Cristiano Ronaldo's last shot at Asian glory as AFC Champions League Elite begins | OneFootball

The AFC Champions League Elite kicks off next week, offering what could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final chance to conquer Asia. With five Saudi clubs to the fore after spending over $2 billion since 2023, the aim is to keep the prize in Riyadh or Jeddah.

"We have a really good squad, a deep squad, our goal is to win every competition we can," he told The Associated Press. "We don't play to dream, we play to win."

Al-Nassr, under Ange Postecoglou and featuring Ronaldo and Joao Felix, are chasing the crown after finishing runners-up in AFC Champions League Two last season. Al-Ahli defend the title and are aiming for a third in a row as the west gets under way.

Captain Edouard Mendy said Al-Ahli will try to repeat last season’s formula and keep building year on year, calling the club the biggest in Saudi Arabia and Asia.

Al-Hilal have spent over $200 million on Premier League trio Ollie Watkins, Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville, while Al-Ittihad and Brendan Rodgers’ debutants Al-Qadsiah deepen the field. Iranian sides will host on neutral ground amid regional tensions, and powerhouses from Japan and South Korea are ready to challenge.

Al-Nassr visit UAE side Al Ain on Tuesday in matchday one of the west. Al-Ahli host Pakhtakor, while Esteghlal and Tractor also open at neutral venues. The top eight from each zone progress to the round of 16.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”