# AFC Champions League Elite

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Asian association football tournament for clubs

"Asian Champions League" redirects here. For other uses, see [Champions League (disambiguation)](/source/Champions_League_(disambiguation)).

This article is about the men's competition. For the women's competition, see [AFC Women's Champions League](/source/AFC_Women's_Champions_League).

Not to be confused with [AFC Asian Cup](/source/AFC_Asian_Cup) or [AFC Championship Game](/source/AFC_Championship_Game).

Football tournament

AFC Champions League Elite Organiser(s) AFC Founded 1967; 59 years ago (1967) (as Asian Champion Club Tournament) Region Asia Teams 32 (league stage) Qualifier for FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Intercontinental Cup Related competitions AFC Champions League Two (2nd tier) AFC Challenge League (3rd tier) Current champions Al-Ahli (2nd title) Most championships Al-Hilal (4 titles) Website www.the-afc.com 2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite

The **AFC Champions League Elite** (abbreviated as the **ACL Elite**) is an annual continental club [football](/source/Association_football) competition organised by the [Asian Football Confederation](/source/Asian_Football_Confederation), and contested by Asia's [top-division football clubs](/source/List_of_top-division_football_clubs_in_AFC_countries). It is the most prestigious club competition in Asian football, played by the national league champions (and, for some nations, one or more runners-up) of their national associations.[1]

Introduced in 1967 as the *Asian Champion Club Tournament*, the competition rebranded as **AFC Champions League** in 2002 following the merger of the Asian Club Championship, the [Asian Cup Winners' Cup](/source/Asian_Cup_Winners'_Cup) and the [Asian Super Cup](/source/Asian_Super_Cup). It was rebranded again in 2024 to its current name.

A total of 32 clubs compete in the league stage of the competition, divided into East and West regions (16 teams each). The winner of the AFC Champions League Elite qualifies for the [FIFA Intercontinental Cup](/source/FIFA_Intercontinental_Cup) and the [FIFA Club World Cup](/source/FIFA_Club_World_Cup), and also for the next edition of the AFC Champions League Elite league stage if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.

The most successful club in the competition is [Al-Hilal](/source/Al-Hilal_SFC) with a total of four titles. [Al-Ahli](/source/Al-Ahli_Saudi_FC) are the current champions, having beaten [Machida Zelvia](/source/FC_Machida_Zelvia) 1–0 in the [2026 final](/source/2026_AFC_Champions_League_Elite_final) for their second consecutive title.

## History

List of winners Season Winners Asian Champion Club Tournament 1967 Hapoel Tel Aviv 1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv 1970 Taj Tehran 1971 Maccabi Tel Aviv (2) 1972 Cancelled 1973–1984: Not held Asian Club Championship 1985–86 Daewoo Royals 1986 Furukawa Electric 1987 Yomiuri FC 1988–89 Al-Sadd 1989–90 Liaoning 1990–91 Esteghlal (2) 1991 Al-Hilal 1992–93 PAS Tehran 1993–94 Thai Farmers Bank 1994–95 Thai Farmers Bank (2) 1995 Ilhwa Chunma 1996–97 Pohang Steelers 1997–98 Pohang Steelers (2) 1998–99 Júbilo Iwata 1999–2000 Al-Hilal (2) 2000–01 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2001–02 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2) AFC Champions League 2002–03 Al Ain 2004 Al-Ittihad 2005 Al-Ittihad (2) 2006 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2007 Urawa Red Diamonds 2008 Gamba Osaka 2009 Pohang Steelers (3) 2010 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2) 2011 Al-Sadd (2) 2012 Ulsan Hyundai 2013 Guangzhou Evergrande 2014 Western Sydney Wanderers 2015 Guangzhou Evergrande (2) 2016 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2) 2017 Urawa Red Diamonds (2) 2018 Kashima Antlers 2019 Al-Hilal (3) 2020 Ulsan Hyundai (2) 2021 Al-Hilal (4) 2022 Urawa Red Diamonds (3) 2023–24 Al Ain (2) AFC Champions League Elite 2024–25 Al-Ahli 2025–26 Al-Ahli (2)

### 1967–1972: Asian Champion Club Tournament

The [Asian Football Confederation](/source/Asian_Football_Confederation) (AFC) first discussed launching a tournament for the champions of AFC nations in a meeting held on 21 April 1963, with its Secretary [Lee Wai Tong](/source/Lee_Wai_Tong) announcing the AFC's intention to hold a competition similar to the [European Cup](/source/UEFA_Champions_League).[2] The competition started in 1967 as the Asian Champion Club Tournament and had a variety of different formats in its first few years, with the inaugural tournament staged as a straight knock-out format, and the following three editions consisting of a group stage.

