The 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup was recently launched in Qatar, featuring a mix of thrilling goals and intense drama. Since its inception, this flagship tournament has witnessed a variety of memorable moments. Asia has been a breeding ground for numerous prolific goal-scorers who have showcased their exceptional skills on the Asian Cup stage.
Organized by the Asian Football Confederation, the AFC Asian Cup stands as the premier international football competition in Asia. Held once every four years, it brings together the continent’s top teams to vie for glory. The tournament not only highlights the rich diversity of football cultures but also fosters unity and excitement as nations compete for supremacy on the grand stage. The defending champions are Qatar, who clinched the trophy in 2019 and are now hosting the latest edition, scheduled to run from January 13 to February 10, 2024.
As the 2023 AFC Asian Cup gains momentum, let’s delve into the history of the competition and explore the all-time top goal-scorers.
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Top 5 Players with the highest goals in AFC Asian Cup History
5. Ali Mabkhout (UAE) – 9 Goals
Ali Mabkhout has firmly established himself as a prominent figure in the AFC Asian Cup, gaining recognition for his impressive goal-scoring prowess. The forward has notched up an impressive total of nine goals at Asia’s premier football competition. His standout performance came in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where he emerged as the top scorer with five goals, earning him a well-deserved spot in the tournament’s team of the tournament.
Beyond his contributions to the AFC Asian Cup, Ali Mabkhout has been a prolific goal-scorer for the UAE national team, tallying an impressive 85 goals in 114 appearances. This remarkable feat places him as the fourth highest active goal-scorer in international football and the sixth highest in the overall list of top international goal-scorers in men’s football worldwide. Mabkhout will strive to increase his goal tally in this edition of the AFC Asian Cup.
4. Naohiro Takahara (Japan) – 9 Goals
Former Japanese international Naohiro Takahara holds the fourth position in our list of top goal-scorers. Renowned for his heroic performances for Japan in various Asian competitions, Takahara showcased his goal-scoring prowess with nine goals during his playing days at the AFC Asian Cup.
A standout achievement for Takahara came in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive four goals. His impactful contributions were also evident in the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, where he netted five goals, playing a crucial role in Japan’s journey to becoming champions of Asia for the second time.
3. Lee Dong-gook (South Korea) – 10 Goals
The South Korean legend, Lee Dong-gook, secures the third position on the list with an impressive tally of 10 goals at the AFC Asian Cup. Throughout his illustrious career, Lee accumulated a total of 33 goals in 105 appearances for the South Korean men’s national team, earning him the distinction of being South Korea’s fifth all-time top scorer.
Lee’s notable achievement includes his exceptional performance at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, where he not only scored six goals but also clinched the prestigious Golden Boot award as the tournament’s top scorer. His instrumental role was evident in South Korea’s journey to the semi-finals and their eventual third-place finish in the tournament that year.
2. Almoez Ali (Qatar) – 10 Goals
Qatar’s emerging talent, Almoez Ali, stands as the only second active player on the list, following in the footsteps of the UAE’s Ali Mabkhout. With ample time on his side at the age of 27, Ali is poised to shatter records, boasting a few more years of prime football ahead. His impressive track record includes 10 goals at the AFC Asian Cup, including a noteworthy contribution in the opening match against Lebanon this year.
As Qatar’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 51 goals, Ali has left an indelible mark. Notably, he secured the record for the most goals in a single edition by emerging as the top scorer in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup with nine goals, a feat that propelled Qatar to their first continental title.
1. Ali Daei (Iran) – 14 Goals
Iranian football legend Ali Daei stands as the all-time top scorer in the AFC Asian Cup, having netted an impressive 14 goals in the tournament. Daei’s prolific goal-scoring prowess extends beyond Asia, placing him second in the list of the top international goal-scorers in men’s football globally, with 109 goals. He sits just behind the legendary Portuguese icon, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not only is Ali Daei the AFC Asian Cup’s record-holder, but he also holds the title of Iran’s all-time top scorer, having amassed 109 goals in a remarkable 148 appearances for the national team. One of his standout performances occurred at the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, where he scored eight goals, securing the record for the second-highest number of goals in a single edition of the championship.
