dramatically. He has already appeared in 15 matches across all competitions, and it’s becoming difficult to imagine the "Blood and Gold" defense without him. Despite still being eligible for Uzbekistan’s youth team, Khusanov has established himself as a key player in the senior national team. He played in all ten World Cup qualification matches, and it seems he has secured a long-term spot in the starting lineup.
14. Yazan Al-Naimat (Al-Ahli Doha, Al-Arabi, Jordan)
Last season, Al-Naimat played for Al-Ahli Doha, featuring in 20 matches and delivering an impressive seven goals and seven assists. This season, he transferred to another Qatari club, Al-Arabi. Although he hasn’t consistently made the squad recently, he has played four matches for his new team, scoring twice and providing two assists. However, his standout performances in 2024 came while playing for Jordan in the Asian Cup. He played all seven matches of the tournament, scoring four goals and registering two assists. Al-Naimat was instrumental in leading his team to the final and securing a silver medal, with three of his four goals coming in the knockout stages.
13. Daichi Kamada (Lazio, Crystal Palace, Japan)
The Japanese midfielder spent last season in Italy with Lazio, playing 38 matches across all competitions, scoring two goals, and providing two assists. This summer, he moved to Crystal Palace, where he has quickly cemented his place in the starting lineup. In just 15 matches, Kamada has already matched his goal and assist tally from the previous season. Thanks to his strong performances, Kamada has returned to the Japanese national team. He has played eight matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, contributing two goals and one assist.
12. Wataru Endo (Liverpool, Japan)
When the 30-year-old Japanese midfielder joined Liverpool at the start of last season, many doubted the move’s potential. However, Endo quickly proved the skeptics wrong, integrating seamlessly into Jürgen Klopp’s system and performing exceptionally well for his new team. Last season, Endo played 43 matches across all competitions for Liverpool, becoming a key part of the squad.
He helped the Merseyside club secure a Champions League spot and win the EFL Cup. While he is not as central to the team this season, Endo remains one of Klopp’s go-to rotation options, always reliable and capable of maintaining the team's level on the field.
11. Ko Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Japan)
A consistent and vital player for the defense of the German side, Itakura had to deal with injuries last season, limiting him to 22 matches across all competitions. However, whenever he was fit, he was a guaranteed starter. This season, injuries have fortunately stayed away, allowing Itakura to solidify his role as Borussia Mönchengladbach’s primary center-back, with 16 appearances so far. He is also a key player for the Japanese national team, having played nine matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with Japan keeping clean sheets in seven of them.
10. Takumi Minamino (Monaco, Japan)
After a challenging stint at Liverpool, Minamino moved to Monaco, where he has become an indispensable part of the French club. Last season, he played 31 matches across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing six assists, helping Monaco secure second place in Ligue 1 and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. This season, Minamino continues to play a crucial role in Monaco’s midfield, with 19 matches, three goals, and two assists to his name.
Monaco currently sits third in Ligue 1 and is vying for a UEFA Champions League playoff spot. For the Japanese national team, Minamino is equally influential, featuring in ten World Cup qualification matches with four goals and two assists. He also performed well in the Asian Cup, scoring two goals in five matches, although Japan fell short of winning the title.
9. Akram Afif (Al-Sadd, Qatar)
Akram Afif had a phenomenal previous season both for his club and the Qatari national team. Playing for Al-Sadd, he featured in 32 matches, scoring an astonishing 28 goals and providing 13 assists. His contributions led Al-Sadd to the Qatari league title, with Afif emerging as the league's top scorer. This season, he continues his exceptional form, scoring 11 goals and registering 10 assists in 17 matches.
Afif also shone brightly in the Asian Cup, playing seven matches and effectively securing the championship for Qatar. He scored eight goals and contributed three assists during the tournament, earning the title of the competition's best player and leading Qatar to their second consecutive Asian Cup victory.
8. Hidemasa Morita (Sporting, Japan)
Morita is a pivotal defensive midfielder in Sporting Lisbon's setup. Last season, he played 40 matches, providing stability and quality in the center of the pitch. His outstanding performances were instrumental in Sporting winning the Portuguese league and the domestic cup. This season, he remains a key figure, having played 21 matches before suffering an injury that has sidelined him.
For the Japanese national team, Morita is also a vital player. He featured in every match of the Asian Cup, where his contributions were significant. In World Cup qualification, he has played nine matches and scored three goals, further highlighting his importance.
