AFC Champions League Elite

{{Short description|Asian association football tournament for clubs}} {{Redirect|Asian Champions League|other uses|Champions League (disambiguation)}}{{about|the men's competition|the women's competition|AFC Women's Champions League}}{{Distinguish|AFC Asian Cup|AFC Championship Game}} {{Use British English|date=December 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox football tournament | logo = AFC Champions League Elite logo.svg | imagesize = 150 | caption = | organiser = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1967}} (as ''Asian Champion Club Tournament'') | region = Asia | number of teams = 32 (league stage) | qualifier for = [[FIFA Club World Cup]]<br />[[FIFA Intercontinental Cup]] | related comps = {{nowrap|[[AFC Champions League Two]]}}<br />(2nd tier)<br />[[AFC Challenge League]]<br />(3rd tier) | current champions = {{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] (2nd title) | most successful club = {{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] (4 titles) | website = {{URL|https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/home.html|www.the-afc.com}} | current = [[2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite]] }}

The '''AFC Champions League Elite''' (abbreviated as the '''ACL Elite''') is an annual continental club [[association football|football]] competition organised by the [[Asian Football Confederation]], and contested by Asia's [[List of top-division football clubs in AFC countries|top-division football clubs]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFC Champions League: The drama, the glory....|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-champions-league-the-drama-the-glory-22276|access-date=2021-07-12|website=the-AFC.com|date=17 February 2015|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref>

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]] and the [[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]] and the [[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 SFC|Al-Hilal]] with a total of four titles. [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] are the current champions, having beaten [[FC Machida Zelvia|Machida Zelvia]] 1–0 in the [[2026 AFC Champions League Elite final|2026 final]] for their second consecutive title.

==History==

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%" |+ List of winners |- ! Season !! Winners |- ! colspan=3| Asian Champion Club Tournament |- | [[1967 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1967]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|ISR}} [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] |- | [[1969 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1969]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|ISR}} [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] |- | [[1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1970]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|IRI|1964}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj Tehran]] |- | [[1971 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1971]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|ISR}} [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[1972 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1972]] || align=left|''Cancelled'' |- !colspan=2| 1973–1984: Not held |- !colspan=2| Asian Club Championship |- | [[1985–86 Asian Club Championship|1985–86]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1984}} [[Busan IPark|Daewoo Royals]] |- | [[1986 Asian Club Championship|1986]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN|1947}} [[JEF United Chiba|Furukawa Electric]] |- | [[1987 Asian Club Championship|1987]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN|1947}} [[Tokyo Verdy|Yomiuri FC]] |- | [[1988–89 Asian Club Championship|1988–89]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]] |- | [[1989–90 Asian Club Championship|1989–90]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|CHN}} [[Liaoning F.C.|Liaoning]] |- | [[1990–91 Asian Club Championship|1990–91]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|IRI}} [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[1991 Asian Club Championship|1991]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] |- | [[1992–93 Asian Club Championship|1992–93]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|IRI}} [[PAS Tehran F.C.|PAS Tehran]] |- | [[1993–94 Asian Club Championship|1993–94]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|THA}} [[Thai Farmers Bank F.C.|Thai Farmers Bank]] |- | [[1994–95 Asian Club Championship|1994–95]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|THA}} [[Thai Farmers Bank F.C.|Thai Farmers Bank]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[1995 Asian Club Championship|1995]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1984}} [[Seongnam FC|Ilhwa Chunma]] |- | [[1996–97 Asian Club Championship|1996–97]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1984}} [[Pohang Steelers]] |- | [[1997–98 Asian Club Championship|1997–98]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Pohang Steelers]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1998–99]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN|1947}} [[Júbilo Iwata]] |- | [[1999–2000 Asian Club Championship|1999–2000]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2000–01 Asian Club Championship|2000–01]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]] |- | [[2001–02 Asian Club Championship|2001–02]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]] {{small|(2)}} |- !colspan=2| AFC Champions League |- | [[2002–03 AFC Champions League|2002–03]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]] |- | [[2004 AFC Champions League|2004]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Ittihad Club|Al-Ittihad]] |- | [[2005 AFC Champions League|2005]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Ittihad Club|Al-Ittihad]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2006 AFC Champions League|2006]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] |- | [[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |- | [[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN}} [[Gamba Osaka]] |- | [[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Pohang Steelers]] {{small|(3)}} |- | [[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR|1997}} [[Seongnam FC|Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2011 AFC Champions League|2011]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|QAT}} [[Al-Sadd Sports Club|Al-Sadd]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2012 AFC Champions League|2012]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]] |- | [[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]] |- | [[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|AUS}} [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] |- | [[2015 AFC Champions League|2015]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2018 AFC Champions League|2018]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]] |- | [[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] {{small|(3)}} |- | [[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]] {{small|(2)}} |- | [[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] {{small|(4)}} |- | [[2022 AFC Champions League|2022]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] {{small|(3)}} |- | [[2023–24 AFC Champions League|2023–24]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]] {{small|(2)}} |- !colspan=2| AFC Champions League Elite |- | [[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] |- | [[2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite|2025–26]] || align=left|{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] {{small|(2)}} |}

