Edouard Mendy is poised to make history this Saturday as he leads Al-Ahli into the AFC Champions League final against Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah.
Two years after swapping European football for the Saudi Pro League, the Senegalese international now stands one match away from adding a major Asian title to his already illustrious career.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who played a crucial role in Chelsea’s 2021 UEFA Champions League triumph, could join an exclusive group of players to have conquered both Europe and Asia’s top club competitions.
Since arriving in Saudi Arabia, Mendy has firmly established himself as one of the standout performers in the league. This season, he has recorded 12 clean sheets and conceded only 20 goals across 24 matches, underlining his consistency and reliability between the posts for Al-Ahli.
His efforts have been central to the club’s journey through the continental competition and their triumph over Saudi rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in the semi-finals.
For Mendy, this final marks a major milestone since his move from Europe, where he previously starred for Stade de Reims and Stade Rennais before his breakthrough at Chelsea.
Saturday’s match will be his first major final in an Al-Ahli shirt, a moment he will look to crown by lifting the most prestigious trophy in Asian club football.
The Senegalese shot-stopper is not the only player in Al-Ahli’s ranks with a taste of European success. He shares the dressing room with Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez and Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino, both of whom have lifted the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively.
However, neither Mahrez nor Firmino has managed to steer their Saudi sides to the AFC final, making Mendy’s achievement all the more significant.
In contrast to Mahrez’s Al-Ahli and Firmino’s Al-Nassr, Mendy’s performances in goal have been instrumental to his team’s success on the continental stage.
His leadership and composure have provided a solid foundation for Al-Ahli throughout the campaign.
Mendy’s potential dual continental triumph—adding an AFC Champions League to his UEFA title—would mark another high point in a career that has defied expectations. From rising through the lower leagues in France to being named UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021, his story is one of resilience and extraordinary progression.
Victory on Saturday would also cement his place among the most decorated African players of his generation.
Alongside his Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Africa Cup of Nations titles, the AFC crown would add further sheen to a résumé already glittering with silverware.
Now, as Al-Ahli prepare to take on Kawasaki Frontale, all eyes will be on the experienced Senegalese goalkeeper.
One more heroic performance could see him carve his name into a unique chapter of football history—joining the rarefied ranks of those who have conquered both hemispheres of club football.
