With both Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa booking their places in the AFC Champions League Two group stage, Indian football fans are daring to dream of witnessing
Cristiano Ronaldo in action on home soil. The draw, scheduled for August 15 in Kuala Lumpur, could potentially pit the Portuguese superstar’s Al Nassr against one of the Indian clubs.
FC Goa sealed their spot with a 2-1 victory over Oman’s Al Seeb in the final qualifying round. Dejan Drazic opened the scoring, and Javier Siverio added a second, while Ali Alrawahi pulled one back for the visitors. The triumph saw the Gaurs join Mohun Bagan SG — who had already qualified by winning the ISL Shield.
The qualification of both Indian teams increases the probability of Al Nassr travelling to India. Brison Fernandes of FC Goa, speaking before the match, admitted he would be thrilled to face his idol. “All of us wonder how great it would be to play against a player of Ronaldo’s stature. Personally, I’ve been a huge fan. To be on the same field as Ronaldo would be a dream,” he said to Times of India.
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Al Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, missed out on the elite AFC Champions League but will compete in the second-tier AFC Champions League Two. They are placed in Pot 1 alongside heavyweights like Sepahan, Al Wahda, and Al Wasl. Mohun Bagan SG occupy Pot 3, while FC Goa — having qualified via the preliminary stage — are in Pot 4. The group stage draw will determine whether Ronaldo’s side faces an Indian opponent.
However, the anticipation comes with a caveat. According to Saudi sports journalist Falah Al-Jedaani, Ronaldo and new Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus have agreed that the captain will miss around 25 percent of the team’s matches next season. This includes certain AFC Champions League Two fixtures, King’s Cup ties, and less crucial league games.
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The move is reportedly part of a broader strategy to preserve the 40-year-old’s fitness for key matches and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2023 from Manchester United and has been the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer for the past two seasons, remains central to both club and national team plans despite the reduced workload.
For now, Indian fans will wait anxiously for the draw to see if one of football’s all-time greats will grace the country’s pitches — though there is no guarantee he will play if Al Nassr do visit.
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