All time top scorers in AFC Asian Cup history

All the players in this list are considered legends for their respective nations.

The AFC Asian Cup unveiled its 18th edition in Qatar a few days back. From goals galore to drama, the flagship tournament has seen it all ever since its inception. Asia has been a home to many prolific goal-scorers who have displayed their heroics at the Asian Cup.

As the 2023 AFC Asian Cup picks up its pace, let us take a look at the all-time top goal-scorers in the history of the competition.

5. Ali Mabkhout (UAE) – 9 Goals

Ali Mabhkhout has been a household name in the AFC Asian Cup. The forward has scored nine goals at Asia’s highest level. He was also the top scorer at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup where he scored five goals and was also included in the team of the tournament.

Ali has scored 85 goals in total for the UAE national team in 114 appearances. The forward is currently the fourth highest active goal-scorer in international football and ranks sixth in the list of the top international goal-scorers in men’s football across the globe.

4. Naohiro Takahara (Japan) – 9 Goals

Former Japanese international Naohiro Takahara ranks fourth in our list. The forward is very well known for his heroics for Japan across Asian competitions and has scored nine goals at the AFC Asian Cup during his playing days.

He finished as the top scorer at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup with four goals. Takahara scored five at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and played a pivotal role in helping Japan become the champions of Asia for the second time.

3. Lee Dong-gook (South Korea) – 10 Goals

The South Korean legend is third on the list with 10 goals to his name at the AFC Asian Cup. Lee Dong-gook scored 33 goals in 105 appearances for the South Korean men’s national team. He is South Korea’s fifth all-time top scorer.

The forward scored six goals at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup and was adjudged as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner. He was a driving force behind South Korea’s run to the semi-finals and helped them finish third in the tournament that year.

2. Almoez Ali (Qatar) – 10 Goals

Qatar’s young prodigy is the only second active player in the list. Almoez Ali is expected to break all records because he has time on his side. Still 27, Ali has a few more years of prime football ahead of him. The forward has scored 10 goals at the AFC Asian Cup, including one in the opening match this year against Lebanon. 

Almoez Ali is Qatar’s all time top scorer with 51 goals to his name. He holds the record for the most number of goals scored in a single edition as he finished as the top scorer at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup with nine goals and led Qatar’s to their first continental title.

1. Ali Daei (Iran) – 14 Goals

With 14 goals to his name at the AFC Asian Cup, Iran’s Ali Daei is the tournament’s all time top scorer. He ranks second in the list of the top international goal-scorers in men’s football across the world with 109 goals.

Daei is also Iran’s all time top scorer with 109 goals to his name in just 148 appearances. He scored eight goals at the 1996 AFC Asian Cup and holds the record for scoring the second-most number of goals in a single edition of the championship.

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