While [Israeli clubs](/source/List_of_football_clubs_in_Israel) dominated the first four editions of the competition, this was partly due to [the refusal of Arab clubs to play them](/source/Boycotts_of_Israel_in_sports):

- In [1970](/source/1970_Asian_Champion_Club_Tournament), [Lebanese](/source/Lebanon) club [Homenetmen](/source/Homenetmen_Beirut_F.C.) refused to play [Hapoel Tel Aviv](/source/Hapoel_Tel_Aviv_F.C.) in the semi-final, which was scratched with Hapoel advancing to the final.

- In [1971](/source/1971_Asian_Champion_Club_Tournament), [Aliyat Al-Shorta](/source/Aliyat_Al-Shorta_SC) of Iraq refused to play [Maccabi Tel Aviv](/source/Maccabi_Tel_Aviv_F.C.) on three occasions: in the preliminary round (which was redrawn), in the group stage, and then in the final, which was scratched with Maccabi being awarded the championship.[3] During the award ceremony for Maccabi, Aliyat Al-Shorta players waved the Palestinian flag around the field, with a match being arranged by the AFC and the Thai FA between Maccabi and a Combined Bangkok team in lieu of the final.[4] The Iraqi media considered Aliyat Al-Shorta as the tournament's winners, with the team holding an [open top bus parade](/source/Open_top_bus#Use) in Baghdad.[5]

After the [1972](/source/1972_Asian_Champion_Club_Tournament) edition had to be cancelled by the AFC for various reasons, including two Arab clubs being excluded for refusing to commit to playing against Israeli club [Maccabi Netanya](/source/Maccabi_Netanya_F.C.), the AFC suspended the competition for 14 years, while Israel would be expelled from the AFC in 1974.

### 1985–2002: Return as the Asian Club Championship

Asia's premier club tournament made its return in [1985](/source/1985%E2%80%9386_Asian_Club_Championship) as the Asian Club Championship.[6]

In 1990, the [Asian Football Confederation](/source/Asian_Football_Confederation) introduced the [Asian Cup Winners' Cup](/source/Asian_Cup_Winners'_Cup), a tournament for the cup winners of each AFC nation, while the 1995 season saw the introduction of the [Asian Super Cup](/source/Asian_Super_Cup), with the winners of the Asian Club Championship and Asian Cup Winners' Cup playing against each other.

### 2002–2024: AFC Champions League

Japan's [Kashima Antlers](/source/Kashima_Antlers) and Singapore's [Warriors FC](/source/Warriors_FC) during a group stage game during the [2009 season](/source/2009_AFC_Champions_League) at the [Jalan Besar Stadium](/source/Jalan_Besar_Stadium).

The 2002–03 season saw the Asian Club Championship, [Asian Cup Winners' Cup](/source/Asian_Cup_Winners'_Cup) and [Asian Super Cup](/source/Asian_Super_Cup) combine to become the AFC Champions League. League champions and cup winners would qualify for the qualifying playoffs with the best eight clubs from East Asia and the eight best clubs from West Asia progressing to the group stage. The first winners under the AFC Champions League name were [Al-Ain](/source/Al_Ain_FC), defeating [BEC Tero Sasana](/source/Police_Tero_F.C.) 2–1 on aggregate. In [2004](/source/2004_AFC_Champions_League), 29 clubs from fourteen countries participated and the tournament schedule was changed to March–November.

In the group stage, the 28 clubs were divided into seven groups of four on a regional basis, separating East Asian and West Asian clubs to reduce travel costs, and the groups were played on a home and away basis. The seven group winners along with the defending champions qualified to the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals were played as a two-legged format, with [away goals](/source/Away_goals), [extra time](/source/Extra_time), and [penalties](/source/Penalty_shootout_(association_football)) used as tie-breakers.

#### Expansion

The [2005 season](/source/2005_AFC_Champions_League) saw Syrian clubs join the competition, thus increasing the number of participating countries to 15, and two years later, following their transfer into the AFC in 2006, Australian clubs were also included in the tournament. However, many blamed the low prize money at that time and expensive travel cost as some of the reasons.