7. Ritsu Doan (Freiburg, Japan)
Last season, Doan played 42 matches across all competitions for Freiburg, primarily as a right-wing attacker. He scored nine goals and provided seven assists, though the team's overall campaign was less impressive, finishing 10th in the Bundesliga. Despite this, Doan had a strong individual season. This year, he appears to be improving further, already scoring five goals and providing three assists in 14 matches.
If he remains injury-free, he is on track to surpass his previous season's numbers. In the Asian Cup, Doan had a more subdued tournament, with one goal and one assist in five matches. However, his performances in World Cup qualification have been better, with three goals and three assists in ten matches. It’s clear that Doan has stepped up his game compared to last season.
6. Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Japan)
A highly promising Japanese center-back, Ito had an impressive season with Stuttgart last year, playing 29 matches across all competitions, contributing to seven clean sheets. He played a significant role in Stuttgart's remarkable second-place finish in the Bundesliga and their run to the DFB-Pokal final.
In the summer of 2024, Ito made the move to Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, he has yet to make his debut for his new team due to an injury sustained in late July, from which he is still recovering. His debut is expected to take place next season. Despite this setback, Ito ranks sixth because of his age (25), his consistent and mature performances, and the potential to become a key figure for Bayern once fit.
5. Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad, Japan)
Kubo has become a vital player for both Real Sociedad and the Japanese national team. Last season, he played 41 matches across all competitions for Sociedad, scoring seven goals and providing five assists while creating ten additional chances for his teammates. His contributions helped the Basque side secure a spot in the Europa League. This season began poorly for Sociedad, with the team languishing near the bottom of the table for a time.
However, they have climbed to seventh place, thanks in part to Kubo's efforts. He has played 22 matches so far, scoring four goals and providing two assists. For Japan, Kubo continues to shine, playing seven matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring two goals, and registering five assists.
4. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton, Japan)
Mitoma is an indispensable part of Brighton’s current squad. He had a strong start to last season, registering eight goal contributions (three goals and five assists) in 26 matches. However, a severe back injury in mid-February sidelined him for the remainder of the season, negatively affecting Brighton’s campaign as they finished 11th in the league. Mitoma has recovered and returned to action this season.
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In 17 matches so far, he has already matched last season's goal tally with three goals and has provided two assists. Brighton currently sits ninth in the table, just one point shy of the European qualification zone. For Japan, Mitoma had a quiet Asian Cup, playing only two matches, but he has been more impactful in World Cup qualifiers, with one goal and three assists in six matches.
3. Lee Kang-in (PSG, South Korea)
The 23-year-old midfielder has been making remarkable progress every year and could soon rise even higher in rankings like this. Last season, Lee joined PSG and played 36 matches in his debut campaign, scoring five goals and providing five assists. This shows how much PSG relied on him in his first year. In the current season, he has become a consistent starter, appearing in 22 matches and already surpassing last season's goal tally with six goals.
For the South Korean national team, Lee is a key player, featuring in six matches during the Asian Cup and scoring three goals. In World Cup qualification, he has played 12 matches, contributing four goals and four assists. Lee Kang-in is on a trajectory to become a legend of South Korean football.
2. Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, South Korea)
Kim joined Bayern Munich last season and immediately became a starting player for the top-tier team. However, his debut season was not particularly outstanding for either Kim or the club. Despite this, he managed to play 36 matches, contributing to six clean sheets while on the pitch. During the Asian Cup, he played five matches and helped South Korea reach the semifinals.
This season, under new coach Vincent Kompany, Kim has already played 23 matches, with Bayern performing better overall. Kim has contributed to six clean sheets so far and boasts a 64% aerial duel success rate and a 57% success rate in overall duels. Compared to last season, Kim has adapted better to life in Munich and is now delivering more consistent performances.
1. Son Heung-min (Tottenham, South Korea)
A true legend, not just of South Korean football but of Asian football as a whole. For years, Son has been the centerpiece of Tottenham Hotspur and now serves as the team's captain following Harry Kane's departure. Last season, Son played 36 matches, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists, helping Spurs secure a fifth-place finish and a spot in European competition.
He also led the South Korean national team in the Asian Cup, scoring three goals in six matches and reaching the semifinals. This season, Son has been hampered by injuries but has shown his leadership qualities whenever on the field. In 18 matches so far, he has contributed to 12 goals, with six goals and six assists. Son Heung-min has demonstrated extraordinary consistency at the highest level among Asian players, solidifying his status as a true legend.
