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Qatar winning the 2019 Asian Cup was a real underdog story. The team, ranked 13th out of 24 participants heading into the competition, devoured every opposition while scoring a sensational 19 goals and only conceding once on their way to capture the country's first ever Asian title.
A big reason for this amazing achievement was the electrifying goal-scoring form of 22-year-old Almoez Ali.
The Sudanese-born forward shattered a 23-year-old Asian Cup goal scoring record with nine goals in the tournament, picking up the Gold Boot and Player of Tournament prizes in the process. His stunning bicycle-kick opener in the final against Japan was a fantastic illustration of the player's eye for the spectacular and his ability to perform on big occasions.
These characteristics are rare, convincing many that he has the potential to be successful even in Europe.
With Qatar hosting the next World Cup in 2022, making it the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world, the national team is hoping to make a big impression. While winning the Asian Cup is definitely a huge accomplishment and an indication of the massive progress of Qatari football, there is still a feeling that more must be done to compete on the world stage.
The success of the Aspire Academy in Qatar, from where Almoez Ali is a graduate, has seen the quality of Qatar's youth teams improve. The U20 national team won their first Asian U19 Championship in 2015 and the core of that team, along with head coach Félix Sánchez Bas and Almoez, are now members of the newly crowned Asian Cup winning team.
There is an argument that for this group to progress even further European football must be the destination, where they would be challenged even more to attain their maximum potential. The adjustment to European football has been difficult or Qatari players in the past.
Almoez himself has already had spells in Belgium, Austria and Spain before he returned to the comfort of the Gulf. Even the highly rated and ultra-talented Akram Afif, who is still attached to Villarreal, has yet to make an appearance for the LaLiga outfit and is currently playing on loan at Al-Saad.
For both Almoez and Afif to take Qatar to the next level, they must take the European test. They need to compete every day with high calibre players to improve their skills, and then in turn improve Qatar's national football team.
Almoez understands this and is ready to try his hand, or rather his feet, west again.
"Of course, I look for European teams because in our league in Asia, not only in Qatar, but in all of Asia, we know teams are weak and we see that at the World Cup. They do not go far. Always, they go out," he said.
"I hope to go out [to Europe] to learn and to come back for the World Cup in Doha in 2022," he added.
The forward's efforts have not gone unnoticed, and he might very well get his wish soon. Italian powerhouse AC Milan, a team currently going through a rebuilding stage, have already sent scouts to watch Almoez.
Additionally, Qatar's involvement in this year's Copa America would give Almoez yet another oppurtunity to show the world just what he and his team can do.
