DOHA: The Asian edition of the UEFA Champions League kicks off, and it’s not just any competition—it features an array of international football stars led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema. Between them, they boast a remarkable 11 UEFA Champions League titles.
Neymar, fresh from surpassing Pele’s international goal tally for Brazil, recently joined Al-Hilal in August. His league debut, which took place on Friday, marked a thrilling start as Al-Hilal secured a resounding 6-1 victory. Al-Hilal, a four-time Asian champion, lost the final to Japan’s Urawa Reds last May.
What’s particularly fascinating about this edition is the significant investment in Saudi Arabian clubs. Saudi Arabian clubs have collectively spent approximately $950 million to acquire some of the world’s top football stars. This spending surge is linked to the country’s sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund, which has acquired majority ownership stakes in four leading clubs: Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Nassr.
Al-Hilal, for instance, not only secured Neymar but also signed English Premier League talents like Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Brazilian winger Malcom, and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
In the group stage, Saudi Arabia is well-represented with four teams out of 40, and the top teams will advance to the second round. Ronaldo, who leads Al-Nassr, will face Persepolis in Tehran, a high-profile match considering the history of games between Saudi Arabia and Iran being played at neutral venues.
Additionally, Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian champion, has strengthened its squad with European winners like N’Golo Kante from Chelsea and Fabinho from Liverpool. They kick off their campaign against AGMK of Uzbekistan.
While the spotlight is primarily on the Saudi Arabian teams, the tournament divides into geographic zones until the final, ensuring representation from the eastern half of the continent. Previous champions like Japan’s Urawa Reds and South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i add to the intrigue of the competition.
The Asian Champions League promises thrilling matchups and a blend of international football talent, making it an exciting spectacle for fans across the continent.