===1967–1972: Asian Champion Club Tournament=== The [[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]] announcing the AFC's intention to hold a competition similar to the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/newspapers/iraq19630418-01.1.11|title=Asian nations soccer contest|publisher=The Iraq Times|date=18 April 1963|access-date=11 November 2023|archive-date=7 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607060456/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/?a=d&d=iraq19630418-01.1.11|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 [[List of football clubs in Israel|Israeli clubs]] dominated the first four editions of the competition, this was partly due to [[Boycotts of Israel in sports|the refusal of Arab clubs to play them]]: * In [[1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1970]], [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] club [[Homenetmen Beirut F.C.|Homenetmen]] refused to play [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] in the semi-final, which was scratched with Hapoel advancing to the final. * In [[1971 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1971]], [[Aliyat Al-Shorta SC|Aliyat Al-Shorta]] of Iraq refused to play [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/get/pdf.ashx?pdf=0%2BHlaC4kUNFvVrR8ITavV2M%3D|title=The Arabs' leg up to Israel in Asian football|last=Amitsur|first=D.|publisher=[[Davar]]|language=he|date=22 August 1971|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725043348/http://www.jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/get/pdf.ashx?pdf=0%2BHlaC4kUNFvVrR8ITavV2M%3D|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Club Competitions 1971 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup71.html#cc |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=15 January 2024 |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722125534/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup71.html#cc |url-status=live }}</ref> The Iraqi media considered Aliyat Al-Shorta as the tournament's winners, with the team holding an [[Open top bus#Use|open top bus parade]] in Baghdad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Al-Mal'ab Newspaper – April 1971 – Champions of Asia Return to Baghdad|url=https://www.9ory.com/uploads-05-2020/9ory-com_159036176143791.jpg|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=April 1971|access-date=20 December 2017|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725044347/https://www.9ory.com/uploads-05-2020/9ory-com_159036176143791.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the [[1972 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1972]] 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 F.C.|Maccabi Netanya]], 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 [[1985–86 Asian Club Championship|1985]] as the Asian Club Championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Asian Club Championship|url=http://www.asian-football.com:80/leagues/clubhist.html|website=Asian Football|date=9 April 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970409161253/http://www.asian-football.com/leagues/clubhist.html|archive-date=9 April 1997|access-date=5 November 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990, the [[Asian Football Confederation]] introduced the [[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]], with the winners of the Asian Club Championship and Asian Cup Winners' Cup playing against each other.

===2002–2024: AFC Champions League=== [[File:ACL 2009 SAFFC vs Kashima Antlers, 7 April.jpg|left|thumb|Japan's [[Kashima Antlers]] and Singapore's [[Warriors FC]] during a group stage game during the [[2009 AFC Champions League|2009 season]] at the [[Jalan Besar Stadium]].]] The 2002–03 season saw the Asian Club Championship, [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] and [[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 FC|Al-Ain]], defeating [[Police Tero F.C.|BEC Tero Sasana]] 2–1 on aggregate. In [[2004 AFC Champions League|2004]], 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]], [[extra time]], and [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalties]] used as tie-breakers.

====Expansion==== The [[2005 AFC Champions League|2005 season]] 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.<ref name="the-afc.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/common/cms/afc/AFC%20PRO-LEAGUE%20AD-HOC%20COMMITTEE%20ASSESSMENT%20CHARTS%201.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205100912/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/common/cms/afc/AFC%20PRO-LEAGUE%20AD-HOC%20COMMITTEE%20ASSESSMENT%20CHARTS%201.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2009 |access-date=26 May 2008 |title=Asian Football Confederation |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The assessment criteria and ranking for participating associations are revised by AFC every two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818173523/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2012 |access-date=5 January 2010|title=Criteria for Participation in AFC Club Competitions }}</ref> {| style="float:right;" |- |[[File:Persepolis FC vs Kashima Antlers 10 November 2018 14.jpg|right|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/acl_base_widened_from_2014.html |title=ACL base widened from 2014 |publisher=AFC|url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630095202/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/25444-acl-base-widened-from-2014-120313.html |archive-date=30 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/27301-afc-exco-slots-261113.html |title=AFC Slots |access-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203143845/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/27301-afc-exco-slots-261113.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/afc-to-invest-in-new-era-of-national-team-and-club-competitions|title=AFC to invest in new era of national team and club competitions|publisher=AFC|date=26 October 2019|access-date=26 October 2019|archive-date=5 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205072528/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/afc-to-invest-in-new-era-of-national-team-and-club-competitions|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 AFC Champions League|2023–24 season]]. 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).<ref>{{cite web|title=AFC Executive Committee unveils dynamic enhancements to the AFC Club Competitions|access-date=25 February 2022|date=25 February 2022|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/executive_committee/news/afc_executive_committee_unveils_dynamic_enhancements_to_the_afc_club_competitions.html|website=the-AFC.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|language=en|archive-date=9 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309100419/https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/executive_committee/news/afc_executive_committee_unveils_dynamic_enhancements_to_the_afc_club_competitions.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====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]] in the stadiums of Iranian sides.