The Champions League was expanded to 32 clubs in 2009 with direct entry to the top ten Asian leagues. Each country received up to 4 slots, though no more than one-third of the number of teams in that country's top division, rounded downwards, depending on the strength of their league, professional league structure, marketability, financial status, as well as other criteria set by the AFC Pro-League Committee.[7] The assessment criteria and ranking for participating associations are revised by AFC every two years.[8]

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and around 100,000 others watching the 2018 AFC Champions League Final at Azadi Stadium.

The old format saw the eight group winners and eight runners-up qualify to the round of 16, in which group winners played host to the runners-up in two-legged series, matched regionally, with away goals, extra time, and penalties used as tie-breakers. The regional restriction continues all the way until the final, although clubs from the same country couldn't face each other in the quarterfinals unless that country has three or more representatives in the quarterfinals. Since 2013, the final has also been held as a two-legged series, on a home and away basis.[9][10]

In 2021, the group stage was expanded from 32 to 40 teams, with both the West and East Regions having five groups of four teams. The slot allocation for the top six member associations in each region remained unchanged. The 10 group winners and top 3 runners-up per region are now seeded based on a combination table for the round of 16, with the games still matched regionally until the final.[11]

In February 2022, it was announced that the AFC Champions League would go back to an inter-year (autumn to spring) schedule starting with the [2023–24 season](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_AFC_Champions_League). In addition, the existing "3+1" rule for foreign players during matches (3 foreign players and 1 Asian foreigner) was expanded to "5+1" (5 foreign players and 1 Asian foreigner).[12]

#### Women's rights in Iranian football

By 2021, the various problems with the Iranian sides were attracting media attention; international Arabic and English-language media reported the violation of [women's rights](/source/Women's_rights) in the stadiums of Iranian sides.

On top of that, Iranian women were banned from football stadiums for about 40 years, by the [Iranian government](/source/Government_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran).[13][14] In 2019, Iranian women were first allowed to watch football at stadiums, but not during ACL games.[14][15] Before that, [FIFA](/source/FIFA) had pressured Iran to let women into the stadiums; Iran relented, but capped the number of women to watch the [2018 final](/source/2018_AFC_Champions_League_Final).[14][16] In 2021, the AFC investigated the matter, in the hope of allowing unrestricted attendance whenever Iranian clubs are involved.[17]

### 2024–25 onwards: AFC Champions League Elite

In December 2022, the AFC announced that their club football structure would undergo an overhaul, with the top club competition shrinking from 40 teams in the main stage to 24 teams, divided into East and West regions (12 teams each), with each team in the East and West regions playing eight other teams from their region (four teams at home and four teams away). The top eight teams from each region would advance to the knockout stage, where only the round of 16 would be played over two legs, with all matches from the quarter-finals onward being played in a single-leg format at a centralised venue.[18] In August 2023, it was confirmed that the new format would come into effect from the [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_AFC_Champions_League_Elite) season, with the name of the competition changing to AFC Champions League Elite.[19] The AFC has also confirmed that AFC Champions League records and statistics would be carried forward to the ACL Elite.[20] Saudi Arabia were awarded hosting duties for the final stage for the first two seasons and provisionally for the following three seasons, subject to an AFC review.[21]

Starting with the [2026–27](/source/2026%E2%80%9327_AFC_Champions_League_Elite) edition, the league stage expanded from 24 to 32 clubs (16 for each region).[22]

## Format

### Qualification

Map of AFC countries whose teams reached the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite
  AFC member country that has been represented in the group stage

  AFC member country that has not been represented in the group stage

As of the [2024–25 edition](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_AFC_Champions_League_Elite) of the tournament, the AFC Champions League Elite uses a league stage format of 24 teams, which is preceded by qualifying matches for teams that do not receive direct entry to the competition proper. Teams are also split into East and West zones.

The number of teams that each association enters into the AFC Champions League Elite is determined annually through criteria as set by the AFC Competitions Committee.[23] The criteria, which is a modified version of the [UEFA coefficient](/source/UEFA_coefficient), measures such thing as marketability and stadia to determine the specific number of berths that an association receives. The higher an association's ranking as determined by the criteria, the more teams represent the association in the competition.

### Tournament

The tournament proper begins with a league stage of 24 teams, which are split into two leagues (East and West), with each team playing against eight opponents from their league (four at home and four away).[24]

The top eight teams from each league advance to the round of 16. In this phase, each club face another club from its region in a two-legged, home-and-away tie to decide which eight clubs progress to a centralised Finals tournament.[24] If the aggregate score of the two games is tied after 180 minutes, the clubs play [extra time](/source/Overtime_(sports)#Association_football). If still tied after extra time, the tie is decided by a [penalty shoot-out](/source/Penalty_shoot-out_(association_football)).

