The 2023 Asian Cup is almost here. And yes, it's still being called that, even if China's withdrawal as hosts and its subsequent relocation to Qatar means it will now commence in January 2024, rather than the initially planned June 2023. Quirks of the calendar aside, however, it's one of the biggest tournaments in international football, the second-oldest continental tournament behind only the Copa America and one rising in prestige and recognition as Asian football continues to grow.
Across the coming month, it's an opportunity for the host nation Qatar to defend its crown from 2019 and invite those whose gaze is normally directed elsewhere to cast their attention to the best that Asia has to offer.
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There's plenty to discover. For while notable figures such as Son Heung-Min, Wataru EndÅ, Mathew Ryan and Mehdi Taremi may have established themselves across the continent and players hailing from the AFC are an increasingly common site at some of the world's biggest clubs, the Asian Cup will play host to a swathe of players mostly unknown to a global audience.
And while the modern age of instant information, communication and all manner of statistical breakdowns means that clubs not possessing the ability to properly scout the far-flung reaches of Asia (or the world, for that matter) is well and truly over, the Asian Cup will provide those within the game an opportunity to run their eyes over talent in a new setting, outside of their normal opposition, to see how they adapt and, potentially, how they can fit into their plans.
Indeed, given that the tournament will be taking place smack bang in the middle of the January transfer window, players will inevitably be working in something of an oversized shop window even in comparison to the one that normally exists for major international tournaments. It's something that coaches and players may even need to manage mid-tournament, with Australian defender MiloÅ¡ Degenek transferring from Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal for â¬3 million in the middle of the 2019 iteration of the tournament. Certainly, the concentration of talent, representatives, and potential suitors in one location can also serve to quicken proceedings.
Here are five players playing their club football outside of Europe to keep an eye on in the month ahead.
Akram Afif, Qatar
Al Sadd's Akram Afif is one of the most talented Asian players playing outside of Europe. Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIf Qatar were scoring a goal in their run to Asian Cup glory in 2019, there was a good chance that Afif was the one setting it up. The winger recorded an astounding 10 assists across the tournament, a figure that included three in a 4-0 semifinal win over the United Arab Emirates and two in a 3-1 win over Japan in the final. He also added one goal in the form of an 83rd-minute sealer from the penalty spot in that aforementioned decider, which proved something of a false dawn ahead of a winless home World Cup.
Scoring 26 goals and registering a further 15 assists as Al Sadd won the Qatar Stars League and scoring five times as they reached the semifinals of the Asian Champions League, Afif was subsequently named the Asian Footballer of the Year at the age of 23. The world, it appeared, was at his feet.
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"It's a pleasure to coach him. He's an unbelievable talent, and a big player, so I'm very happy for him," Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, then-coach of Al Sadd said at the time. "There are no limits for him. I have told him many times that he's an amazing player and he has many capacities to play football. He's a talent. He can play everywhere. It depends on him: his mentality, his ambition -- because he has everything to play football."
But despite appearing primed before a home World Cup to gather experience for a second go of things in Europe -- the attacker had previous stints in Belgium with Eupen and in Spain with Villarreal and Sporting Gijón -- and possessing the ability to make an impact at multiple destinations on the continent, Afif has remained in Qatar in the years since.
But the 27-year-old remains an attacking dynamo and one of the tournament's best talents. Starting on the left wing, he has scored 13 goals and registered eight assists in just 12 games for Al Sadd so far this season, as well as grabbing three assists as Qatar opened their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with an 8-1 thrashing of Afghanistan. Indeed, he's close to being elite in almost every statistical category of note so far this season, an impressive dribbler and passer who can score and finish.
Feras Al-Brikan, Saudi Arabia
In a league full of star imports, Feras Al-Brikan has shone in the Saudi Pro League for Al Ahli. Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesPart of a rising generation of Saudi players, 23-year-old Al-Brikan already has over 30 caps in Saudi Arabia's attack and provided the assist for Saleh Al-Shehri's opening goal as the Green Falcons pulled off a famous 2-1 upset win over eventual champions Argentina in the 2022 World Cup.
Joining Al Ahli on a five-year deal last September after two years with Al Fateh, Al-Brikan's arrival at King Abdullah Sports City was somewhat overshadowed by the concurrent signings of the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Allan Saint-Maximin and Roberto Firmino. However, a case can be made that his signing has been one of the most important for a side that sits third heading into the Saudi Pro League's break for the Asian Cup.
Having already scored four goals and added a further assist in just five games at Al Fateh before his midseason move, Al-Brikan has added a further seven goals and four assists in 12 appearances for his new side -- a rate of 0.75 goals per 90 minutes and 1.18 score involvements per 90 across the two clubs, with the latter coming in as the fourth-best rate in the league behind only Georges-Kévin N'Koudou, Aleksandar MitroviÄ and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
An above-average aerial presence, Al-Brikan hasn't been getting a lot of shots away compared to his rivals in the Saudi Pro League this season. Still, he's proven lethal with the opportunities he does get, converting with 50% of his attempts on goal and 70% of those that are struck on target. It's form that has seen him established as coach Matthias Jaissle's starting centre-forward at Al Ahli amid reports that Firmino is already eyeing the exit.
Though a regular in the Saudi squads of Hervé Renard, Al-Brikan was controversially left out of new coach Roberto Mancini's plans for November's World Cup qualifiers. Nonetheless, the Italian coach has included him in his 26-player squad headed for Qatar for what will be the first senior Asian Cup for the attacker.
Joe Gauci, Australia
Joe Gauci has been recalled to the Socceroos fold and after a start to the season like THIS, it's not hard to see why