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Top players in Europe as well as in South America after having a successful career many times play in a league which is not very competitive like Europe and want to earn more money at the end of their career or to win more trophies.
To recruit great players, several Asian teams give huge wages and attractive contracts.
This might be especially appealing to players nearing the conclusion of their careers who want to maximize their earnings potential.
Some players may be enticed to play in Asia because of the cultural and lifestyle options.
By playing in Asia, players may perceive a chance to expand their brand and gain endorsements.
Some footballers may have personal or familial links to Asia, or they may just be searching for a fresh challenge as their careers wind down.
Below are ten footballers who went to Asia at the end of their career.
Eto'o's most recent club appearance was with Qatar SC.
Before retiring from sports, the four-time African Footballer of the Year played just one season at the club, scoring six goals and registering one assist in 18 games.
When he was in his prime, the Cameroonian star played for clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, among others.
He became a player for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League in 2016.
On October 3, 2016, he made his debut for the team against FC Pune City.
Forlán scored two goals in ten appearances for Mumbai City FC.
He was an important member of the squad, helping them reach the Indian Super League semi-finals.
His stay at the club, however, was brief, as he left at the end of the 2016 season.
Following his time in India, Forlán joined Kitchee SC of the Hong Kong Premier League in 2017.
He made his debut for the team on July 22, 2017, in a match against Eastern SC.
During his time at Kitchee SC, Forlán scored 8 goals in 15 appearances and helped the team win the Hong Kong Premier League title.
He left the club at the end of the 2017-18 season.
He joined the Indian Super League franchise FC Goa in 2014.
On October 12, 2014, he made his debut with the squad against the Delhi Dynamos.
Pires appeared in 10 games for FC Goa and scored two goals.
He was an important part of the team's attack and helped them reach the Indian Super League semi-finals.
His stay at the club, however, was brief as he left at the end of the 2014 season.
He became a player manager for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League in 2015.
On October 4, 2015, he made his debut for the team against FC Pune City.
Anelka scored two goals in 11 appearances for Mumbai City FC. He was crucial to the team's offence.
His stay at the club was brief as he left at the end of the 2015 season.
He also had a stint as a manager with the team, but he failed to get to the semifinals.
He became a player with the Delhi Dynamos of the Indian Super League in 2014.
On October 15, 2014, he made his debut for the team against FC Pune City.
Del Piero scored four goals in 14 appearances with the Delhi Dynamos.
He left at the end of the 2014 season.
Del Piero is also well-known for his time with Sydney FC in the Australian A-League, where he scored 24 goals in 48 games from 2012 to 2014.
Materazzi was signed as the player-manager of Chennaiyin FC in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League on September 22, 2014.
He agreed to terms with Chennaiyin on a two-year contract worth $1 million (USD) each season.
Materazzi's contract expired at the end of the 2015 season when he guided Chennaiyin to the Indian Super League championship.
He confirmed his departure from the club following the completion of the 2016 season.
He is most remembered for his time with the Spanish team Barcelona, where he won a slew of titles, including the UEFA Champions League.
Xavi Hernandez joined the Qatari club Al Sadd SC as a player in 2015.
On August 20, 2015, he made his debut for the squad against Al Khor SC.
Xavi was a crucial member of Al Sadd's midfield and helped the team win the Qatari Stars League and the Emir of Qatar Cup.
After a great career in Spain and Qatar, he resigned from professional football in 2019.
He also began his management career at Al Sadd.
The Italian defender surprised fans when he decided to join Al-Ahli in the UAE.
After the completion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup winner agreed to join the Asian club.
The centre-back was instrumental in Italy's World Cup victory in 2006.
He returned to Juventus from Real Madrid in La Liga in 2009.
Cannavaro, however, opted to depart Europe for Asia after a year in his second spell with the Old Lady.
He played 16 games for Al-Ahli before retiring in July 2011.
Iniesta, like Xavi, came up through the FC Barcelona youth system and spent his whole career with the club until 2018.
The midfielder signed Vissel Kobe on a free transfer in 2018, bringing an end to his time at FC Barcelona.
The 37-year-old remains a key role at Vissel Kobe.
His current deal keeps him at the club until 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo's time in European football has come to an end, and he has joined Al Nassr.
The Portuguese attacker has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract extension until 2025.
The record goalscorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League, the top European Cup tournament, will now pursue his career on a different continent.
He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, but his switch to Asian football has come as a complete surprise to many people.
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