On top of that, Iranian women were banned from football stadiums for about 40 years, by the [[Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran|Iranian government]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 June 2020|title=ENSPIRE winner Maryam Shojaei on her fight to get Iranian women back in the soccer stadium|url=https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/29324440/iranian-women-were-banned-soccer-stadiums-40-years-maryam-shojaei-fought-fix-that|access-date=2 November 2021|website=ESPN|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102030318/https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/29324440/iranian-women-were-banned-soccer-stadiums-40-years-maryam-shojaei-fought-fix-that|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dw-freedom">{{Cite web|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|title=زنان در آزادی؛ حاشیه‌ای فراتر از فینال |date=11 November 2018|url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/iran/a-46251340|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615175122/https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/iran/a-46251340|archive-date=15 June 2021|access-date=2 November 2021|language=fa-IR}}</ref> In 2019, Iranian women were first allowed to watch football at stadiums, but not during ACL games.<ref name="dw-freedom" /><ref>{{Cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=9 October 2019|title=Iranian women allowed to watch football at stadium for first time in decades|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/09/iranian-women-allowed-to-watch-football-at-stadium-for-first-time-in-decades|access-date=2 November 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=7 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607060457/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/09/iranian-women-allowed-to-watch-football-at-stadium-for-first-time-in-decades|url-status=live}}</ref> Before that, [[FIFA]] had pressured Iran to let women into the stadiums; Iran relented, but capped the number of women to watch the [[2018 AFC Champions League Final|2018 final]].<ref name="dw-freedom" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=In a first for Iran, hundreds of women attend a major soccer match in Tehran|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/iran-hundreds-women-attend-major-soccer-match-tehran/story?id=59112343|access-date=2 November 2021|website=ABC News|language=en|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102030317/https://abcnews.go.com/International/iran-hundreds-women-attend-major-soccer-match-tehran/story?id=59112343|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, the AFC investigated the matter, in the hope of allowing unrestricted attendance whenever Iranian clubs are involved.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 October 2021|title=استقلال و پرسپولیس از لیگ قهرمانان فوتبال آسیا حذف شدند!|url=https://www.imna.ir/news/532190/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF-%D9%82%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A2%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%B0%D9%81-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF|access-date=2 November 2021|website=ایمنا|language=fa|archive-date=2 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102030321/https://www.imna.ir/news/532190/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF-%D9%82%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A2%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%B0%D9%81-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=AFC Competitions Committee recommends strategic reforms to elevate Asian club football|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/afc_competitions_committee_recommends_strategic_reforms_to_elevate_asian_club_football.html|date=23 December 2022|website=AFC|access-date=24 December 2022|archive-date=24 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224020236/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/afc_competitions_committee_recommends_strategic_reforms_to_elevate_asian_club_football.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2023, it was confirmed that the new format would come into effect from the [[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25]] season, with the name of the competition changing to AFC Champions League Elite.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2023 |title=AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/executive_committee/news/afc_executive_committee_approves_biggest_prize_purse_in_asian_club_football_history_from_202425_announces_afc_women%E2%80%99s_champions_league.html |website=AFC |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029073712/https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/executive_committee/news/afc_executive_committee_approves_biggest_prize_purse_in_asian_club_football_history_from_202425_announces_afc_women%E2%80%99s_champions_league.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The AFC has also confirmed that AFC Champions League records and statistics would be carried forward to the ACL Elite.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/pivotal_reforms_approved_by_afc_competitions_committee.html|access-date=24 May 2024|date=24 May 2024|website=AFC|archive-date=24 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524094836/https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/pivotal_reforms_approved_by_afc_competitions_committee.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia to host AFC Champions League Elite – Final Stage |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/xx_1.html |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=AFC |date=1 December 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209161734/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/xx_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starting with the [[2026–27 AFC Champions League Elite|2026–27]] edition, the league stage expanded from 24 to 32 clubs (16 for each region).<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Professional Football Committee adopts key changes to elevate Asian club football |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees.html/news/afc-professional-football-committee-adopts-key-changes-to-elevate-asian-club-football |access-date=25 April 2026 |date=24 April 2026|website=AFC}}</ref>

==Format== ===Qualification=== [[File:AFC members Champions League participants.svg|thumb|300px|Map of AFC countries whose teams reached the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite {{legend|#67E863|AFC member country that has been represented in the group stage}} {{legend|#6085EF|AFC member country that has not been represented in the group stage}}]]

As of the [[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25 edition]] 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.<ref name="ACL format">{{cite web|title=AFC ExCo okays ACL slots, format |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/27301-afc-exco-slots-261113.html |website=the-afc.com |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]|access-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203143845/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/27301-afc-exco-slots-261113.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> The criteria, which is a modified version of the [[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).<ref name="format24">{{cite web |title=Explained: Asia's new $23m Champions League format as Mariners, Sydney FC chase big payday |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/new-afc-champions-league-format-explained-mariners-sydney-fc-acl-elite-two-details/ |website=A-Leagues |access-date=24 June 2024 |language=en-AU |date=19 June 2024}}</ref>

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.<ref name="format24"/> If the aggregate score of the two games is tied after 180 minutes, the clubs play [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]]. If still tied after extra time, the tie is decided by a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final matches all feature cross-regional pairings, and are played in a single-leg format at centralised venue.<ref name="format24"/>

