Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. will play in India next year as his side Al-Hilal is in the same group as Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League.
AFC Champions League is the highest tier of Asian club competitions where top teams from all over Asia play each other.
After the recent rise of the Saudi Pro League, some of the biggest footballers in Europe went to the Middle East to enjoy the latter part of their careers.
Along with Neymar, some big names like Ruben Neves, Sergie Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Bounou and some others will travel to India to play their group game against the Indian side.
Al-Hilal is in group D with Mumbai City FC, Uzbekistan’s Navbahor and Iran’s FC Nassaji Mazandaran.
Some of the biggest stars who wrote history in Europe will now be playing in Asian countries which will be massive as the presence of players like Neymar and others will help in promoting the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr was drawn in Group E with Iran’s Persepolis FC, Al Duhail SC and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol.
The AFC Champions League 2023-24 group stages will start on September 18.
Asian Champions League Group Stage Draw:
Group A: Pakhtakor (UZB), Al-Fayha (KSA), Ahal FC (TKM), Al-Ain (UAE)
Group B: Al-Sadd (QAT), FC Nasaf (UZB), Al-Faisaly (JOR), Sharjah FC (UAE)
Group C: Al-Ittihad (KSA), Sepahan (IRN), Air Force Club (IRQ), AGMK FC (UZB)
Group D: Al-Hilal (KSA), FC Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN), Mumbai City (IND), Navbahor (UZB)
Group E: Persepolis (IRN), Al-Duhail (QAT), FC Istiklol (TJK), Al-Nassr (KSA)
Group F: Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Bangkok United (THA), Lion City Sailors (SIN), Kitchee (HKG)
Group G: Yokohama F Marinos (JPN), Shandong Taishan (CHN), Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Incheon United (KOR)
Group H: Buriram United (THA), Ventforet Kofu (JPN), Melbourne City (AUS), Zhejiang FC (CHN)
Group I: Ulsan Hyundai (KOR), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS), BG Pathum United (THA)
Group J: Wuhan Three Towns (CHN), Pohang Steelers (KOR), Hanoi FC (VIE), Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)