Turkmen club “Arkadag” will play Saudi Arabia’s “Al-Nassr” in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two. This was determined by the draw held today at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). “Al-Nassr” features the famous Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo along with other world stars.

The winner of the two-legged tie between these teams will face the winner of the quarterfinal pairing “Al-Zawraa” (Iraq) – “Al-Wasl” (UAE). In the other quarterfinal of the West Zone, the winners of the ties “Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan” (Iran) – “Al-Ahli” (Qatar) and “Esteghlal” (Iran) – “Al-Hussein” (Jordan) will meet.

In the East Zone, the draw produced the following matchups: “Pohang Steelers” (Republic of Korea) – “Gamba Osaka” (Japan), “Ratchaburi” (Thailand) – “Persib Bandung” (Indonesia), “Bangkok United” (Thailand) – “Macarthur” (Australia), and “Công An Hà Nội” (Vietnam) – “Tampines Rovers” (Singapore).

The first matches of the round of 16 in the West Zone will be played on February 10–11, with the return matches on February 17–18. In the East Zone, the first matches will take place on February 11–12, and the return games on February 18–19.

The opponent of the Turkmenistan champion, Saudi club “Al-Nassr”, dominated Group D in the previous stage of the AFC Champions League Two, finishing first with a perfect record: six wins from six matches and an impressive goal difference of 22–2. “Arkadag”, with one win, four draws and one loss, finished second in Group B, scoring 5 goals and conceding 6 in six matches.

One of the greatest footballers of his generation, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been playing for “Al-Nassr” since 2023. By the time of the matches against “Arkadag”, he will be 41 years old. He is a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, the 2016 European champion, and the winner of the 2024/2025 UEFA Nations League with the Portugal national team. Ronaldo’s biography also includes numerous records and trophies: he is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and a four-time Golden Boot winner, the all-time leading goalscorer for his national team and in European club competitions. He is the only footballer to have won league titles in England, Spain, and Italy. In 2024, he became the first player in history to score more than 900 goals in official matches.

In addition to Cristiano Ronaldo, “Al-Nassr” features many other world-class stars. In attack, notable players include Ronaldo’s Portugal national team partner João Félix—a two-time UEFA Nations League winner, champion of Portugal and Spain, and winner of the 2024/2025 UEFA Europa Conference League—as well as Sadio Mané, winner of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and a two-time Austrian champion, as well as a champion of England and Germany.

In midfield, the team is led by Kingsley Coman—runner-up at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2016, winner of the 2021 UEFA Nations League with France, winner of the UEFA Champions League and the 2019/2020 FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich, a nine-time German champion, two-time French champion, and Italian champion in the 2014/2015 season—and Marcelo Brozović, runner-up at the 2018 World Cup, silver medalist of the 2023 UEFA Nations League, two-time Croatian champion, and Italian champion.

In defense, “Al-Nassr” is solidly anchored by Iñigo Martínez, European Under-21 champion and winner of the Spanish league title, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona.

Brazilian players also play an important role in the Saudi team, including goalkeeper Bento Krepski and outfield players Wesley Gassova and Gabriel Angelo.

The Saudi club “Al-Nassr” is coached by the well-known 71-year-old Portuguese specialist Jorge Jesus.

Commenting on the results of today’s draw, former chairman of FC “Arkadag” and current chairman of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, Guvanchmuhamet Ovekov, said that the three-time reigning national champions will try to defeat “Al-Nassr”.

“We are happy that ‘Al-Nassr’ will come to us. But we will try to win,” said Ovekov in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The first match between “Arkadag” and “Al-Nassr” will take place in Turkmenistan, with the return leg to be played in Saudi Arabia.