===Allocation=== {{further|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. <div style="overflow-x: auto; white-space: nowrap"> {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: Center;" |- ! rowspan="2"|Associations ! colspan="24"|Entrants |- ! [[2002–03 AFC Champions League|2002–03]] ! [[2004 AFC Champions League|2004]] ! [[2005 AFC Champions League|2005]] ! [[2006 AFC Champions League|2006]] ! [[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]] ! [[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]] ! [[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]] ! [[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]] ! [[2011 AFC Champions League|2011]] ! [[2012 AFC Champions League|2012]] ! [[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]] ! [[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]] ! [[2015 AFC Champions League|2015]] ! [[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]] ! [[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]] ! [[2018 AFC Champions League|2018]] ! [[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]] ! [[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]] ! [[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]] ! [[2022 AFC Champions League|2022]] ! [[2023–24 AFC Champions League|2023–24]] ! [[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25]] ! [[2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite|2025–26]] |- ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="24"|East Asia |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Football Federation Australia|Australia]]''' | colspan=4| ''{{small|Part of [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]]}}'' |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |3 |1* |3 |2* |2* |3 |2* |2* |3 |0 |2* |1 |1 |1 |-  |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chinese Football Association|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 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|HKG}} [[Hong Kong Football Association|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 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Football Association of Indonesia|Indonesia]]''' |0* |2 |2 |0 |2 |0 |1* |1* |1* |0* |0 |0 |0* |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0 |0 |0* |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Japan Football Association|Japan]]''' |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3* |4 |4 |4 |3 |3 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Korea Football Association|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 |-  |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Football Association of Malaysia|Malaysia]]''' |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0* |1* |1* |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Philippine Football Federation|Philippines]]''' |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0* |2 |1* |1 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|SIN}} [[Football Association of Singapore|Singapore]]''' |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |1 |1 |1 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|THA}} [[Football Association of Thailand|Thailand]]''' |2 |2 |2 |0 |1 |2 |0* |0* |0* |1* |2 |1* |1* |1* |1* |1* |1* |1* |4 |2* |3* |1* |1* |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|VIE}} [[Vietnam Football Federation|Vietnam]]''' |0* |2 |2 |2 |1 |2 |0 |0* |0 |0 |0 |0* |1* |1* |0* |0* |0* |0* |1 |1 |1* |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''Total''' |'''8''' |'''12''' |'''12''' |'''8''' |'''13''' |'''13''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''15''' |'''15''' |'''15''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''20''' |'''19''' |'''20''' |'''12''' |'''12''' |- ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="24"|West Asia |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Bahrain Football Association|Bahrain]]''' |0* |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0 |0 |0* |0 |0* |0* |0 |0 |0 |0  |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|IND}} [[All India Football Federation|India]]''' |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |1 |1 |1 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]]''' |2 |2 |2 |2 |1 |2 |4 |4 |4 |3* |3* |4 |4 |3* |4 |4 |3* |4 |4 |2 |3* |2* |1* |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]]''' |1* |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |1* |1* |2* |1* |1 |1 |1 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Jordan Football Association|Jordan]]''' |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |0* |1 |1 |1* |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Kuwait Football Association|Kuwait]]''' |0* |1 |2 |2 |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |-  |-  |-  |-  |-  |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]]''' |1* |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |2* |2* |2* |4 |3* |2* |3* |4 |2* |3 |3 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|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 |-  |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|SYR}} [[Syrian Arab Federation for Football|Syria]]''' |0* |0 |2 |2 |2 |2 |0 |0* |0* |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|TJK}} [[Tajikistan Football Federation|Tajikistan]]''' |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0* |0* |1 |1 |1 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|TKM}} [[Football Federation of Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]]''' |1* |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|UAE}} [[United Arab Emirates Football Association|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 |- |align=left|'''{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Uzbekistan Football Association|Uzbekistan]]''' |1* |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |3* |2* |1* |4 |4 |2* |2* |2* |1* |2 |2 |4 |1 |1 |-  |- |align=left|'''Total''' |'''8''' |'''14''' |'''17''' |'''17''' |'''15''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''17''' |'''17''' |'''17''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''16''' |'''20''' |'''20''' |'''20''' |'''12''' |'''12''' |- ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="24"|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 |}</div>

==Prize money== [[File:AFC Champions League trophy.jpg|thumb|Tournament's trophy, used until 2024]] Starting with the 2024–25 season, the distribution of the prize money is as follows:<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ArWIVMsvoI |title=AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 |date=19 June 2024|author=The AFC Hub |access-date=20 June 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Round ! rowspan="2" |Teams ! colspan="2" |Amount |- !Per team !Total |- | style="text-align:left;" |Final (champions) |1 |colspan="2"|$10 million |- | style="text-align:left;" |Final (runners-up) |1 |colspan="2"|$4 million |- | style="text-align:left;" |Semi-finals |4 |$600,000 |$2.4 million |- | style="text-align:left;" |Quarter-finals |8 |$400,000 |$3.2 million |- | style="text-align:left;" |Round of 16 |16 |$200,000 |$3.2 million |- | style="text-align:left;" |League stage |24 |$800,000 |$19.2 million |- !Total !24 ! colspan="2" |$42 million |}

