Hong Kong (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo will have a last crack at winning the Asian Champions League when the continent's top club competition begins on Monday, with big-spending Saudi teams set to dominate.

The 41-year-old former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar said in August that it was "probably my last year in football". The Portuguese attacker has nearly won it all during his club career, including five UEFA Champions League crowns. However, the Asian Champions League has so far eluded the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

His Al Nassr side enters the latest continental campaign under a new coach, former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked by Spurs in June 2025 despite leading them to Europa League glory. Along with Ronaldo, the Riyadh-based outfit boasts proven international attacking talent in Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mane, and Ronaldo's Portugal teammate Joao Felix.

Currently, Al Nassr sits second in the Saudi Pro League after six matches, trailing Al Hilal only on goal difference. Ronaldo has been in good form, scoring three times in five league games. However, Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal presents a significant obstacle in Ronaldo's quest to win the AFC Champions League for the first time. Al Hilal has been active in the recent transfer market, acquiring Aston Villa's England striker Ollie Watkins and Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal for a combined $150 million.

The format of the Asian Champions League is heavily skewed in favor of teams from Saudi Arabia, which is investing vast fortunes in football and will host the 2034 World Cup. Since the 2024-2025 season, the competition has been rebranded as the Champions League Elite, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final held in a centralized location in Saudi Arabia. Al Ahli capitalized on home advantage by winning the title in 2025 and 2026.

This year, Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Hilal will be joined by Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah, making it a total of five Saudi sides among the 32 teams in the competition. As in recent years, the tournament is divided into two leagues of East and West, with each side playing four matches at home and four away.

The most formidable challenge to the Saudi dominance is likely to come from Japan, as teams from Asia's strongest footballing nation have reached the final in each of the last four editions. Five J. League teams, including reigning domestic champions Kashima Antlers, will compete. Former Kashima star Yasushi Endo acknowledged the difficulty for Japanese teams to secure the championship given the financial strength of Saudi clubs.

Endo stated, "It's difficult for Japanese teams to be champions these days given the financial strength of teams in the West who can invest heavily in players that traditionally play in strong European leagues. With the tournament being played in a centralized format in the West, it also makes things extra difficult. We cannot underplay the importance of having large fan support."