Best current Asian XI in football

Son Heung-Min has been the flagbearer of Asian football for the last few years

Left-Back - Ali Adnan (Iraq)

If Japan's Yuto Nagatomo hadn't announced his retirement last month, he would have been the obvious choice for this position. However, as this list looks at current players, the left-back spot goes to Iraq's Ali Adnan.

Capped more than 40 times by the national side, he has scored 3 goals and assisted 5. Dubbed as the "Asian Gareth Bale" by the Turkish Media, Adnan is a modern attack-minded full-back who is strong and has a ferocious left foot. However, his strong physique does not hamper his pace and he is known to bomb up the flanks whenever he gets the opportunity. He can put in a sweet left-footed cross into the box and is also capable of scoring long-range screamers.

He is contracted to Udinese for whom he has made 70 appearances. He has also had a loan spell at Atalanta BC and is currently on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In club football, Adnan has made 122 appearances, scoring 5 goals and assisting 14 more.

Right-Back - Hiroki Sakai (Japan)

The Japanese right-back is quick and a tireless worker, currently playing club football at Marseille. He has been capped 55 times by Japan and has scored a solitary goal and has assisted 7. He is a solid defender who can break up play and is good in the air. He is not the flashiest full-back but is reliable and can ensure that his team's defence does not leak goals.

For Marseille, he has 114 appearances and 10 assists. With a defender like Sakai, the wingers can play high up the pitch and usually do not have to worry about tracking back. Sakai also provides exceptional flexibility to his manager as he can play at left-back, centre-back or right midfield.

Now aged 28, Sakai is an integral part of Marseille as well as the Japanese National team.