Al Hilal lifted the trophy in 2019 after twice having to settle for runners-up finishes as they saw off some tough challengers from a decade that had seen nine different AFC Champions League winners.

The results can be viewed HERE but let's take a look at the nominees once again ahead of a new decade of the AFC Champions League kicking off on Monday.

Al Hilal, with six Continental titles in their trophy cabinet, were already the most successful club in Asia but the Saudi Arabian club had to wait 17 years for their seventh crown.

Al Hilal's first taste of Continental glory - having finished runners-up in 1986 and 1987 - came in 1991 when they won the Asian Club Championship.

The players from Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia will have the chance to emboss their name on the proud history of the AFC Champions League, joining a list of legends who wowed the Continent.

Ahead of the first leg clash at King Saud University Stadium, we look back at five of those who seized their moment in the spotlight and ensured they would become AFC Champions League Final icons.

As the clock ticks down towards the highly anticipated re-match, the-AFC.com looks back at the 2017 clash, which saw the two teams competing in the final for the second time.

In 16 previous finals, history shows that the team that loses the first leg tends not to be crowned champions. Only Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad have managed the feat and that was back in 2004.

That does not, however, mean there haven’t been some classic encounters over the years and the-AFC.com has picked out five to whet your appetite ahead of Sunday’s game at Saitama Stadium.

The Austrian forward will be tasked helping fire the Chinese Super League side to their first AFC Champions League title and, if he can do so, he would join a list of players who have gone on to lift the coveted trophy.

Despite Saeed Juma’s second-half strike ultimately deciding the tie, Al Ain dominated against the Uzbekistan club at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.