Kawasaki Frontale was defeated by Al Ahli, thereby claiming the Asian Champions League title.
Experience the triumph of Al-Ahli, former runners-up in 1986 and 2012, as they clinched the AFC Champions League title at their King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. The victory was sensational, thanks to two goals in seven minutes before halftime from Brazilian Galeno and Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie [1].
The late stages of the Asian Champions League have been held in Jeddah this season. This triumph makes Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Riyad Mahrez the first players to conquer both Asian football's prestigious title and the UEFA Champions League [3]. Firmino, Mendy, and Mahrez lifted the Champions League trophy with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City, respectively [5].
Firmino expressed his pride, stating, "We set our sights on becoming champions in front of our fans. Since I arrived here 18 months ago, they have supported us tremendously. Our secret is a strong team effort. If one of us makes an effort, it makes things easier for the one next to him. You saw our fire, our spirit!" [2]
Al-Ahli, whose majority ownership belongs to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, earned a $10 million prize for capturing the title [6]. Matthias Jaissle's side went undefeated in all 13 matches of the campaign [2].
Frontale, who had never progressed beyond the last eight before this tournament, struggled to keep up with Al-Ahli [1]. Al-Ahli began the match aggressively, with summer signing Ivan Toney testing the palms of Louis Yamaguchi only five minutes in [2]. Despite Frontale's best efforts, they failed to produce a shot on target in the first half [2].
Galeno opened the scoring on 35 minutes, curling a spectacular effort from 25 yards into the top corner [1]. Kessie secured Al-Ahli's advantage with a powerful header three minutes before halftime, capitalizing on a cross from Firmino [1]. Firmino's assist lifted him to seven assist in this season's Champions League, placing him one behind Mahrez for the tournament's assist lead [1].
Frontale had a promising second half, with substitute Tatsuya Ito narrowly missing target twice [1]. However, Al-Ahli held on to their lead, becoming only the third Saudi club to win the Champions League, following in the footsteps of record four-time winners Al Hilal and two-time champions Al Ittihad [6].
In summary, this dynamic trio of Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Riyad Mahrez has made history by winning both the UEFA Champions League and the AFC Champions League, demonstrating their adaptability and success in various clubs and continents [3]. Their exceptional performances paved the way for Al-Ahli's championship victory in the AFC Champions League, cementing their place in football history [1].
[1] AFP. (2025). Al-Ahli become Asian Champions League winners after thrashing Kawasaki Frontale. MSN.
[2] AFP. (2025). Al-Ahli take $10m as they cap perfect Asian Champions League campaign with victory over Kawasaki Frontale. The Guardian.
[3] ESPN. (2025). Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Riyad Mahrez make history with Champions League double. The Athletic.
[5] BBC Sport. (2025). Firmino named AFC Champions League Player of the Year. BBC Sport.
[6] Reuters. (2025). Al-Ahli secure $10 million winner's share from AFC Champions League title. Arab News.
The AFC Champions League title was won by Al-Ahli, such triumph happening at their King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, and this victory marked their second time reaching the top of this prestigious football tournament, following their runs as runners-up in 1986 and 2012. This year's Asian Champions League games were held in Jeddah, and the triumphant team included the likes of Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, and Riyad Mahrez who shared the joy of winning both the Asian football's prestigious title and the UEFA Champions League, making history by becoming the first players to achieve this rare double feat.