== Trophy == Following the retirement of the AFC Champions League trophy in 2024, English luxury brand [[Thomas Lyte]] were commissioned to manufacture a new trophy.<ref name="trophy1">{{Cite web |title=Iconic new trophy unveiled for #ACLElite|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/news/iconic_new_trophy_unveiled_aclelite_1.html |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=the-afc.com |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]|date=16 August 2024}}</ref>

The new trophy stands at {{convert|70|cm}} tall and weighs {{convert|12|kg}}, and is visually similar to its [[AFC Champions League Two]] counterpart.<ref name="trophy1"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Designers and Makers of the AFC Champions League Elite Trophy |url=https://thomaslyte.com/afc-champions-league-elite-designers-and-makers/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Thomas Lyte}}</ref>

==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]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC and NEOM announce global multi-year partnership extension |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news/news/afc_and_neom_announce_global_multi-year_partnership_extension.html|date=10 July 2024|access-date=12 July 2024 |website=the-afc.com|publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref> *[[Qatar Airways]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Michael |title=AFC lands six-year Qatar Airways sponsorship deal |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/afc-qatar-airways-sponsorship-deal/?zephr_sso_ott=48Ii8W |website=SportsPro |access-date=19 December 2023 |date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AFC and Qatar Airways announce global partnership |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news/news/afc_and_qatar_airways_announce_global_partnership.html |website=the-afc.com |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]] |access-date=20 December 2023 |date=16 December 2023 |archive-date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509075258/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news/news/afc_and_qatar_airways_announce_global_partnership.html |url-status=live }}</ref> *[[Visit Saudi]]

'''Official Global Supporters''' * [[Barbican (drink)|Barbican]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barbican announced as Official Global Supporter of AFC club competitions 2025/26 season |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/barbican-announced-as-official-global-supporter-of-afc-club-competitions-202526-season |access-date=25 November 2025|date=23 November 2025|website=the-afc.com|publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref> *[[Kelme (company)|Kelme]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC and KELME extend multi-year partnership |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/afc-and-kelme-extend-multi-year-partnership |access-date=27 July 2025 |website=the-afc.com|publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]|date=18 November 2024}}</ref> *[[Midea Group|Midea]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Midea becomes Global Supporter of the AFC's club competitions |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/midea-becomes-global-supporter-of-the-afc%E2%80%99s-club-competitions |access-date=26 April 2025|date=25 April 2025|website=the-afc.com|publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref> *[[Tecno Mobile]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=TECNO and AFC renew partnership for upcoming club competition seasons |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/tecno-and-afc-renew-partnership-for-upcoming-club-competition-seasons |access-date=7 November 2025|date=11 September 2025|website=the-afc.com |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref> *[[Visa Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2025 |title=AFC and Visa expand partnership |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_news.html/news/afc-and-visa-expand-partnership |access-date=4 February 2025|website=the-afc.com|publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]]}}</ref>

===Video game=== The current license holder for the AFC Champions League video game is Konami with the [[eFootball]] series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wicherek |first1=Michael |title=Konami adds huge new license to eFootball 2024 |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/efootball-2024-konami-new-license-afc-champions-league/ |website=VideoGamer |access-date=6 December 2023 |date=12 October 2023 |archive-date=2 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202151157/https://www.videogamer.com/news/efootball-2024-konami-new-license-afc-champions-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The license also includes the competing teams.

== Records and statistics == {{Main|Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite records and statistics}} {{See also|AFC Champions League Elite clubs performance comparison}}

=== Performance by club === {{Main|List of Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite finals}} {{Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite performances by club}}

=== Performance by nation === {{Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite performances by nation}}

=== Performance by region === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! Zone ! Federation (region) ! Titles ! width="50"|Total |- |rowspan="2"|East Zone |align="left"|[[East Asian Football Federation|EAFF]] (East Asia) |23 |rowspan="2"|26 |- |align="left"|[[ASEAN Football Federation|AFF]] (Southeast Asia) |3 |- |rowspan="3"|West Zone |align="left"|[[West Asian Football Federation|WAFF]] (West Asia) |12 |rowspan="3"|15 |- |align="left"|[[Central Asian Football Association|CAFA]] (Central Asia) |3 |- |align="left"|[[South Asian Football Federation|SAFF]] (South Asia) |0 |}

Note: Israeli clubs, winners of the [[1967 Asian Club Championship|1967]], [[1969 Asian Club Championship|1969]] and [[1971 Asian Club Championship|1971]] editions, are not included.

