Life comes at you fast, as Al Hilal's players and fans discovered this week.
The Saudi giants lost to Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League final second leg, and have bid farewell to the trophy they have won on four previous occasions.
The atmosphere in Saitama was spectacular, with fans putting on a show in a sea of more than 53,000 reds in the stands.
An own goal by Peruvian Andre Carillo determined the result, despite a quality performance from most of the Blues’ players.
Ramon Diaz's second attempt to win the most significant award in Asian club football failed, after the Argentine coach failed to beat the same side he lost to back in 2017.
The first leg ended 1-1, and the second in a 1-0 victory for the Japanese side.
Diaz's future in Riyadh is now uncertain, as coupled with this cup final disappointment, in the league Al Hilal are far from fighting for the title.
This loss has also ignited a vivid discussion on which players will continue with A-Za'im, with names such as Odion Ighalo, Gustavo Cuellar and Luciano Vietto already marked as potential departures from the team.
With those packing to leave, to one player (or more) that might arrive - Lionel Messi is constantly mentioned as a potential signing for Al Hilal next term.
While in Spain, France and Saudi Arabia, the reports and assumptions are that Messi’s rumoured move to Al Hilal is a "done deal". Argentinian sources, and those close to FC Barcelona, claim that the world champion won't decide his future until the season is over.
Messi has apologised to PSG for his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, that saw him suspended from the side, and returned to training at Camp des Loges.
By the end of next month, we will know whether Arab and Asian football will get a serious boost with the Argentina number 10 joining the biggest club on the continent.
Al Nassr and Ronaldo drop points
Meanwhile the title race is becoming clearer in the Saudi Pro League, where millions are waiting for Messi to arrive.
Cristiano Roanldo's Al Nassr must exploit opportunities to minimise the gap with league leaders Al Ittihad, something they have failed to do so far.
Despite Al Ittihad losing their previous game to Al Taawoon, Al Nassr only managed a 1-1 draw with Al Khaleej, with no goals from Ronaldo.
This paved the way for Itti to arrive calm to their clash with Abah, which ultimately ended in an easy 4-0 victory, with goals from Romarinho, Abderrazak Hamdallah and Mohammed Al Saiari.
This allowed Al Amid to expand their lead at the top to five points, with four games to go.
A first league title for Itti, after a 14 year dry spell, is now closer than ever.
And, at the same time, CR7's debut season in the Gulf is going far differently than planned.
Al Duhail win the Qatar Stars League, Maccabi Haifa close in in Israel
Al Duhail won its eighth Qatar Stars League title in Qatar, thanks to a 5-2 victory over Al Shamal, with Kenyan striker Michael Olunga scoring four goals.
With this victory, Al Duhail completed the Qatari treble, after winning the Qatar and League Cup earlier this year.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Al Duhail's coach, and legendary former striker, Hernan Crespo said "Argentines are lucky in here, it is where we won the World Cup… I am very happy in Qatar".
In Israel, the title race was nearly settled, after Maccabi Haifa managed to batter a Maccabi Tel Aviv side decimated by injuries.
Dolev Haziza snatched the equaliser following a horrific mistake by Derrick Lucassen, after Tel Aviv had grabbed the lead first via a goal by Gabi Kanichowsky.
But Dia Saba, the January addition that both clubs were competing for, made the difference with a brace - making the game 3-1.
At the same time, Hapoel Be'er Sheva got a 1-0 victory away in Ashdod, thanks to an early goal by Ramzi Safouri.
With two games to go, Haifa are four points clear in first place, but they are due to meet their nemesis, Hapoel Jerusalem, on the last matchday.
The Israeli Premier League is on its way to a fascinating finish line.
Asian Cup draw
This Thursday 11 May, Asia's top 24 teams will learn their draw for the Asian Cup, Qatar 2023.
All eyes will be on the Katara Opera House, Doha, for the ceremony, as the stage is set for Asia's flagship international tournament, which kicks off early next year.
The teams will be divided into four pots of six, per their latest FIFA ranking.
After that, the teams will be drawn into six groups of four.
To ensure that Qatar commences the tournament with the opening match, the hosts have been allocated the first position in Pot 1. The complete list is as follows:
Pot 1: Qatar, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Uzbekistan, China PR, Jordan
Pot 3: Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon
Pot 4: India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia
Qatar has been chosen as a replacement host, after China withdrew due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They will become the first country to host the continental showpiece for a third time.
Having staged the tournament in 1988 and 2011, the defending champions move ahead of Iran, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, who have twice served as hosts.
With Qatar having hosted last year’s World Cup, it also means that this will be the first Asian Cup to have matches played at World Cup venues.
It will be interesting to see how the host will play, after their World Cup trauma instigated the hiring of Carlos Queiroz as coach.
Qatar is bidding to become only the fifth team to win back-to-back Asian crowns after Iran, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, but that will be a challenging task.
Edited by Alex Smith
