Iranian striker Kaveh Rezaei burst onto the scene at the 2013 edition when he bagged a brace in a 3-3 opening-game draw against Japan before scoring an 18-minute hat-trick in a 3-1 victory against Kuwait on Matchday Three. Incredibly, his five goals were not enough to see Team Melli through as they bowed out of a tough group.

However, no player was able to match his tally in the knockout rounds as he won the top scorer award. Rezaei went on to play in Belgium’s top flight for several years before returning to his homeland to join Tractor and then Sepahan, while he has also scored four goals for Iran over the years with his last cap coming in 2021.

The last line of defence for Saudi Arabia in the inaugural edition, Mohammed Al Owais (pictured above) played the first four games before an injury late in the quarter-final win over Australia ended his campaign in untimely fashion. Without their first-choice goalkeeper, the Green Falcons would go on to finish as runners-up to Iraq.

In 2018, Al Owais claimed Saudi Arabia’s Number 1 jersey and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was named player of the match as his country stunned eventual winners Argentina 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

While it was his teammate Shoya Nakajima who took home the MVP honour, Takuma Asano was the one who took Japan past the finish line against Korea Republic in the final as he came off the bench to bag a double – his first goal initiating the Samurai Blue’s comeback from two goals down and the second in the 81st minute sealing the 3-2 victory. 

Asano has gone on to enjoy spells in Europe with clubs including VfB Stuttgart, Partizan BelgradeVfL Bochum and current club RCB mallorca. But, like Al Owais, it was at the 2022 FIFA World Cup that the winger truly grabbed the headlines by scoring a stunning winning goal to upset Germany in their opener and helping Hajime Moriyasu’s side finish top of a group that also featured Spain and Costa Rica.

Though Syria did not clear the group stage hurdle in 2016, the tournament saw Omar Khribin continue his rise towards becoming one of the most feared strikers in Asia. Already earning a reputation as a clinical striker with the senior national team, he scored three goals in as many matches, including a double in a 3-1 win against China PR, at the competition.

The following year proved momentous for Khribin as he came alive in the 2017 AFC Champions League for Al Hilal scoring 10 goals, including a hat-trick and a double across two legs against Persepolis to propel the Saudi giants into the final. Though Al Hilal finished runners-up to Urawa Red Diamonds, Khribin was named the AFC Player of the Year 2017 and remains the only Syrian to win the honour.

The dynamic duo who established Qatar as a formidable force in Asia joined forces to impress in the 2018 edition. Almoez Ali bagged the top scorer award with six goals in six outings while attacking partner Akram Afif netted thrice and contributed an assist as Felix Sanchez’s side took third place in the tournament’s third edition.

It’s not often a goal gets a name of its own but Vietnam youngster Nguyen Quang Hai’s magnificent free-kick against Uzbekistan in the 2018 final has that honour after coming to be known as the ‘Rainbow in the Snow’. Even though the Southeast Asians narrowly missed out on the title, the tournament showcased Quang Hai's talent to the world.

Quang Hai notched up five goals in Vietnam’s historic run to the final, including a brace against the United Arab Emirates in a thrilling semi-final, and went on to be named the MVP when Park Hang-seo’s side overcame Malaysia to win the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Cup in 2018. He also played an instrumental role when the Golden Star Warriors made it to the final eight of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

Cho Gue-sung rose to prominence at the 2022 FIFA World Cup when he scored two headers in three minutes to help Korea Republic banish Ghana’s two-goal lead in the group stage. Though the Taeguk Warriors lost the game 3-2, Cho’s goals proved crucial as they progressed to the last 16 having scored more goals than Uruguay.

Cho’s quality was on display two years earlier at the AFC U23 Asian Cup as he scored a stunning winner in his side’s 2-1 defeat of the Iranians in the group stage before scoring again in a 2-1 win against Jordan in the quarter-finals as Korea Republic emerged champions of Asia.

Suphanat Mueanta became the youngest-ever goalscorer in the U23 tournament when the 17-year-old netted a brace in Thailand’s 5-0 win against Bahrain in their 2020 opener. That win was vital to take the Thais to their first quarter-final appearance in the competition while Suphanat would return two years later to score thrice in the group stage.

The winger has set milestones regularly in his fledgling career, becoming the youngest player to score in the AFC Champions League™ and Thai League 1 as well as for the Thailand senior national team.

Lee Kang-in had established himself as one of the most exciting talents in football by guiding Korea Republic to a runners-up finish at the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2019, but the Koreans did not have the best of outings at the AFC U23 Asian Cup in 2022 with Lee bagging an assist before they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Japan.

However, Lee has since represented the Taeguk Warriors at the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and won gold for the nation at the Asian Games while also being a key cog in French giants Paris Saint-Germain’s squad and was named the AFC International Player of the Year 2025.

As Saudi Arabia finally got hold of the title in 2022, Firas Al Buraikan was one of their standout performers, sealing his side’s 2-0 wins against Vietnam in the quarter-final and Uzbekistan in the final while also bagging two assists against Australia in the semi-final. The victory also helped the striker avenge defeat in the 2020 final to Korea.

His displays did not go unnoticed as he was called up to Herve Renard’s FIFA World Cup squad later in the year and went on to play all three of their group stage matches – including the upset of eventual world champions Argentina in their tournament opener. he continues to impress at the club and national levels.

The Iraqi youngster has continued to cement his status as one of Asia's best rising stars since bursting onto the scene.

Still only 21, Jasim emerged top scorer in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ and is already a regular with the senior side and will be expected to play a key role in Iraq's bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Another player who caught the eye and has continued to impress is Rafael Struick, with the 23-year-old playing a major role in Indonesia finishing fourth at Qatar 2024.

The winger has already debuted for the senior side, with Indonesia impressing on the continental stage with players of Struick's calibre.