Magic Roberto Firmino wins award in BIZARRE circumstances

Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino was given an award this weekend. That’s despite the bizarre circumstances surrounding his season.

Al-Ahli made history on Saturday as they lifted the AFC Champions League for the very first time. They beat Japanese side Kawasaki in the final, running out 2-0 winners.

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They’re far from the first Saudi Pro League side to win the Champions League but this was a first for Al-Ahli. They’ve twice reached the final before (1986 and 2012) but failed to win on both occasions.

Of course, this win comes on the back of unprecedented spending in comparison to the rest of Asian football. Al-Ahli are one of the major sides of Saudi Arabia and have been backed by enormous funds over the last few years.

Their superstar team has now delivered the pinnacle of Asian football - and one superstar, in particular, gets the credit.

Roberto Firmino was named the 'AFC Champions League Elite Player of the Year’ after the final, as well as winning Man of the Match. The Brazilian assisted both goals in the win.

And it caps a magnificent campaign from the Liverpool legend. Firmino finished with six goals and seven assists across his 12 fixtures in the competition - including goals in both the quarter and semi finals - while his impact in the final was historic for his club.

But what’s most notable is how this has happened. No one saw this coming a few months ago.

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Roberto Firmino’s bizarre season

Rewind a few months and it appeared Firmino’s career in Saudi Arabia was finished. The Brazilian was so out of favour with Al-Ahli that he was removed from their squad for the Saudi Pro League back in January.

There’s a limit on foreign players in the league and their €50m signing of Galeno from Porto left them beyond that limit. The decision was to exile Firmino, essentially. He was dropped and re-registered from the squad, prompting all sorts of transfer speculation.

But despite not being able to feature in the league, Firmino has absolutely thrived in Asian football. The best in the competition, in fact.

Al-Ahli are 10 points off the pace in the league with five games to left. In other words, they’re not going to win the league.

But Firmino’s season is over regardless. He can’t play in the league, so the final five fixtures will be a break for him - and what a way to sign off.

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The 33-year-old has now lifted the major trophies in Europe and Asia. Maybe a return to South American football is in his future? Firmino has never actually played in the Brazilian top flight - this now feels like the perfect time to give it a go and chase more history.