Cristiano Ronald in India? After Lionel Messi, Portuguese football superstar might play against FC Goa in AFC Champions League 2
Cristiano Ronaldo
's Al Naser of Saudi Arabia in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2, the continent's second tier club competition, beginning September 16.
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Al Naser is captained by Ronaldo, the Portuguese five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but failed to qualify for AFC Champions League Elite after finishing third in the
Saudi Pro League
.
They are now clubbed in Group D of ACL 2, alongside FC Goa, Al Zawraa SC of Iraq and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. The draw for the tournament was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.
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FC Goa are the winners of the Super Cup 2025 and semifinalists in the
ISL 2024-25
.
The tournament will be played in home and away format. However, it is not certain yet ifRonaldo will play in India in FC Goa's home match.
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In 2023, Mumbai City FC was clubbed along Neymar Junior's Al Hilal, also of Saudi Arabia, but the Brazilian superstar did not play his club's away match at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai as he suffered an injury before the fixture.
FC Goa secured the group stage qualification after beating Al Seeb Club of Oman 2-1 in the play-off match in Margao on Wednesday. This will be the team's second continental appearance after having represented India in the 2021 AFC Champions League (ACL), then the continent's top tier club competition.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the ISL 2024-25 Shield Winners, will play in Group C alongside Sepahan SC of Iran, Al Hussein SC of Jordan and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan.
This will be Mohun Bagan SG's eighth appearance in Asia's second-tier club competition, which was earlier called AFC Cup.
Thirty-two teams, 16 each in the West and the East Zone, have been divided into eight groups of four each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Round of 16.
The group stage will run from September 16 to December 24. The Round of 16 will take place between February 10-19, 2026. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are set for March 3-12 and April 7-15, respectively, with the final scheduled for May 16, 2026.
Lionel Messi in India
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's much-anticipated visit to India has received its final seal of approval with the Argentine superstar set to kick off his three-city tour in Kolkata on December 12, promoter of the event Satadru Dutta said on Friday.
Kolkata will be the first stop in Messi's whirlwind trip named 'GOAT Tour of India 2025', followed by Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Messi's might be accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets among others but Dutta refused to divulge any name.
Messi's visit will feature masterclass with children in each city, aimed at inspiring the next generation of Indian footballers.
He will land in Kolkata on the night of December 12 and spend two days and one night in his longest stop on the tour.
His December 13 schedule begins with a meet-and-greet in the morning, which will also feature a special food and tea festival.
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