Team Melli’s dream strike duo both found the net, as did Australia’s Martin Boyle and Korean stars - both emerging and established, while no less than four Japanese players are among this week’s nominees after putting in stellar performances for their clubs.

Who was Asia’s standout player outside of the continent from August 25 to 30? Examine our 10 contenders and don’t forget to cast your vote.

Asia's elite national teams booked their spots in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar after a gruelling and mentally taxing second round heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at players who can change the outcome of matches for their teams in Group A.

Asia's elite national teams booked their spots in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar after a gruelling and mentally taxing second round heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at players who can change the outcome of matches for their teams in Group B.

There will be 12 teams competing for four direct tickets to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and we present some of the key facts and figures that give further colour and context to the campaigns that are set to play out on the Road to Qatar.

This was the case during the ‘Miracle of Bern’ in 1954, in which Fritz and Ottmar Walter represented the victorious Germans, and at the World Cup in 1966, where the Charlton siblings made a substantial contribution to England’s victory. Other international appearances by footballing brothers include the De Boers (Netherlands), the Laudrups (Denmark), the Ayews (Ghana) and the Hazards, who both competed for Belgium at Russia 2018.

A few months after that World Cup, Swedish-born brothers Robert and Felix Melki enjoyed a moment they had dreamed about their entire lives, when they played alongside each other in an international match, having received a call-up from the Lebanese Football Federation for a friendly against Uzbekistan.

Today, more than 35 years on, Mahrous is back with the Qasioun Eagles, having been appointed national team coach prior to the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar. Ahead lies an opportunity to make up for that disappointment all those years ago and fulfil the nation’s long-awaited dream of reaching the big stage.

Indeed, the Southeast Asians had long been the pushovers in Asian qualifying, having invariably suffered early exits over the past two decades.

Under Korea Republic's Park Hang-seo, however, the Golden Star Warriors have emerged a different side in this campaign, powering through the second round from a group which also featured United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.