AFC Champions League Elite

Asian association football tournament for clubs

"Asian Champions League" redirects here. For other uses, see Champions League (disambiguation).

This article is about the men's competition. For the women's competition, see AFC Women's Champions League.

Not to be confused with AFC Asian Cup or AFC Championship Game.

Football tournament

AFC Champions League Elite

Organising body| AFC
Founded| 1967; 58 years ago (1967) (as Asian Champion Club Tournament)
Region| Asia
Number of teams| 24 (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 Ain (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)|  Al-Hilal (4 titles)
Website| www.the-afc.com
2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite

The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's 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.[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 and the Asian Super Cup. It was rebranded again in 2024 to its current name.

A total of 24 clubs compete in the league stage of the competition, divided into East and West regions (12 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 with a total of four titles. Al Ain are the current champions, having beaten Yokohama F. Marinos in the 2024 final.

## History

[edit]

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 |

### 1967–1972: Asian Champion Club Tournament

[edit]

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 European Cup.[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 dominated the first four editions of the competition, this was partly due to the refusal of Arab clubs to play them:

* In 1970, Lebanese club Homenetmen refused to play Hapoel Tel Aviv in the semi-final, which was scratched with Hapoel advancing to the final.
* In 1971, Aliyat Al-Shorta of Iraq refused to play 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.[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 in Baghdad.[5]

After the 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, 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

[edit]

Asia's premier club tournament made its return in 1985 as the Asian Club Championship.[6]

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

[edit]

Japan's Kashima Antlers and Singapore's Warriors FC during a group stage game during the 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, defeating BEC Tero Sasana 2–1 on aggregate. In 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 penalties used as tie-breakers.

#### Expansion

[edit]

The 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.[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]

On 25 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. 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

[edit]

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 Iranian government.[13][14] In 2019, Iranian women were first allowed to watch football at stadiums, but not during ACL games.[14][15] Before that, FIFA had pressured Iran to let women into the stadiums; Iran relented, but capped the number of women to watch the 2018 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

[edit]

On 23 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] On 14 August 2023, it was confirmed that the new format would come into effect from the 2024–25 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] In December 2023, Saudi Arabia were awarded hosting duties for the final stage for the first two seasons.[21]

## Format

[edit]

### Qualification

[edit]

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 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.[22] 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

[edit]

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).[23]

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.[23] If the aggregate score of the two games is tied after 180 minutes, the clubs play extra time. If still tied after extra time, the tie is decided by a 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.[23]

### Allocation

[edit]

Further information: 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
East Asia
Australia | Part of OFC | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 3  | 1*  | 3  | 2*  | 2*  | 3  | 2*  | 2*  | 3  | 0  | 2*  | 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*  | 2*
Hong Kong | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1*  | 1*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1  | 1  | 1*  | 0
Indonesia | 0*  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 0  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 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
South Korea | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 3  | 2  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 3
Malaysia | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 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
Singapore | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 0
Thailand | 2  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1*  | 2  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 1*  | 4  | 2*  | 3*  | 1*
Vietnam | 0*  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 1*  | 1*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1  | 1  | 1*  | 0
Total | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 11
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
India | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 0*  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 0
Iran | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 1  | 2  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 3*  | 3*  | 4  | 4  | 3*  | 4  | 4  | 3*  | 4  | 4  | 2  | 3*  | 2*
Iraq | 1*  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1*  | 1*  | 2*  | 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
Kuwait | 0*  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 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*  | 2*
Saudi Arabia | 1*  | 2  | 3  | 3  | 2  | 2  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 3*  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 4  | 2  | 4  | 4  | 3*  | 4  | 4  | 3
Syria | 0*  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 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
Turkmenistan | 1*  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 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*  | 1*
Uzbekistan | 1*  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 3*  | 2*  | 1*  | 4  | 4  | 2*  | 2*  | 2*  | 1*  | 2  | 2  | 4  | 1
Total | 8 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 11
Total
Finals  | 16 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 40 | 39 | 40 | 22
Qualifying  | 53  | 26  | 29  | 25  | 28  | 29  | 35  | 37  | 36  | 37  | 35  | 47  | 49  | 45  | 47  | 46  | 51  | 52  | 45  | 46  | 53  | 27

## Prize money

[edit]

Tournament's trophy, used until 2024

Starting with the 2024–25 season, the distribution of the prize money is as follows:[24]

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

## Marketing

[edit]

### Sponsorship

[edit]

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[25]
* Qatar Airways[26][27]
* Visit Saudi

Official Global Supporters

* Konami[28]
* Molten[29]
* Tecno Mobile[30]
* Visa Inc.[31]

### Video game

[edit]

The current license holder for the AFC Champions League video game is Konami with the eFootball series.[32] The license also includes the competing teams.

## Records and statistics

[edit]

Main article: Asian Club Championship and AFC Champions League Elite records and statistics

See also: AFC Champions League Elite clubs performance comparison

### Performances by club

[edit]

Main article: 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-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 | —
Al-Ahli | 0  | 2  | —  | 1985–86, 2012
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

### Performances by nation

[edit]

Performances in finals by nation

* v
* t
* e

Nation  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Total

|
|
|

South Korea | 12  | 7  | 19
Japan | 8  | 5  | 13
Saudi Arabia | 6  | 10  | 16
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

### Performances by region

[edit]

Zone  | Federation (region)  | Titles  | Total

|
|
|

East Zone  | EAFF (East Asia)  | 23  | 26
AFF (Southeast Asia)  | 3
West Zone  | WAFF (West Asia)  | 10  | 13
CAFA (Central Asia)  | 3
SAFF (South Asia)  | 0

Note: Israeli clubs, winners of the 1967, 1969 and 1971 editions, are not included.

