Commenting on Taremi’s background, the Magazine said, “When the striker joined Iran’s biggest club Persepolis in 2014, he had established himself as a hard-working forward but there was little sign that he was on his way to becoming one of Asia’s top forwards.”
“After joining Rio Ave in 2019, he scored 18 goals to earn a move to FC Porto where he has continued to score on a regular basis. Ready to lead Iran at the World Cup and enhance a burgeoning reputation,” it added.
Meanwhile, elaborating on Azmoun’s performance, it said, ”Probably spent too long in Russia, though starred for Zenit St.Petersburg, moving to Bayer Leverkusen only in January.”
“The 27 year-old, who averages almost a goal every 1.5 games for Iran, has been slow to settle in Germany but his undoubted class will surely shine soon. A striker’s striker who is clinical in the area, Azmoun is approaching his peak and will relish the chance to face England, the United States and Wales.”
The top 10 Asian football players named by FourFourTwo magazine are as follow:
1. Son Heung-min (Tottenham and South Korea)
2. Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto and Iran)
3. Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen and Iran)
4. Salman Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal and Saudi Arabia)
5. Akram Afif (Al-Sadd and Qatar)
6. Waturu Endo (Stuttgart and Japan)
7. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal and Japan)
8. Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail and Qatar)
9. Eldor Shomurodov (Roma and Uzbekistan)
10. Ali Mabkhout (Al-Jazira and the United Arab Emirates)
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