Mahrez ranks AFC Champions League title alongside Premier League, UCL honours

Al-Ahli prima Riyad Mahrez hailed his side’s accomplishment aft they bushed Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 to triumph the AFC Champions League Elite connected Saturday.

The Saudi Arabian broadside became the 25th antithetic squad to triumph the competition, and did truthful by not allowing their absorption a azygous changeable connected people successful the final.

Goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie got the occupation done for Al-Ahli.

And Mahrez, who signed for Al-Ahli from Manchester City successful 2023, ranks this rubric arsenic being close up determination with his Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations successes.

“It’s different,” Mahrez said.

“There was the rubric with Leicester, [the 2019 African Cup of Nations] with Algeria, with City. I deliberation each person a antithetic taste, a antithetic emotion. I cannot accidental I similar 1 oregon the other.

“I deliberation this is arsenic bully arsenic each the titles I have. It’s a antithetic competition, a antithetic continent, this is new.

“Last twelvemonth erstwhile I came present and we didn’t triumph thing I was truly upset, and this twelvemonth I truly wanted to marque a basal and triumph thing with this club, these players, the board, the manager and the radical down him.

“We’re truthful blessed and we person to bask it now.”

The triumph makes Al-Ahli the 3rd Saudi nine to person won the contention aft Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.

History is written: ASIA IS OURS

WE ARE THE UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS OF THE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE#AHLvKWF #ACLEliteFinal #ملوك_آسيا pic.twitter.com/vP8FVKehM5

— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) May 3, 2025

“Throughout the contention we played truthful well,” said Mahrez.

“We didn’t suffer 1 game, we played against galore teams whether it was large teams, games distant oregon home. We ever played well.

“The radical signifier was not easy. We managed the radical and aft the semi-final we showed to everyone that we are the champion team.

“Even against Al-Hilal, who are a precise bully team, we showed to everyone we tin bushed anyone and I deliberation we merit it.

“I’m the first, erstwhile a squad deserves something, to assistance my manus to accidental congrats to them, and contiguous it’s our turn.”