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The AFC Asian Cup 2019 is all set to begin from January 5 and will go on until February 1, with 24 nations participating in the mega event of the Asian continent.
Apart from the 23 countries from Asia, Australia - the defending champions - are also part of the Asian Cup campaign. The 24 teams have been divided into 6 groups of 4 teams each and the top two teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.
Every team has its share of superstars and seasoned campaigners all set to take charge from next week. However, many of them might well be playing their last Asian Cup campaign, considering their age and fitness. The next edition of the AFC Asian Cup will be held in 2023 either in South Korea or in China.
Here, in this article, let us look at the 5 International footballers who might be playing their last Asian Cup campaign in 2019.
# 5 Ahmed Mubarak - Oman
Age - 33
Ahmed Mubarak is one of the veterans of Oman football who presently plies his trade with Oman club Mesaimeer. He has been part of the Oman national football team right from 2003 and even after 15 years of playing International football, he is still at the top level. He has appeared in 156 international matches for Oman and has scored 18 International goals.
He has been part of the AFC Asian Cup squads of Oman in 2004 Asian Cup, 2007 Asian Cup and 2015 Asian Cup. He is another footballer who will be playing his fourth Asian cup and possibly, his last. He also was the most valuable player of the 2017 Gulf Cup which speaks volumes about what Ahmed Mubarak brings onto the field.
Ahmed Mubarak is a vital cog in the Oman national team and 2019 AFC Asian Cup well might be the last Asian Cup, where Oman could use his expertise.
# 4 Mark Milligan - Australia
Age – 33
The 33-year-old defensive midfielder/central defender was part of the 2015 Australian team that won the AFC Asian Cup. He is a pure veteran of Australian football and has been part of 3 FIFA world cups.
He has been associated with a dozen clubs in the world and is presently plying his trade with the Scottish club Hibernian. He has represented Australia 73 times, scoring 6 goals in between his defensive duties.
The veteran might well be appearing for his last AFC Asian Cup in 2015 and is expected to make this one appearance count for Australia. If Australia has a strong and robust defense, a part of the credit should go to Mark Milligan. The hopes of retaining the AFC Asian Cup within the Australian continent will depend heavily on how well Milligan applies himself to the field.
# 3 Sunil Chhetri - India
Age - 34
Sunil Chhetri is the most influential footballer in India and is the mainstay of Indian national football team. He has been part of the national team since 2005 and has been capped 104 times for India. What is more astonishing is the fact that he has scored 65 goals and is second best to Cristiano Ronaldo and tied with Lionel Messi in the list of highest number of International goals among active players.
He was part of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, a disastrous campaign for India. Considering the fact that he is 34 years old and well might be playing his last AFC Asian Cup campaign, he would be looking to make this one opportunity count.
Sunil Chhetri is almost irreplaceable in the Indian national team and his contributions to Indian football are much more than what is available as stats on the paper.
Sunil Chhetri is another player who might be playing his last AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
# 2 Amer Shafi - Jordan
Age - 36
Amer Shafi is the 36-year-old Jordan goalkeeper who has been the mainstay of the national team from 2002. He has made 139 appearances for Jordan and his only goal in his career came against India in 2018 when his long-range shot bounced in front of Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh and reached the nets.
Currently, he plays for Jordan Club Shabab Al-Ordon and has also been part of 3 Asian Cup campaigns of Jordan in 2004, 2011 and 2015. He was instrumental in helping Jordan ease through the qualifying round for the previous two Asian Cup.
The 36-year-old might well be playing last ultimate AFC Asian Cup campaign in 2019 and would want nothing short of a Quarterfinals qualification at least. His experience and calmness in front of the post will be missed by the Jordan national football team when he retires.
# 1 Zheng Zhi - China
Age - 38
Zheng Zhi is one of the pioneer midfielders of the Chinese national team apart from being their current captain. He has experience in playing premier league football with Charlton Athletic for 2 years from 2007-2009.
He has nine goals to his name from the 67 appearances he has made for the national team. In 2009, he had moved to the Scottish premier league club Celtic, where he made 16 appearances form them scoring one goal. In 2010, he moved back to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande and has represented them in 186 games, scoring 15 goals.
The 38-year-old midfielder has been part and parcel fo the Chinese national football team since 2002 and has been capped 104 times. He was named in the AFC Asian Cup all-time best XI and has been awarded the Asian Footballer of the Year honour in 2013.
He was part of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup Chinese team that finished as Runners-up to Japan. He also participated in 2007 and 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be his fourth appearance in the tournament, and probably his last.