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches all feature cross-regional pairings, and are played in a single-leg format at centralised venue.[24]

### Allocation

Further information: [AFC club competitions ranking](/source/AFC_club_competitions_ranking)

Teams from 24 AFC countries have reached the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite. The allocation of teams by member countries is listed below; asterisks represent occasions where at least one team was eliminated in qualification prior to the group stage. 32 AFC countries have had teams participate in qualification, and countries that have never had teams reach the group stage are not shown.

Associations Entrants 2002–03 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 East Asia Australia Part of OFC 2 2 2 2 2 3 1* 3 2* 2* 3 2* 2* 3 0 2* 1 1 1 China PR 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3* 4 4 4 2* 2 3* 3 3 Hong Kong 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 1* 1* 0* 0* 1 1 1* 0 0 Indonesia 0* 2 2 0 2 0 1* 1* 1* 0* 0 0 0* 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0 0 0* 0 0 Japan 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3* 4 4 4 3 3 South Korea 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 1* 1* 1 1 1 1 1 Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 2 1* 1 0 0 Singapore 0* 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 1 1 1 0 0 Thailand 2 2 2 0 1 2 0* 0* 0* 1* 2 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 4 2* 3* 1* 1* Vietnam 0* 2 2 2 1 2 0 0* 0 0 0 0* 1* 1* 0* 0* 0* 0* 1 1 1* 0 0 Total 8 12 12 8 13 13 16 16 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 20 19 20 12 12 West Asia Bahrain 0* 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0 0 0* 0 0* 0* 0 0 0 0 India 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 1 1 1 0 0 Iran 2 2 2 2 1 2 4 4 4 3* 3* 4 4 3* 4 4 3* 4 4 2 3* 2* 1* Iraq 1* 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 0 1* 1* 2* 1* 1 1 1 Jordan 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 1 1 1* 0 0 Kuwait 0* 1 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 0 0 0 0* 0* 0* 0 0 0 0 Qatar 1* 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 2* 2* 2* 4 3* 2* 3* 4 2* 3 3 Saudi Arabia 1* 2 3 3 2 2 4 4 4 3* 4 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 3* 4 4 3 3 Syria 0* 0 2 2 2 2 0 0* 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 0 0 Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0* 0* 1 1 1 0 0 Turkmenistan 1* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 United Arab Emirates 1* 3 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 3* 2* 3* 4 4 3* 4 3* 3* 2* 2* 3 Uzbekistan 1* 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3* 2* 1* 4 4 2* 2* 2* 1* 2 2 4 1 1 Total 8 14 17 17 15 16 16 16 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 20 20 20 12 12 Total Finals 16 26 29 25 28 29 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 40 39 40 24 24 Qualifying 53 26 29 25 28 29 35 37 36 37 35 47 49 45 47 46 51 52 45 46 53 27 26

## Prize money

Tournament's trophy, used until 2024

Starting with the 2024–25 season, the distribution of the prize money is as follows:[25]

Round Teams Amount Per team Total Final (champions) 1 $10 million Final (runners-up) 1 $4 million Semi-finals 4 $600,000 $2.4 million Quarter-finals 8 $400,000 $3.2 million Round of 16 16 $200,000 $3.2 million League stage 24 $800,000 $19.2 million Total 24 $42 million

## Trophy

Following the retirement of the AFC Champions League trophy in 2024, English luxury brand [Thomas Lyte](/source/Thomas_Lyte) were commissioned to manufacture a new trophy.[26]

The new trophy stands at 70 centimetres (28 in) tall and weighs 12 kilograms (26 lb), and is visually similar to its [AFC Champions League Two](/source/AFC_Champions_League_Two) counterpart.[26][27]

## Marketing

### Sponsorship

The AFC Champions League Elite is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations, in contrast to the single main sponsor typically found in national top-flight leagues.

**Official Global Partners**

- [Neom](/source/Neom)[28]

- [Qatar Airways](/source/Qatar_Airways)[29][30]

- [Visit Saudi](/source/Visit_Saudi)

**Official Global Supporters**

- [Barbican](/source/Barbican_(drink))[31]

- [Kelme](/source/Kelme_(company))[32]

- [Midea](/source/Midea_Group)[33]

- [Tecno Mobile](/source/Tecno_Mobile)[34]

- [Visa Inc.](/source/Visa_Inc.)[35]

### Video game

The current license holder for the AFC Champions League video game is Konami with the [eFootball](/source/EFootball) series.[36] The license also includes the competing teams.