## Awards

[edit]

### Most Valuable Player

[edit]

Year | Player | Club | Ref.

|
|
|

1996–97 |  An Ik-soo |  Pohang Steelers | [33]
1997–98 |  Ahmed Al-Dokhi |  Al Hilal | [34]
1998–99 |  Seydou Traoré |  Al-Ain | [35]
1999–2000 |  Sérgio Ricardo |  Al Hilal | [36]
2000–01 |  Zoltan Sabo |  Suwon Samsung Bluewings | [37]
2001–02 | —
2002–03 |  Therdsak Chaiman |  BEC Tero Sasana | [38]
2004 |  Redha Tukar |  Al-Ittihad | [39]
2005 |  Mohammed Noor |  Al-Ittihad | [40]
2006 |  Choi Jin-cheul |  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | [41]
2007 |  Yuichiro Nagai |  Urawa Red Diamonds |
2008 |  Yasuhito Endō |  Gamba Osaka |
2009 |  No Byung-jun |  Pohang Steelers | [42]
2010 |  Sasa Ognenovski |  Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | [43]
2011 |  Lee Dong-gook |  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | [44]
2012 |  Lee Keun-ho |  Ulsan Hyundai | [45]
2013 |  Muriqui |  Guangzhou Evergrande | [46]
2014 |  Ante Covic |  Western Sydney Wanderers | [47]
2015 |  Ricardo Goulart |  Guangzhou Evergrande | [48]
2016 |  Omar Abdulrahman |  Al-Ain | [49]
2017 |  Yōsuke Kashiwagi |  Urawa Red Diamonds | [50]
2018 |  Yuma Suzuki |  Kashima Antlers | [51]
2019 |  Bafétimbi Gomis |  Al-Hilal | [52]
2020 |  Yoon Bit-garam |  Ulsan Hyundai | [53]
2021 |  Salem Al-Dawsari |  Al-Hilal | [54]
2022 |  Hiroki Sakai |  Urawa Red Diamonds | [55]
2023–24 |  Soufiane Rahimi |  Al Ain | [56]

### Top scorers

[edit]

Year | Player | Club | Goals

|
|
|

2002–03 |  Hao Haidong |  Dalian Shide | 9
2004 |  Kim Do-hoon |  Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 9
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
2017 |  Omar Kharbin |  Al-Hilal | 10
2018 |  Baghdad Bounedjah |  Al-Sadd | 13
2019 |  Bafétimbi Gomis |  Al-Hilal | 11
2020 |  Abderrazak Hamdallah[57] |  Al-Nassr | 7
2021 |  Michael Olunga[58] |  Al-Duhail | 9
2022 |  Edmilson Junior[59] |  Al-Duhail | 8
2023–24 |  Soufiane Rahimi[56] |  Al Ain | 13

## See also

[edit]

* Asia portal
* Association football portal

* AFC Champions League Two
* AFC Challenge League
* Continental football championships
* List of association football competitions

## References

[edit]

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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AFC Champions League.

* AFC Champions League Elite

* 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

Finals|

* 2025

* History
* Finals
* Club competitions ranking
* Winning managers
* Records and statistics
* Performance comparison

* Clubs by nation
* Australia
* Bangladesh
* China
* Hong Kong
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Japan
* Malaysia
* Myanmar
* Pakistan
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* South Korea
* Thailand
* Vietnam

* 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

* v
* t
* e

AFC competitions

Men's national team|

| Senior team|

* Asian Cup
* 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 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

* Under-20 Intercontinental Cup
* World Leagues Forum
* Lists of association football clubs (Most successful clubs)

Global|

FIFA
Club World Cup
Intercontinental Cup

Africa|

CAF
Champions League
Confederation Cup
Super Cup
Football League
Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)
CAF Cup (defunct)
Regional:

UNAF
Kagame Interclub Cup
North African Cup of Champions (defunct)
North African Cup Winners Cup (defunct)
North African Super Cup (defunct)
WAFU (defunct)

Asia|

AFC
Champions League Elite
Champions League Two
Challenge League
Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)
Super Cup (defunct)
Regional:

ASEAN
Marianas Club Championship
SAFF

Europe|

UEFA
Champions League
Europa League
Conference League
Super Cup
Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)
Intertoto Cup (defunct)

North,
Central America
and the Caribbean|

CONCACAF
Champions Cup
Cup Winners Cup (defunct)
CONCACAF League (defunct)
Campeonato Centroamericano (defunct)
Regional:

Central American Cup
Caribbean Cup
Caribbean Club Shield
Campeones Cup
Leagues Cup
Caribbean Club Championship (defunct)
UNCAF Interclub Cup (defunct)
SuperLiga (defunct)

Oceania|

OFC
Champions League
Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)
President's Cup (defunct)

South America|

CONMEBOL
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
Recopa Sudamericana
Copa CONMEBOL (defunct)
Copa Ganadores de Copa (defunct)
Supercopa Libertadores (defunct)
Copa Master de CONMEBOL (defunct)
Copa Master de Supercopa (defunct)
Copa de Oro (defunct)
Regional:

Copa Merconorte (defunct)
Copa Mercosur (defunct)

Intercontinental|

Arab Club Champions Cup
African–Asian–Pacific Cup
Derby of the Americas
Challenger Cup
Arab Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)
Arab Super Cup (defunct)
Intercontinental Cup (defunct)
Afro-Asian Club Championship (defunct)
Copa Interamericana (defunct)

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

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

Qualification|

* AFC Champions League Elite
* CAF Champions League
* CONCACAF Champions Cup
* Copa Libertadores
* OFC Champions League
* UEFA Champions League

Statistics|

* Awards
* Hat-tricks
* Historical table
* Participants
* Records and statistics
* Winning managers
* World champion clubs

* Category
* Portal
* Multimedia

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*[e]: Edit this template