== Awards == ===Most Valuable Player=== {| class="wikitable" !Year!!Player!!Club!!Ref. |- |align="center"|[[1996–97 Asian Club Championship|1996–97]]||{{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[An Ik-soo]]||{{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[Pohang Steelers]] |<ref name="96acc">{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970707233755/http://www.asian-football.com/comp/club/index.club.html |url=http://www.asian-football.com/comp/club/index.club.html |title=1996 ASIAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=7 July 1997 |archive-date=1997-07-07}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[1997–98 Asian Club Championship|1997–98]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Ahmed Al-Dokhi]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] |<ref>{{cite web|title=الدوخي أفضل لاعب في البطولة|url=http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1998/APR1998/06-04-1998-9321/9321-01501.jpg|language=ar|website=al-jazirah.com|archive-date=2 September 2021|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902140749/http://search.al-jazirah.com.sa/FLASHPDFARCH/1998/APR1998/06-04-1998-9321/9321-01501.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1998–99]]||{{flagicon|BFA}} [[Seydou Traoré (footballer)|Seydou Traoré]]||align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain Club|Al Ain]] |<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asian-football.com/competitions/club/club_frame.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422104622/http://www.asian-football.com/competitions/club/club_frame.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 1999|title=Asian Club Championship 18th Edition 1998/99|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|date=22 April 1999}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[1999–2000 Asian Club Championship|1999–2000]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Sérgio Ricardo Messias Neves|Sérgio Ricardo]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] |<ref>{{cite web |title=مالي الدنيا وشاغل الناس خطف الكأس |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2000/20000424/sp1.htm|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902105809/https://www.al-jazirah.com/2000/20000424/sp1.htm|date=24 April 2000|access-date=2 September 2021|language=ar|website=al-jazirah.com}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2000–01 Asian Club Championship|2000–01]]||{{flagicon|FRY}} [[Zoltan Sabo]]||{{Flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]] |<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607115059/https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2001/05/27/2001052770096.html |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2001/05/27/2001052770096.html |title=수원 삼성, 아시아클럽축구 평정 |newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=27 May 2001 |archive-date=7 June 2021|access-date=14 September 2021|language=ko}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2001–02 Asian Club Championship|2001–02]] ||colspan="3" align="center" {{NA}} |- |align="center"|[[AFC Champions League 2002–03|2002–03]]||{{flagicon|THA}} [[Therdsak Chaiman]]||{{Flagicon|THA}} [[Police Tero F.C.|BEC Tero Sasana]] |<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Champions League – MVP Memories: Therdsak Chaiman |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-champions-league-mvp-memories-therdsak-chaiman |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |access-date=19 December 2020 |date=11 October 2020 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016115756/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/afc-champions-league-mvp-memories-therdsak-chaiman |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2004 AFC Champions League|2004]]||{{Flagicon|KSA}} [[Redha Tukar]]||{{Flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] |<ref>{{cite web |title=Shandong Luneng suffer 7–2 blow at Champions League |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-09/22/content_479949_2.htm |newspaper=[[China Daily]] |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=22 September 2005 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016120147/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-09/22/content_479949_2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2005 AFC Champions League|2005]]||{{Flagicon|KSA}} [[Mohammed Noor]]||{{Flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] |<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051107010607/http://www.footballasia.com/acl/en/news/index.asp |url=http://www.footballasia.com/acl/en/news/index.asp |title=Preparation was vital for MVP Noor |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=5 November 2005 |archive-date=2005-11-07}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2006 AFC Champions League|2006]]||{{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Choi Jin-cheul]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] |<ref>{{cite web|title=전북 현대 AFC 챔피언스리그 우승|url=https://n.news.naver.com/sports/general/article/001/0001462555|website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|language=ko|date=9 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902105014/https://n.news.naver.com/sports/general/article/001/0001462555|archive-date=2 September 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]||{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuichiro Nagai]]||{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | |- |align="center"|[[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]]||{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Yasuhito Endō]]||{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Gamba Osaka]] | |- |align="center"|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]||{{Flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[No Byung-jun]]||{{Flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Pohang Steelers]] |<ref name="Pohang">{{cite news |title=Triple treat for Steelers |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-2009/25921-acl-awards |work=AFC |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=7 November 2009 |access-date=7 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915133546/http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-2009/25921-acl-awards |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]||{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Sasa Ognenovski]]||{{Flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Seongnam FC|Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma]] |<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1340524.html| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20101207134104/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1340524.html| url-status =dead| archive-date =7 December 2010| title = Ognenovski crowned AFC player of the year| date = 24 November 2010 | access-date = 5 January 2013 | publisher =[[FIFA]]}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2011 AFC Champions League|2011]]||{{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-gook]]||{{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]] |<ref name="Lee2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/37034-acl-final-awards |title=Double delight for Lee |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=5 November 2011 |access-date=5 November 2011 }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2012 AFC Champions