## Records and statistics

Main article: [Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite records and statistics](/source/Asian_Club_Championship_and_AFC_Champions_League_Elite_records_and_statistics)

See also: [AFC Champions League Elite clubs performance comparison](/source/AFC_Champions_League_Elite_clubs_performance_comparison)

### Performance by club

Main article: [List of Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite finals](/source/List_of_Asian_Club_Championship_and_AFC_Champions_League_Elite_finals)

Performances in the Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite by club v t e Club Title(s) Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up Al-Hilal 4 5 1991, 1999–2000, 2019, 2021 1986, 1987, 2014, 2017, 2022 Pohang Steelers 3 1 1996–97, 1997–98, 2009 2021 Urawa Red Diamonds 3 1 2007, 2017, 2022 2019 Esteghlal 2 2 1970, 1990–91 1991, 1998–99 Seongnam FC 2 2 1995, 2010 1996–97, 2004 Al Ain 2 2 2002–03, 2023–24 2005, 2016 Al-Ahli 2 2 2024–25, 2025–26 1985–86, 2012 Al-Ittihad 2 1 2004, 2005 2009 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 1 2006, 2016 2011 Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 0 1969, 1971 — Al-Sadd 2 0 1988–89, 2011 — Thai Farmers Bank 2 0 1993–94, 1994–95 — Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2 0 2000–01, 2001–02 — Ulsan HD 2 0 2012, 2020 — Guangzhou 2 0 2013, 2015 — Júbilo Iwata 1 2 1998–99 1999–2000, 2000–01 Hapoel Tel Aviv 1 1 1967 1970 Liaoning 1 1 1989–90 1990–91 Busan IPark 1 0 1985–86 — JEF United Chiba 1 0 1986 — Tokyo Verdy 1 0 1987 — PAS Tehran 1 0 1992–93 — Gamba Osaka 1 0 2008 — Western Sydney Wanderers 1 0 2014 — Kashima Antlers 1 0 2018 — Yokohama F. Marinos 0 2 — 1989–90, 2023–24 FC Seoul 0 2 — 2001–02, 2013 Persepolis 0 2 — 2018, 2020 Selangor 0 1 — 1967 Yangzee 0 1 — 1969 Aliyat Al-Shorta 0 1 — 1971 Al-Rasheed 0 1 — 1988–89 Al-Shabab 0 1 — 1992–93 Oman Club 0 1 — 1993–94 Al-Arabi 0 1 — 1994–95 Al-Nassr 0 1 — 1995 Dalian Shide 0 1 — 1997–98 Police Tero 0 1 — 2002–03 Al-Karamah 0 1 — 2006 Sepahan 0 1 — 2007 Adelaide United 0 1 — 2008 Zob Ahan 0 1 — 2010 Shabab Al-Ahli 0 1 — 2015 Kawasaki Frontale 0 1 — 2024–25 Machida Zelvia 0 1 — 2025–26

### Performance by nation

Performances in finals by nation v t e Nation Titles Runners-up Total South Korea 12 7 19 Saudi Arabia 8 10 18 Japan 8 7 15 Iran 3 6 9 China 3 2 5 Israel 3 1 4 United Arab Emirates 2 3 5 Qatar 2 1 3 Thailand 2 1 3 Australia 1 1 2 Iraq 0 2 2 Malaysia 0 1 1 Oman 0 1 1 Syria 0 1 1

### Performance by region

Zone Federation (region) Titles Total East Zone EAFF (East Asia) 23 26 AFF (Southeast Asia) 3 West Zone WAFF (West Asia) 12 15 CAFA (Central Asia) 3 SAFF (South Asia) 0

Note: Israeli clubs, winners of the [1967](/source/1967_Asian_Club_Championship), [1969](/source/1969_Asian_Club_Championship) and [1971](/source/1971_Asian_Club_Championship) editions, are not included.

