AFC Champions League 2023/24 Archive

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.

With a total of 103.148 points to their name, chart-toppers Saudi Arabia are followed by Japan and Korea Republic in the second and third places respectively.

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.

With Al Ain trailing 2-1 after falling in the first leg in Yokohama two weeks ago, the United Arab Emirates’ most successful club rebounded in serendipitous fashion to capture their second Continental club crown, adding to the title they won in the inaugural 2002/03 AFC Champions League™ edition as the showpiece makes way for the AFC Champions League Elite™ later this year.

The Moroccan scored twice in the 5-1 win against Yokohama F. Marinos in Saturday's second leg, as the side from the United Arab Emirates emerged winners for the second time after having lifted the title in the inaugural edition in 2003.

The J1 League side had won the first leg 2-1 in Yokohama, but a scintillating second-half performance from Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League in 2002-03 become also the last team to win it under the current format before the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite next year.

Following their continental triumph, Al Ain become Asia’s fourth representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, joining Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD at the US tournament next year.