After 14 league goals in half a season since joining Al Nassr in January, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has started the new campaign by leading the Riyadh side to the Arab Club Championship title, winning the tournament’s top scorer award. The UEFA Champions League all-time top scorer is one match away from his debut in Asia’s top club competition.

Shanghai Port’s all-time top-scorer Wu Lei returned to the club last year after a three-and-a-half-year spell in Spain with RCD Espanyol, having previously starred in the AFC Champions League as part of a star-studded squad from 2016 to 2018. Chinese football’s poster boy is enjoying a fine season with his 14 goals and 10 assists helping Shanghai Port take a commanding lead at the top of the Chinese Super League.

Back in Al Arabi colours on a permanent deal having scored 19 goals in the Qatar Stars League while on loan from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli last season, Al Soma will be eager to fire his side into the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012 and add to his impressive scoring record in the competition, having registered 23 goals in 33 previous matches across six AFC Champions League campaigns.

A fan favourite at Incheon United, Mugosa is back at the club after an unssuccessful one-year spell with Vissel Kobe, and he'll now aim to fire the K League 1 side into the AFC Champions League group stage for the very first time. The 31-year-old Montenegrin has warmed up perfectly for the playoff match against Vietnam’s Haiphong after scoring his first goal since his return in a 3-1 victory against Daegu FC last week.

Chanathip is back in his native Thailand after spending six years in the J1 League, following a stunning coup from BG Pathum United. 'Messi Jay', as he's affectionately known, is no stranger to the continental stage having scored his first AFC Champions League goal back in 2017 for Muangthong United. He will now set his sights on helping last season’s quarter-finalists return to the competition proper. 

Since his arrival at Sharjah Stadium last summer, Pjanic has been a key component of head coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s side that has won the President’s Cup and League Cup double. The former FC Barcelona, AS Roma and Juventus midfielder scored four goals and assisted four more in 18 UAE Pro League matches last season.

The 2016 AFC U-23 Championship Most Valuable Player was once regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Asia, moving to Portugal in 2017 and turning out for Portuguese giants FC Porto and Portimonense as well as having spells in Qatar, the UAE and Turkey. Back in Japan, 28-year-old Nakajima will look to become a key figure for AFC Champions League holders Urawa Red Diamonds.