Cristiano Ronaldo visits India for historic Asian Champions League match
The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to India to face FC Goa in an Asian Champions League Two match, an event described as “historic” in the country.
Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, with its stars, was drawn against the club from the Indian Super League (ISL) in Group D of Asia’s second-tier club competition, along with Istiklol of Tajikistan and Al-Zawraa of Iraq.
The top two from each of the eight groups advance to the second round.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa. Hosting Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo is possibly the biggest match in the history of Indian club football.
Ravi Puskur, CEO of FC Goa
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Ronaldo, 40 years old, still hasn’t won a major trophy since he signed for the Riyadh club in 2022. The team is expected to be in top form when the action begins in September.
Al Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Professional League last season, also boasts famous names such as former Liverpool player Sadio Mané and João Félix, the Portuguese forward who signed from Chelsea in July.Cristiano Ronaldo en su tercera temporada con el Al Nassr.“For Indian football, this is historic,” added Puskur. “We are here on merit, and a match like this gives us the opportunity to show that we can compete on the continental stage, being part of the most important narratives in the sport.”
Puskur is confident that the excitement will be felt throughout the country to give a much-needed boost to local football.
“It’s a unique opportunity to attract global attention to Indian football and, most importantly, an opportunity to spark greater interest in Indian football among fans across the country, giving the game the prominence it so badly needs,” he stated.
The draw takes place at a time of crisis for Indian domestic football. The 2025-26 ISL season was due to begin in September but has been suspended due to uncertainty over the renewal of an organizational agreement between the Indian federation and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Ltd., pending an order from the Supreme Court.
Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC, and Chennaiyin FC have suspended salaries or ceased football operations until a solution is found.
“While financial momentum is important, the bigger picture is the opportunity this creates for long-term growth,” said Puskur. “Global attention, sponsor interest, and fan engagement from a moment like this help strengthen the club’s foundations, allowing us to invest in the future.”
