Abu Dhabi: With excitement building ahead of his country’s Round of 16 encounter with Iraq, Qatar hotshot Almoez Ali is on the verge of writing himself into the competition’s history books thanks to the striker’s impressive goalscoring exploits at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Ali, who claimed the top scorer award at the AFC U23 Championship in 2018, has been in sensational form throughout the tournament, netting seven times in three matches – including a four-goal haul against DPR Korea – as Qatar claimed top spot in Group E en route to the knockout phase.
With at least one more game still to come, the 22-year-old Al Duhail SC forward’s impressive tally has seen him move to within one strike of the record haul by a player at Asia’s premier event, one which was set by Islamic Republic of Iran legend Ali Daei when he scored eight at the 1996 edition, also in the United Arab Emirates.
The Qatari youngster is already level with Iran’s Behtash Fariba and Korea Republic ace Choi Soon-ho who bagged seven goals apiece during the AFC Asian Cup in 1980.
Besides his 'super hat-trick' against the Koreans, Ali rounded off the scoring in Qatar’s 2-0 win over Lebanon on Matchday One and grabbed both goals in last Thursday’s 2-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia.
Almoez Ali
Born: August 19, 1996
Current Club: Al Duhail SC (Qatar)
Official Qatar senior team debut: August 8, 2016 versus Iraq
Was top scorer with six goals at the AFC U23 Championship China 2018, and has had spells in Europe with LASK Linz, FC Pasching and Cultural Leonesa
AFC Asian Cup Top Scorers
Name Country Goals Scored Edition
Ali Daei Islamic Republic of Iran 8 1996
Almoez Ali Qatar 7 2019* (ongoing)
Behtash Fariba Islamic Republic of Iran 7 1980
Choi Soon-ho Korea Republic 7 1980
Source: the-afc.com