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Ronaldo Faces Japan Test In Bid For Maiden Asian Crown

Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia's top club competition.

By Channels Television
Updated March 17, 2025
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Nassr’s Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on May 27, 2024. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi side Al Nassr were on Monday drawn against last season’s runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League.

Veteran former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia’s top club competition.

The 40-year-old Portuguese will spearhead Al Nassr’s hopes next month against a Yokohama side managed by Steve Holland, formerly Gareth Southgate’s assistant with England.

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Nassr’s Portuguese forward #7 Cristiano Ronaldo shoots the ball during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Fateh at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on January 26, 2025. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

 

The quarter-finals, semis and final of the tournament, which has been rebranded the Champions League Elite, will all take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah over one leg.

Al Nassr or Yokohama will play the winners of the last-eight clash between Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and Al Sadd of Qatar.

Four-time Asian champions Al Hilal, also of Saudi Arabia, face South Korea’s Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals.

The winner will face Thailand’s Buriram United or Al Ahli, also of Saudi Arabia, in the semi-finals.

All four quarter-finals take place on April 25-27.

The semi-finals are on April 29 and April 30. The final is on May 3.

AFP

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