Spaniard Cazorla, who signed for Al Sadd from Villareal last month, was in his element at the Education City Stadium and will be a joy to watch in the QSL and 2020 AFC Champions League, which resumes on September 14.

Having highlighted many of the standout Asian performers over the past few months, this week the-AFC.com has picked out eight international stars who have helped light up the tournament since arriving at clubs across the Continent.

With candidates from South America, Europe and Africa, there is considerable talent in our selection. So, review the list and vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article.

From a wonderfully astute finish in Abu Dhabi on Matchday Three to an equally memorable strike in the final against the might of Urawa Red Diamonds, Khrbin frequently proved unstoppable as the Syrian’s 10 goals saw him finish as the competition’s leading marksman – success powered by his unerring ability to be, more often than not, in the right place at the right time.

The livewire forward’s performances also ensured he was named the 2017 AFC Player of the Year – just reward for a season when he led the line superbly for Ramón Díaz’s charges.

With the latest edition of Asia’s premier club competition nearing its resumption, join the-AFC.com as we take a trip down memory lane to relive Khrbin’s exploits and see exactly why he earned the title – AFC Hotshot.

In the latest edition of the AFC’s GameChangers series – which tells inspiring stories from women’s football in Asia – we meet the 23-year-old whose passion has taken her from northern Pakistan to Paris and Milan; and for whom the game provides a window to so much more.

First-half fireworks gave Tractor a commanding 3-0 lead after 45 minutes, before Esteghlal came charging back into contention with a valiant, but ultimately futile second-half comeback.

Tractor’s win earned them their first trophy since their previous Hazfi Cup win in 2014, with head coach Saket Elhami – who was sent off from the field during the match – leading them to silverware in his first season in charge.

Murod Khalmukhamedov's strike ultimately decided the contest, with the defender converting a 67th-minute penalty kick after Uzbek debutant Shahzodbek Ubaydullayev’s earlier strike had been cancelled out by a Zoir Juraboev equaliser.

Played behind closed doors, the match was the first senior international fixture held anywhere in Asia since March.

Qatar’s invitation is a direct result of the Memorandum of Understanding that the AFC and Concacaf signed in Bahrain in May 2017 and the AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, said: “On behalf of the AFC and the entire Asian football family, I thank the Concacaf President Victor Montagliani and the Concacaf Members for extending this invitation.