## Awards

### Most Valuable Player

Year Player Club Ref. 1996–97 An Ik-soo Pohang Steelers [37] 1997–98 Ahmed Al-Dokhi Al-Hilal [38] 1998–99 Seydou Traoré Al Ain [39] 1999–2000 Sérgio Ricardo Al-Hilal [40] 2000–01 Zoltan Sabo Suwon Samsung Bluewings [41] 2001–02 —N/a 2002–03 Therdsak Chaiman BEC Tero Sasana [42] 2004 Redha Tukar Al-Ittihad [43] 2005 Mohammed Noor Al-Ittihad [44] 2006 Choi Jin-cheul Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors [45] 2007 Yuichiro Nagai Urawa Red Diamonds 2008 Yasuhito Endō Gamba Osaka 2009 No Byung-jun Pohang Steelers [46] 2010 Sasa Ognenovski Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma [47] 2011 Lee Dong-gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors [48] 2012 Lee Keun-ho Ulsan Hyundai [49] 2013 Muriqui Guangzhou Evergrande [50] 2014 Ante Covic Western Sydney Wanderers [51] 2015 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande [52] 2016 Omar Abdulrahman Al Ain [53] 2017 Yōsuke Kashiwagi Urawa Red Diamonds [54] 2018 Yuma Suzuki Kashima Antlers [55] 2019 Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal [56] 2020 Yoon Bit-garam Ulsan Hyundai [57] 2021 Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal [58] 2022 Hiroki Sakai Urawa Red Diamonds [59] 2023–24 Soufiane Rahimi Al Ain [60] 2024–25 Roberto Firmino Al-Ahli [61] 2025–26 Franck Kessié Al-Ahli [62]

### Top scorers

Year Player Club Goals Ref. 1996–97 Park Tae-ha Pohang Steelers 3[a] [37] 2002–03 Hao Haidong Dalian Shide 9 2004 Kim Do-hoon Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 9 [63] 2005 Mohamed Kallon Al-Ittihad 6 2006 Magno Alves Gamba Osaka 8 2007 Mota Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 7 2008 Nantawat Tansopa Krung Thai Bank 9 2009 Leandro Gamba Osaka 10 2010 Jose Mota Suwon Samsung Bluewings 9 2011 Lee Dong-gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 9 2012 Ricardo Oliveira Al-Jazira 12 2013 Muriqui Guangzhou Evergrande 13 2014 Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 12 2015 Ricardo Goulart Guangzhou Evergrande 8 2016 Adriano FC Seoul 13 [64] 2017 Omar Kharbin Al-Hilal 10 2018 Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd 13 2019 Bafétimbi Gomis Al-Hilal 11 2020 Abderrazak Hamdallah Al-Nassr 7 [65] 2021 Michael Olunga Al-Duhail 9 [66] 2022 Edmilson Junior Al-Duhail 8 [67] 2023–24 Soufiane Rahimi Al Ain 13 [60] 2024–25 Salem Al-Dawsari Al-Hilal 10 [68] 2025–26 Rafa Mújica Al-Sadd 8 [69]

**Notes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-63)** Final tournament goals only.

## See also

- [Asia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Asia)
- [Association football portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Association_football)

- [AFC Champions League Two](/source/AFC_Champions_League_Two)

- [AFC Challenge League](/source/AFC_Challenge_League)

- [Continental football championships](/source/Continental_football_championships)

