Quiz: Test your knowledge of Middle East football
The familiarity of names like Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny demonstrates that Middle Eastern football has a fair bit of exposure internationally.
They are joined by stars like Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez who may not have been born in the Middle East or North Africa but have nevertheless maintained strong ties to their ancestral homelands, with Mahrez choosing to represent his native Algeria over France, where he was born.
With reaching Europe's top leagues being the ultimate goal of players the world over, it's easy to forget that the Middle East and North Africa have a rich footballing pedigree all of their own, both in domestic leagues and international squads. Teams from the region have long dominated continental competitions on both the national team and club levels. Equally, the drama both on and off the pitch is no less exciting than it is in Europe.
But just how much do you know? Here we put your knowledge of the beautiful game in the Middle East to the test, recalling some of the most memorable players and moments in recent history.
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