By the time the quarter-finals rolled around last year, Omar Abdulrahman led the AFC Champions League scoring race with seven goals but Omar Khrbin eventually won the prize with 10 goals. This year, we have not one, but two players who have already hit nine goals ahead of the quarter-finals; Baghdad Bounedjah and Youssef El Arabi.

While seven-goal man Mame Baba Thiam has swapped Esteghlal for Ajman in the UAE Pro League, two players continue to keep the pressure on the North African duo. Dejan Damjanovic and Kim Shin-wook are both on five goals, but only one of them will advance into the semi-finals as their teams clash in the last eight.

Since its inception in 2002, the AFC Champions League has delivered endless moments of magic. Some of the biggest names in Asian football introduced themselves to the continent through this competition, and amongst them were some mesmerising talents who left a lasting legacy through their playmaking and scoring talents.

From multiple-time winners to record breaking scorers, we celebrate five players who added to the glamour and mystique of the number 10 shirt in the AFC Champions League.

Honda, who retired from international football after Japan's heartbreaking 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia exit in a last-gasp defeat to Belgium, put pen to paper for the 2018/19 season.

"It goes without saying that Keisuke has consistently proven himself at the highest level and we can't wait to see what he can do in Melbourne," said Victory head coach Kevin Muscat.

The talismanic 32-year-old, one of the highest profile names in Asian football, had been a free agent since departing Mexican club Pachuca.

"I am so happy to join the Melbourne Victory. I knew they were interested in me one week after the World Cup," he told Fox Sports.

"I really like a new challenge, that's me. I checked a couple of things. Melbourne Victory is the most successful club in the A-League. That's amazing. They became champs many times," he added.

Eight of Asia's biggest club sides are battling for the 2018 AFC Champions League title, and amongst their ranks are some top players hoping to impress their national team managers as we approach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

Some have already shown glimpses of their talents at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, while others are dreaming of one last grand showing before hanging their boots. So let's look at some of the biggest AFC Asian Cup hopefuls featuring in August's AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

August 26

Islamic Republic of Iran international Saman Ghoddos has signed a five-year contract with French side Amiens SC.

The Swedish-born Iranian began his professional career in Sweden's Division 1 Limhamn Bunkeflo in 2011 and Trelleborg in 2013 before progressing to the Superettan a year later with Syrianska.

The AFC Asian Cup buzz is in the air, tickets are on sale last week, and excitement has been building as 24 Asian nations prepare for the biggest competition in the continent. You, the fans, have been equally enthusiastic, raining in questions about the history of the tournament.

So here we are. A special edition round four of the Asian Football Trivia, all about the AFC Asian Cup. Remember to send us your questions for next week via our social media handles and don’t forget to include the hashtag #AskAFT. Enjoy!

The 26-year-old has spent his entire professional senior career with Al Ain, marking this as his first move out of the United Arab Emirates.

With Al Ain since 2008, the 2016 AFC Player of the Year has a cabinet filled with trophies playing for The Boss, which includes multiple individual honours, four UAE Pro League titles, a UAE League Cup in 2009, three UAE Super Cup and three UAE President's Cup.