- [List of association football competitions](/source/List_of_association_football_competitions)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["AFC Champions League: The drama, the glory..."](https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-champions-league-the-drama-the-glory-22276) *the-AFC.com*. 17 February 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210609070842/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-champions-league-the-drama-the-glory-22276) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Asian nations soccer contest"](https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/newspapers/iraq19630418-01.1.11). The Iraq Times. 18 April 1963. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240607060456/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/?a=d&d=iraq19630418-01.1.11) from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Amitsur, D. (22 August 1971). ["The Arabs' leg up to Israel in Asian football"](http://www.jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/get/pdf.ashx?pdf=0%2BHlaC4kUNFvVrR8ITavV2M%3D) (in Hebrew). [Davar](/source/Davar). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200725043348/http://www.jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/get/pdf.ashx?pdf=0%2BHlaC4kUNFvVrR8ITavV2M%3D) from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Asian Club Competitions 1971"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup71.html#cc). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220722125534/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup71.html#cc) from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2024.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-2020mvp_57-0)** ["Ulsan Hyundai's Yoon Bit-garam named 2020 AFC Champions League MVP"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210130044726/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/ulsan-hyundai-s-yoon-bit-garam-named-2020-afc-champions-league-mvp). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 19 December 2020. Archived from [the original](https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/ulsan-hyundai-s-yoon-bit-garam-named-2020-afc-champions-league-mvp) on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-58)** ["Al-Hilal reign in Asia after tale of two Al-Dawsaris in AFC Champions League triumph"](https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974281/sport). *Arab News*. 24 November 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211225162938/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974281/sport) from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-59)** ["Urawa's Hiroki Sakai crowned Most Valuable Player"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/urawa%E2%80%99s_sakai_crowned_most_valuable_player_.html). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 6 May 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230603130957/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/urawa%E2%80%99s_sakai_crowned_most_valuable_player_.html) from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-2024award_60-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-2024award_60-1) ["Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/al_ains_rahimi_wins_mvp_top_scorer_awards.html). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 25 May 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240525191058/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/al_ains_rahimi_wins_mvp_top_scorer_awards.html) from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2025award_61-0)** ["Al Ahli's Firmino named MVP"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-ahli%E2%80%99s-roberto-firmino-named-mvp-1). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2026award_62-0)** ["Al Ahli's Kessie named Most Valuable Player"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-ahli%E2%80%99s-kessie-named-most-valuable-player). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-64)** Stokkermans, Karel (10 March 2016). ["Asian Club Competitions 2004"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup04.html). [RSSSF](/source/RSSSF). Retrieved 8 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-65)** ["Adriano named AFC Champions League 2016 top scorer"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/adriano_named_afc_champions_league_2016_top_scorer.html). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-66)** ["Al Nassr's Abderrazak Hamdallah wins 2020 AFC Champions League Top Scorer award"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210417225419/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-nassr-s-abderrazak-hamdallah-wins-2020-afc-champions-league-top-scorer-award). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 19 December 2020. Archived from [the original](https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-nassr-s-abderrazak-hamdallah-wins-2020-afc-champions-league-top-scorer-award) on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-67)** ["Kenya's Michael Olunga wins AFC Champions League Golden Boot"](https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/kenya-michael-olunga-wins-afc-champions-league-golden-boot-3629418). *The East African*. 24 November 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070858/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/kenya-michael-olunga-wins-afc-champions-league-golden-boot-3629418) from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-68)** ["Al Duhail's Edmilson Junior scoops Top Scorer Award"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/acl_2022_final_-_top_scorer_1.html). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 6 May 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230603130947/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/acl_2022_final_-_top_scorer_1.html) from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-69)** ["Al Hilal's Al Dawsari wins top goalscorer honour"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-hilals-al-dawsari-wins-top-goalscorer-honour). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-70)** ["Al Sadd's Mujica wins Top Goalscorer"](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-sadd%E2%80%99s-mujica-wins-top-goalscorer). *the-AFC.com*. Asian Football Confederation. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [AFC Champions League](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:AFC_Champions_League).

- [AFC Champions League Elite](https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/home.html)

v t e AFC Champions League Elite Asian Champion Club Tournament era, 1967–1972 Seasons 1967 1969 1970 1971 1972 Asian Club Championship era, 1985–2002 Seasons 1985–86 1986 1987 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 AFC Champions League era, 2002–2024 Seasons 2002–03 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023–24 Finals 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 AFC Champions League Elite era, since 2024 Seasons 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 Finals 2025 2026 History Finals Club competitions ranking Winning managers Records and statistics Performance comparison

v t e AFC Champions League Elite winners Asian Champion Club Tournament era, 1967–1972 1960s 1967: Hapoel Tel Aviv 1969: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1970s 1970: Taj 1971: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1972: Cancelled Asian Club Championship era, 1985–2002 1980s 1985–86: Daewoo Royals 1986: Furukawa Electric 1987: Yomiuri 1988–89: Al-Sadd 1989–90: Liaoning 1990s 1990–91: Esteghlal 1991: Al-Hilal 1992–93: PAS Tehran 1993–94: Thai Farmers Bank 1994–95: Thai Farmers Bank 1995: Ilhwa Chunma 1996–97: Pohang Steelers 1997–98: Pohang Steelers 1998–99: Júbilo Iwata 1999–2000: Al-Hilal 2000s 2000–01: Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2001–02: Suwon Samsung Bluewings AFC Champions League era, 2002–2024 2000s 2002–03: Al Ain 2004: Al-Ittihad 2005: Al-Ittihad 2006: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2007: Urawa Red Diamonds 2008: Gamba Osaka 2009: Pohang Steelers 2010s 2010: Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2011: Al-Sadd 2012: Ulsan Hyundai 2013: Guangzhou Evergrande 2014: Western Sydney Wanderers 2015: Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao 2016: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2017: Urawa Red Diamonds 2018: Kashima Antlers 2019: Al-Hilal 2020s 2020: Ulsan Hyundai 2021: Al-Hilal 2022: Urawa Red Diamonds 2023–24: Al Ain AFC Champions League Elite era, 2024–present 2020s 2024–25: Al-Ahli 2025–26: Al-Ahli

