Riyadh Mahrez and Roberto Firmino on brink of history as first players to win Uefa and AFC Champions Leagues

Asia will crown first-time winners of its elite AFC Champions League competition on Saturday when Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli take on Japan's Kawasaki Frontale. With the final rounds of this season's competition all being played in Jeddah, Al Ahli can expect a significant home advantage, roared on by thousands of screaming fans at their King Abdullah Sports City stadium. While the expected final between Al Hilal and Al Nassr never materialised, it will nonetheless be a showpiece occasion where history is made. And it might not be the only piece written. Of those lining up to play Saturday's final, two Al Ahli players also stand on the brink of writing their own names into football lore. Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez could become the first players to win both the European and Asian versions of the Champions League. Firmino, who set Ahli on their way to a 3-0 victory over Al Hilal in their semi-final win in midweek, collected a Uefa Champions League medal as part of Liverpool's team that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the 2019 European Cup final. As part of a star-studded front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Firmino was the focal point for Jurgen Klopp's attack-minded side that also win the Premier League title a year later. After eight trophy-filled years at Anfield in which his 82 Premier League goals marked him down as the highest scoring Brazilian in the division's history, Firmino joined Al Ahli on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, signing a three-year contract. Mahrez, meanwhile, was part of Manchester City's all-conquering squad of 2023 when Pep Guardiola's side beat Inter Milan 1-0 in the Uefa Champions League final. City would also win the Premier League and FA Cup that season to complete the treble. The Algerian winger, who was an integral part to Leicester City's fairytale title triumph in 2016, also joined Jeddah giants Al Ahli in 2023 for a transfer fee of £30 million.

Riyadh Mahrez and Roberto Firmino on brink of history as first players to win Uefa and AFC Champions Leagues

Al Ahli duo have already won European Cup with Manchester City and Liverpool respectively and will line up to take on Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday's Asian final in Jeddah