The UEFA Champions League ushers in a new season with an expanded format, welcoming more clubs and players to Europe's grandest stage.
Among the international superstars, several Middle Eastern players bring their own compelling narratives to the competition.
Here are four players to watch this season:
The biggest Middle Eastern talent in the UEFA Champions League this season. Mohamed Salah (Photo courtesy: Mohamed Salah official X account)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
It's impossible to compile such a list without mentioning one of the competition's finest players. Salah stands as the all-time Middle Eastern Champions League top scorer with 44 goals, just five shy of breaking into the tournament's top 10 all-time scorers.
But there's more to the story. Liverpool's talisman embarks on a new era with his team, as Arne Slot takes the managerial reins after Jurgen Klopp's long tenure. While Klopp led Liverpool to the title in 2019 and two more finals, Slot aims to craft another glorious chapter for the club that has claimed this trophy five times.
For Salah, each season brings whispers of a potential swan song in Europe before a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia. Could this be his golden opportunity to secure another European silverware?
Mehdi Taremi (Iran / Inter)
The new Inter Milan signing is no stranger to the Champions League. He enjoyed four impressive campaigns with Porto, including a quarter-final appearance in 2021 and two runs to the round of 16.
With 10 goals in 26 Champions League matches, Taremi faces a fresh challenge at the Italian powerhouse. He aspires to follow in the footsteps of Ali Daei, the only Iranian player to reach the Champions League semi-finals. Daei was part of the Bayern Munich squad that reached the 1999 final, though he didn't feature in the legendary clash against Manchester United.
Taremi now treads a delicate line, having spoken out against the regime during the last international break. Nevertheless, his status as Iran's premier footballer remains undisputed. Will this be his moment to truly shine on the European stage?
Arda Güler (Türkiye / Real Madrid)
A year ago, many doubted the Turkish prodigy signed by Europe's most decorated club. Arda Güler missed significant portions of last season due to injury, but recent months have silenced the skeptics.
Güler closed out last season with an impressive tally of 6 goals in 10 league matches. Carrying that momentum forward, he emerged as a pivotal figure in Turkey's Euro 2024 campaign, helping the team reach the quarter-finals.
With no Turkish clubs in the group stage this season, Güler will be the focal point for fans in his homeland and beyond. His remarkable talent has already been glimpsed; now it's time to showcase it in the Champions League as part of the European champions.
Oscar Gloukh (Israel / Red Bull Salzburg)
Israel is reveling in the success of its young generation, with Oscar Gloukh at the forefront. Over the past three summers, he has featured in the U-19 Euro finals, the U-21 Euro semi-finals, and the 2024 Olympic Games. Concurrently, he has become increasingly influential at Salzburg, one of Europe's premier talent incubators.
Although Salzburg exited in the group stage last season, Gloukh still managed to notch his first two Champions League goals, finding the net against Benfica and Inter. This season has begun spectacularly, with Gloukh scoring or assisting in every league game.
This could be his swan song for Salzburg, as top clubs' scouts have already taken notice. How impressive will his season be before the next chapter of his career unfolds?
AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 begins with 32 teams from 23 nations. New format features home-and-away group matches from Sept to Dec.