League|2012]]||{{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1985)|Lee Keun-ho]]||{{Flagicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan HD FC|Ulsan Hyundai]] |<ref name="Lee2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/935-afc-champions-league-2012/40521-livewire-lee-name-mvp |title=Livewire Lee name MVP |publisher=AFC |date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117014522/http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/935-afc-champions-league-2012/40521-livewire-lee-name-mvp |archive-date=17 November 2012 }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]]||{{Flagicon|BRA}} [[Muriqui (footballer)|Muriqui]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]] |<ref name="Muriqui">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/27183-triple-delight-muriqui.html |title=Triple delight for Muriqui |publisher=AFC |date=10 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205114/http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/27183-triple-delight-muriqui.html |archive-date=9 November 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]]||{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Ante Covic]]||{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] |<ref name="Ante">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2014/custodian-covic-named-most-valuable-player|title=Custodian Covic named Most Valuable Player|publisher=AFC|date=2 November 2014|access-date=30 March 2022|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018074358/https://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2014/custodian-covic-named-most-valuable-player|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2015 AFC Champions League|2015]]||{{Flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Goulart]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]] |<ref name="Ricardo">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/hotshot-goulart-adds-awards-to-acl-title-success|title=Hotshot Goulart adds awards to ACL title success|publisher=AFC|date=22 November 2015|access-date=30 March 2022|archive-date=24 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124051229/http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/hotshot-goulart-adds-awards-to-acl-title-success|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]||{{Flagicon|UAE}} [[Omar Abdulrahman]]||{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]] |<ref name="Omar">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2016/omar-abdulrahman-lands-afc-champions-league-2016-mvp-award|title=Omar Abdulrahman lands AFC Champions League 2016 MVP award|publisher=AFC|date=27 November 2016|access-date=6 November 2016|archive-date=3 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203083626/http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2016/omar-abdulrahman-lands-afc-champions-league-2016-mvp-award|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yōsuke Kashiwagi]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |<ref name="Kashiwagi">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2017/yosuke-kashiwagi-clinches-afc-champions-league-mvp-award|title=Yosuke Kashiwagi clinches AFC Champions League MVP Award|publisher=AFC|date=25 November 2017|access-date=25 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042600/http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2017/yosuke-kashiwagi-clinches-afc-champions-league-mvp-award|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2018 AFC Champions League|2018]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuma Suzuki]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kashima Antlers]] |<ref name="Yuma">{{cite news|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/yuma-suzuki-of-kashima-named-2018-mvp|title=Yuma Suzuki of Kashima named 2018 MVP|publisher=AFC|date=10 November 2018|access-date=30 March 2022|archive-date=21 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221151104/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/yuma_suzuki_of_kashima_named_2018_mvp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]]||{{flagicon|FRA|1974}} [[Bafétimbi Gomis]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] |<ref name="Gomis">{{cite news|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-hilal-s-gomis-wins-mvp-top-scorer-awards|title=Al Hilal's Gomis wins MVP, Top Scorer awards|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|date=24 November 2019|access-date=24 November 2019|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108235151/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-hilal-s-gomis-wins-mvp-top-scorer-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yoon Bit-garam]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]] |<ref name="2020mvp">{{cite web |title=Ulsan Hyundai's Yoon Bit-garam named 2020 AFC Champions League MVP |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/ulsan-hyundai-s-yoon-bit-garam-named-2020-afc-champions-league-mvp |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |access-date=19 December 2020 |date=19 December 2020|archive-url=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|archive-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Salem Al-Dawsari]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] |<ref>{{cite web |title=Al-Hilal reign in Asia after tale of two Al-Dawsaris in AFC Champions League triumph |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974281/sport |website=Arab News |access-date=24 November 2021 |date=24 November 2021 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225162938/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1974281/sport |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2022 AFC Champions League|2022]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroki Sakai]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |<ref>{{cite web |title=Urawa's Hiroki Sakai crowned Most Valuable Player |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/urawa%E2%80%99s_sakai_crowned_most_valuable_player_.html |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=6 May 2023 |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2023–24 AFC Champions League|2023–24]]||{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Soufiane Rahimi]]||{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]] |<ref name="2024award">{{Cite web|title=Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/al_ains_rahimi_wins_mvp_top_scorer_awards.html|access-date=27 May 2024|date=25 May 2024|website=the-AFC.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Roberto Firmino]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] |<ref name="2025award">{{Cite web|title=Al Ahli's Firmino named MVP|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-ahli%E2%80%99s-roberto-firmino-named-mvp-1|access-date=3 May 2025|date=3 May 2025|website=the-AFC.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}</ref> |- |align="center"|[[2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite|2025–26]]||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Franck Kessié]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ahli Saudi FC|Al-Ahli]] |<ref name="2026award">{{Cite web|title=Al Ahli's Kessie named Most Valuable Player|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-ahli%E2%80%99s-kessie-named-most-valuable-player|access-date=25 April 2026|date=25 April 2026|website=the-AFC.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}</ref> |}

