Kuala Lumpur: The best young talents in Asia will be looking to take their first steps to international glory when the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers begin on Tuesday, with 42 teams spread across 10 groups.
Fifteen sides will join hosts Indonesia at the tournament in 12 months’ time after the conclusion of the qualifiers, before which the-AFC.com winds back the clock to highlight six current Asian stars who have shone during previous qualifying campaigns.
Ahmed Khalil
Ahmed Khalil, the 2015 AFC Player of the Year, grabbed headlines across Asia for the first time when he starred for the United Arab Emirates' U-19 team.
Khalil helped the UAE progress to the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship with a hat-trick against Kuwait in the qualifiers.
He would follow that up with a four-goal showing at the tournament proper in Saudi Arabia as the striker finished joint top scorer and was named MVP as the UAE won the title for the first time.
His performances earned him the AFC Young Player of the Year award, before Khalil went on to score twice at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt as the UAE reached the quarter-finals.
Zhang Yuning
Before moving to Europe in 2015, Chinese star Zhang Yuning made a name for himself playing for his country's youth teams.
After scoring for China at the AFC U-16 Championship in 2012, Zhang was soon promoted to the U-19 team.
In the qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship, Zhang showed his quality by scoring in each of China's three games, striking five times in total as goals against Malaysia, Macau and DPR Korea led the East Asians to the Finals.
Zhang made his debut for the senior national team in 2016 and has scored two goals in nine appearances as well as being part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Sardar Azmoun
Islamic Republic of Iran striker Sardar Azmoun is rather unique for the young Asian players who have joined European clubs in recent years, in that he made the move before making his debut for the senior national team.
Azmoun's talent was first noticed after his displays for Iran's U-19 teams in various competitions with his fine form earning him a move to Russia’s Rubin Kazan at the age of just 18.
During the qualifiers for the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, Azmoun was particularly impressive in the 6-1 win over Lebanon as he scored twice and registered an assist.
Since then, Azmoun's rise has been meteoric, with the 22-year-old boasting 22 goals in 28 matches for the senior national team after making his debut in 2014.
Yuya Kubo
KAA Gent striker Yuya Kubo helped Japan reach the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship with nine goals in the qualification campaign in Bangkok.
All but one of those goals came in the massive 26-0 win over Guam as Kubo revealed his goal-scoring talent at continental level.
He made less of an impact at the Finals in the UAE, where Japan were knocked out by eventual runners-up Iraq in the quarter-finals.
In 2016, Kubo went on to make his senior debut for Japan and scored two goals in qualifying as the Samurai Blue advanced to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Akram Afif
Qatar’s Akram Afif is yet another young talent who came to prominence through Asian youth competitions, having already spent time in Spain as a teenager.
The forward scored thrice in the qualifiers for the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, with his two goals against Uzbekistan in the final game ensuring Qatar finished on top of Group A.
At the competition in Myanmar, Afif scored four goals, including the winner against DPR Korea in the final in Yangon, as the Qataris won their first ever title.
Afif then went on to score at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, before making his senior national team debut later that year.
Chanathip Songkrasin
Undoubtedly one of Thailand's biggest footballing stars, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin's ascent has been extraordinary.
His international career started off with the Thailand U-19 team, when he was called up to play at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers.
Chanathip was a prominent member of the Thai team that finished above both Korea Republic and Japan to top their qualification group, unbeaten and without conceding a single goal.
Thailand were knocked out in the group stage at the finals but the 'Thai Messi' made the quick step up to the U-23 team and then the senior national team, going on to help his country qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
CLICK HERE FOR THE AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS FIXTURES
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com