There are dilemmas about the best player in the world, the best player on every continent except one. It is about Asia, where Heung Min has little competition.
He was named the best player in Asia for the eighth time, the sixth time in a row. This time, he won convincingly, ahead of Mehdi Taremi from Porto and Salem Al-Davsari from Al-Hilal.
Son had 26.7% of the votes, Taremi 12.5%. By the way, although it was quite convincing, now the difference is smaller than in some previous years, more precisely all since 2018.
The prize has been awarded since 2013, and so far, Keisuke Honda (2013) and Shinji Okazaki (2015) have also won. Every other year else, it belongs to Son.
1. Son Heung Min (Tottenham)
Now that Kane is gone, Son is the best player of Tottenham and their true leader. He is constantly among the best players and goal-scorers in the Premier League.
His ability to create a chance or score a goal from impossible situations makes him unique. He has won many individual awards, but he still misses some big trophies with Tottenham.
2. Mehdi Taremi (Porto)
The Iranian striker had dominated the Portuguese league since 2019 when he was part of Rio Ave.
By many, he was considered a one-season wonder. Still, Taremi became a very important member of Porto and helped them a lot last season in the title race, scoring 22 goals and becoming the best scorer in the league, and Porto won the title.
3. Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen, Roma)
The Iranian “Messi” is 28 years old, and yet he has a career that he can be proud of. Maybe the best games he showed in Russia were playing for Zenit from Saint Petersburg, but he was really impressive in Germany playing for Bayer Leverkusen.
Mourinho was impressed by him and always talked and prized Azmoun, and this season in Roma, they will have a chance to work together.
4. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)
Hwang Hee–chan is another Asian player from South Korea who first introduced himself to the football world by playing in the Bundesliga.
He plays as a winger, but also he can be an attacking midfielder. Through Hamburger and RB Leipzig, he made himself a name in European football, and now he is a member of Wolverhampton in the Premier League.
Read: Current Asian players in the Premier League
5. Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Mitoma is the best Japanese player in the world at the moment. He is playing amazingly in the Premier League for Brighton, and it seems that it’s only a question of time when some of the biggest European teams will make a bid for him.
He started his career in Japan, in Kawasaki Frontale, but his talent was recognized, and he signed for Brighton.
6. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal)
Another Asian Japanese player in the Premier League. Tomiyasu, unlike many Asian players, first played in Italy for Bologna.
Arteta saw his potential, and he is one of the players who are part of the new Arsenal, the one who fights for trophies. He is a typical modern defender with good skills, can play different positions in the defense and knows how and when to go to the attack.
7. Abdelkarim Hassan (Al-Jahra)
Hassan is probably the best Qatari player right now. Although he is a defender, he often scores amazing long-distance goals and goals that are worth trophies.
With his previous team, Al-Sadd, he won everything he could in Qatar and Asia, including the AFC Champions League.
8. Hassan Al-Haydos (Al-Sadd)
Hassan Al-Haydos is probably the most experienced player on this list, with 32 years. He spent his entire career in one team – Al-Sadd.
He is already a big legend there as he led this team to many trophies and, of course, the most important AFC Champions League.
He was part of all young categories of the Qatar national team, and now he plays for the senior team. He won many trophies with his national team as well.
9. Akram Afif (Al-Sadd)
Yet another Qatari and Al-Sadd player is on this list. This left winger, unlike his Qatari teammates in his career, has changed several teams, including some in Europe.
He played in Belgium for Eupen, Villareal and Sporting Gijon in Spain before joining Eupen again and now for Al Sadd. He has been playing at a high level for several seasons, but he is playing best when he plays for the national team of Qatar.
10. Alireza Yahanbakhsh (Feyenord)
This experienced Iranian midfielder is currently a member of Feyenoord, but in his career, he has played for Brighton, AZ Alkmaar and NEC as well.
In Feyenoord last season, he won the Eredivisie, his best trophy. He plays in various positions in the midfield, and he is a very skilled, fast player who creates chances and scores goals very often.