===Top scorers=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year!!Player!!Club!!Goals!!Ref. |- |align=center|[[1996–97 Asian Club Championship|1996–97]]||{{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[Park Tae-ha]]||{{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[Pohang Steelers]]||align=center|3{{efn|Final tournament goals only.}} |<ref name="96acc"/> |- |align=center|[[AFC Champions League 2002–03|2002–03]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Hao Haidong]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Dalian Shide F.C.|Dalian Shide]]||align=center|9 | |- |align=center|[[2004 AFC Champions League|2004]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Do-hoon]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seongnam FC|Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma]]||align=center|9 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup04.html |title=Asian Club Competitions 2004 |date=10 March 2016 |access-date=8 February 2020 |first=Karel |publisher=[[RSSSF]] |last=Stokkermans}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2005 AFC Champions League|2005]]||{{flagicon|SLE}} [[Mohamed Kallon]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]]||align=center|6 | |- |align=center|[[2006 AFC Champions League|2006]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Magno Alves]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Gamba Osaka]]||align=center|8 | |- |align=center|[[2007 AFC Champions League|2007]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[João Soares da Mota Neto|Mota]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seongnam FC|Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma]]||align=center|7 | |- |align=center|[[2008 AFC Champions League|2008]]||{{flagicon|THA}} [[Nantawat Tansopa]]||{{flagicon|THA}} [[Krung Thai Bank F.C.|Krung Thai Bank]]||align=center|9 | |- |align=center|[[2009 AFC Champions League|2009]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Leandro Montera da Silva|Leandro]]||{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Gamba Osaka]]||align=center|10 | |- |align=center|[[2010 AFC Champions League|2010]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[José Mota (footballer, born 1979)|Jose Mota]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Suwon Samsung Bluewings]]||align=center|9 | |- |align=center|[[2011 AFC Champions League|2011]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Dong-gook]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC|Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors]]||align=center|9 | |- |align=center|[[2012 AFC Champions League|2012]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Oliveira]]||{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]||align=center|12 | |- |align=center|[[2013 AFC Champions League|2013]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Muriqui (footballer)|Muriqui]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]||align=center|13 | |- |align=center|[[2014 AFC Champions League|2014]]||{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Asamoah Gyan]]||{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]||align=center|12 | |- |align=center|[[2015 AFC Champions League|2015]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ricardo Goulart]]||{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guangzhou F.C.|Guangzhou Evergrande]]||align=center|8 | |- |align=center|[[2016 AFC Champions League|2016]]||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Adriano (footballer, born September 1987)|Adriano]]||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[FC Seoul]]||align=center|13 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Adriano named AFC Champions League 2016 top scorer |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/adriano_named_afc_champions_league_2016_top_scorer.html |access-date=23 December 2025 |date=27 November 2016|website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2017 AFC Champions League|2017]]||{{flagicon|SYR|1980}} [[Omar Kharbin]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]]||align=center|10 | |- |align=center|[[2018 AFC Champions League|2018]]||{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Baghdad Bounedjah]]||{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]||align=center|13 | |- |align=center|[[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]]||{{flagicon|FRA|1974}} [[Bafétimbi Gomis]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]||align=center|11 | |- |align=center|[[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]]||{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Abderrazak Hamdallah]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al Nassr FC|Al-Nassr]]||align=center|7 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Nassr's Abderrazak Hamdallah wins 2020 AFC Champions League Top Scorer award |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/latest/news/al-nassr-s-abderrazak-hamdallah-wins-2020-afc-champions-league-top-scorer-award |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |access-date=19 December 2020 |date=19 December 2020|archive-url=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|archive-date=17 April 2021}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]]||{{flagicon|KEN}} [[Michael Olunga]]||{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]||align=center|9 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenya's Michael Olunga wins AFC Champions League Golden Boot |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/kenya-michael-olunga-wins-afc-champions-league-golden-boot-3629418 |website=The East African |access-date=24 November 2021 |language=en |date=24 November 2021 |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525070858/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/kenya-michael-olunga-wins-afc-champions-league-golden-boot-3629418 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2022 AFC Champions League|2022]]||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Edmilson Junior]]||{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al-Duhail SC|Al-Duhail]]||align=center|8 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Duhail's Edmilson Junior scoops Top Scorer Award |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/acl_2022_final_-_top_scorer_1.html |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=6 May 2023 |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603130947/https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/acl_2022_final_-_top_scorer_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2023–24 AFC Champions League|2023–24]]||{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Soufiane Rahimi]]||{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al Ain FC|Al Ain]]||align=center|13 |<ref name="2024award"/> |- |align=center|[[2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite|2024–25]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Salem Al-Dawsari]]||{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Al-Hilal Saudi FC|Al-Hilal]]||align=center|10 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Hilal's Al Dawsari wins top goalscorer honour |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-hilals-al-dawsari-wins-top-goalscorer-honour |access-date=3 May 2025 |date=3 May 2025 |website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}</ref> |- |align=center|[[2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite|2025–26]]||{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Rafa Mújica]]||{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]]||align=center|8 |<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Sadd’s Mujica wins Top Goalscorer |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/news/al-sadd%E2%80%99s-mujica-wins-top-goalscorer |access-date=25 April 2026 |date=25 April 2026|website=the-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation}}</ref> |} ;Notes {{notelist}}

== See also == {{portal|Asia|Association football}} * [[AFC Champions League Two]] * [[AFC Challenge League]] * [[Continental football championships]] * [[List of association football competitions]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Official website|https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite/home.html|name=AFC Champions League Elite}}

{{AFC Champions League Elite seasons}} {{AFC Champions League Elite winners}} {{AFC competitions}} {{Asian sport club competitions}} {{International Club Football}} {{FIFA Club World Cup}}

[[Category:AFC Champions League Elite| ]] [[Category:Men's continental association football competitions in Asia|1]] [[Category:Men's association football club competitions in Asia|1]] [[Category:Asian Football Confederation club competitions|1]] [[Category:1967 establishments in Asia]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1967]]