Asian Cup Players To Watch:Keisuke Honda

Name: Keisuke Honda
Age: 24
Country: Japan
Club: CSKA Moscow
Position: Central/Attacking Midfielder
Strengths: Set-pieces, Technique

The absence of Shinji Kagawa from this list will no doubt be a point of contention for all Goal.com readers out there but Keisuke Honda gets the nod as the Japanese representative by virtue of the fact that he is a proven performer for the Samurai Blue.

While Kagawa is a bright, bright prospect, the slightly more mature Honda has already led Japan at a major international tournament, whereas Kagawa hasn’t hit the same heights with the national team that he has at club level.

Honda though proved himself a world-class player at the World Cup in South Africa, where he was one of the best individual performers at the tournament. He backs up his irrepressible displays with Japan on a weekly basis with club side CSKA Moscow, where he is a key figure despite his relative youth.


A technically gifted individual who is capable of doing damage both from distance and within the penalty box, from dead ball scenarios or open play, he is also an incredibly balanced player who is unafraid to win possession himself rather than rely on the graft of Japan’s capable defensive midfielders.

DID YOU KNOW? Honda made a loud fashion statement last year time ago when he was snapped by media wearing a luxury watch on either hand.

His physical strength on and off the ball compliments the more aesthetically pleasing aspects of his game to great effect; Honda is an excellent dribbler, passer and finisher, as evidenced by his performances in the group stages against Denmark and Cameroon at the World Cup in particular.

Arguably Asia’s best player at the moment, Honda will be the go-to man for Japan in Qatar, where he will be asked both to instigate and complete moves.

Despite tending to take up more advanced positions inside the final third, expect to see him covering every blade of grass that he can, tracking back and providing invaluable assistance to his team when they aren’t in possession.

This set-piece maestro really is the complete package and it’s no wonder he’s attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool in the recent past, with the Asian Cup giving him the perfect platform to again showcase to the watching world his varied talents.