Ronaldo Faces Japan Test In Bid For Maiden Asian Crown

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Al Nassr’s Saudi team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, faced Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos in the Asian Champions League quarter-final on Monday.

Ronaldo, a veteran former Real Madrid and Manchester United player, has won the UEFA Champions League five times but has never triumphed in Asia’s elite club competition.

Next month, Steve Holland, formerly Gareth Southgate’s assistant with England, will lead Al Nassr’s efforts against a Yokohama side led by the 40-year-old Portuguese.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr play in the Saudi Pro League football game on January 26, 2025 at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh. (Fayez NURELDINE/AFP)

The tournament’s quarter-final, semi-final, and final, which have been renamed the Champions League Elite, will all take place over one leg in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The final eight games between Qatar’s Al Sadd and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale will pit Al Nassr or Yokohama against Al Nassr.

Al Hilal, a four-time Asian champion, will face Gwangju FC from South Korea in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, the winner will face Buriram United from Thailand or Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia, both of whom are from Saudi Arabia.

April 25 through April 27 is the final day of each of the four quarter-finals.

On April 29 and 30, the semi-finals will take place. May 3 will be the final.