CRISTIANO Ronaldo heads to India as Al-Nassr faces FC Goa in a much-anticipated Asian Champions League Two clash, a showdown already being hailed as “historic” for the country.
In Saturday’s group draw, Saudi giants Al-Nassr landed in Group D alongside Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa, Istiklol of Tajikistan, and Iraq’s Al-Zawraa. The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the knockout round.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa,” said club CEO Ravi Puskur. “To host Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the biggest game in Indian club football history.”
Ronaldo, now 40, has yet to lift a major trophy since joining the Riyadh-based side in 2022. With the competition kicking off in September, Al-Nassr is expected to field its full-strength squad, which also features global stars like former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane and Portuguese forward Joao Felix, who arrived from Chelsea in July.
“For Indian football, this is historic,” Puskur added. “We are here on merit, and a match like this gives us the chance to show that we can compete on the continental stage, becoming part of the sport’s biggest narratives.” / RSC