2025-2024 دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة

The exciting 22-year-old opened the league phase campaign with an impressive brace in JDT’s 2-2 draw with Shanghai Port before netting the opener in his side’s 3-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua.

Since then he has also scored against Ulsan HD to take his goal tally to four in six games and, with JDT due to face Central Coast Mariners and Pohang Steelers in February, he told the-AFC.com his thoughts on the competition so far.

Now, it’s over to you - the fans. Cast your vote and decide which masterpiece deserves to advance to the semi-finals!

As the 12 teams start preparing for the final round of fixtures in just under a fortnight, the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures from Matchday One.

The result propelled Al Hilal back to the top of the standings, ahead of Al Ahli Saudi on goal difference with Jesus praising his team’s mentality.

A solitary Ferjani Sassi goal six minutes before half-time proved to be the difference as Qatar’s Al Gharafa moved into the knockout stage qualification spots, leaving Martins the relatively happier of the two head coaches.

The move came a day after Al Ain’s 2-1 defeat against Al Rayyan in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 which meant they crashed out of the competition without registering a single win. The team also had only one victory from their last five domestic league games.

Malcom inspired the Saudi Arabia side to victory with a goal and two assists as Al Hilal moved ahead of Al Ahli Saudi FC on goal difference.

As for Persepolis, the defeat saw them drop out of the top eight but the Islamic Republic of Iran side retain a chance of progressing to the knockout stage with one round of fixtures to be played.

The Qatar Stars League side moved onto seven points from seven games after Ferjani Sassi’s 39th minute goal earned his club their second win of the campaign while Pakhtakor’s chances suffered a significant blow.

The club from Uzbekistan remain on four points with one round remaining, when Pakhtakor will face Al Sadd SC from Qatar in Tashkent on February 17.

With the AFC's club competitions transitioning to a new format from the 2024/25 season, it was only fitting that the inaugural winners brought the curtains down on the AFC Champions League by waltzing their way to a second title.

Over the years, Asia’s top-tier club competition has produced plenty of breathtaking goals -- from sizzling bicycle kicks to absolute stunners from distance - so join the-AFC.com as we walk down memory lane to look at some of the best goals the AFC Champions League witnessed during its run.

From household domestic names to international stars, the competition has been lit up by a number of players who provided memories to cherish for lovers of Asian football.

Spanning East Asia to West Asia, the-AFC.com selects 10 of the biggest superstars the competition has witnessed in its illustrious history.

It has been a season like no other with global superstars debuting in the continental competition which as usual delivered outstanding moments over the course of the season.

After the conclusion of another thrilling edition, the-AFC.com picks the Magic Moments and asks you, the fans, to cast your vote for the favourite.

There were many exceptional performers in another memorable chapter of Asia's top-tier club competition as we analyse the stats to assess some of the key categories and those who stood out.

The Japanese side had a narrow advantage following a 2-1 triumph in Yokohama, but a sensational second leg performance in Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League lifted their second title after a 21-year wait.

As the 2023/24 edition concludes, the-AFC.com reviews what some of those involved had to say about the competition’s finale.

The final also brought to a close the competition in its current format as Asian club football heads into an exciting new era next season with the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite™ and the AFC Champions League 2™.

As continental club football takes a break until the new tournaments begin, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the stats and facts from the second leg of the final.

After Al Ain’s win over Yokohama F. Marinos in the final, the-AFC.com now looks to the future and the younger generation of stars that have risen to prominence during the tournament by asking you, the fans, to select the NEOM Future Star of the 2023/24 edition.

We’ve selected six nominees who have made their career breakthroughs at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 so study through the candidates and vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the foot of the article.

The side from the United Arab Emirates were simply unstoppable as Crespo's players did exactly what he had promised they would - turn the pressure on in front of their adoring fans.

The end result was an emphatic 5-1 win at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with Al Ain triumphing 6-3 on aggregate to lift the trophy for a second time after having waited for 21 years.