v t e AFC competitions Men's national team Senior team Asian Cup AFC Nations League Regional AFF CAFA EAFF SAFF WAFF Gulf Cup Age-restricted U-23 U-23 Asian Cup Asian Games U-20 Asian Cup U-17 Asian Cup Futsal Asian Cup Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games U-20 Asian Cup Beach soccer Asian Cup Asian Beach Games Defunct competitions Intercontinental Afro-Asian Cup AFC–OFC Challenge Cup Olympic Qualifying Tournament Challenge Cup Solidarity Cup Men's club Football Champions League Elite Champions League Two Challenge League Futsal Futsal Club Championship Defunct competitions Intercontinental Afro-Asian Championship Cup Winners' Cup Super Cup Women's national team Senior team Asian Cup Asian Games Olympic Qualifying Tournament Regional AFF CAFA EAFF SAFF WAFF Age-restricted U-20 Asian Cup U-17 Asian Cup Futsal Asian Cup Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Women's club Football Champions League Defunct competitions Club Championship Other tournaments Esports AFC eAsian Cup AFC eChampions League AFC club competitions ranking

v t e Asian sports club competitions Football Men AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two AFC Challenge League Women AFC Women's Champions League Futsal Men AFC Futsal Club Championship Basketball Men Basketball League Asia Women Basketball League Asia Volleyball Men AVC Champions League Women AVC Champions League Handball Men AHF Club League Championship Women AHF Club League Championship Water polo Men Asian Water Polo Clubs Championships

v t e International men's club football competitions World Leagues Forum Lists of association football clubs (Most successful clubs) Global FIFA Club World Cup Intercontinental Cup (African–Asian–Pacific Cup, Derby of the Americas, Challenger Cup) Africa CAF Champions League Confederation Cup Super Cup Defunct Football League Cup Winners' Cup CAF Cup Regional UNAF Kagame Interclub Cup Defunct North African Cup of Champions North African Cup Winners Cup North African Super Cup Maghreb Champions Cup Maghreb Cup Winners Cup WAFU Asia AFC Champions League Elite Champions League Two Challenge League Defunct Cup Winners' Cup Super Cup Regional ASEAN Marianas Club Championship SAFF Europe UEFA Champions League Europa League Conference League Super Cup Defunct Cup Winners' Cup Intertoto Cup North, Central America & the Caribbean CONCACAF Champions Cup Defunct Cup Winners Cup CONCACAF League Campeonato Centroamericano Regional Central American Cup Caribbean Cup Caribbean Club Shield Campeones Cup Leagues Cup Defunct Caribbean Club Championship UNCAF Interclub Cup SuperLiga Oceania OFC Champions League Professional League Defunct Cup Winners' Cup President's Cup South America CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Copa Sudamericana Recopa Sudamericana Defunct Copa CONMEBOL Copa Ganadores de Copa Supercopa Libertadores Copa Master de CONMEBOL Copa Master de Supercopa Copa de Oro Regional Defunct Copa Merconorte Copa Mercosur Intercontinental Arab Arab Club Champions Cup Defunct Arab Cup Winners' Cup Arab Super Cup Africa & Asia Defunct Afro-Asian Club Championship Europe & South America Under-20 Intercontinental Cup UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge Defunct Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004) Pan American Defunct Copa Interamericana See also: International women's club football

v t e FIFA Club World Cup Predecessor: Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004) Related: FIFA Intercontinental Cup (2024–present) Tournaments Brazil 2000 Spain 2001 Japan 2005 Japan 2006 Japan 2007 Japan 2008 UAE 2009 UAE 2010 Japan 2011 Japan 2012 Morocco 2013 Morocco 2014 Japan 2015 Japan 2016 UAE 2017 UAE 2018 Qatar 2019 Qatar 2020 UAE 2021 Morocco 2022 Saudi Arabia 2023 United States 2025 TBD 2029 Qualification 2025 Finals 2000 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2025 Squads 2000 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2025 Statistics Awards Hat-tricks Historical table Participants Records and statistics Winning managers World champion clubs Category Portal Multimedia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [AFC Champions League Elite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Champions_League_Elite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Champions_League_Elite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.