Someone call Shirley Bassey, we have some big spenders in the building.
Yes, even within the flush context of football in Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal are high rollers, responsible for four of the seven highest transfer fees ever paid by clubs from their country. Neymar alone cost an eye-watering €90million (£78m; $102.5m) in 2023.
Advertisement
Their willingness to splash the cash is such that writing this team guide slightly ahead of time feels like a risky exercise. Al Hilal have already put in a colossal offer for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes this month — which he turned down.
Take the following, then, with a pinch of salt, because the squad could have a slightly different look to it when the Club World Cup begins. That Public Investment Fund won’t spend itself…
Follow the Club World Cup on The Athletic this summer…
How good are they?
Al Hilal are the most successful club in the history of Saudi football, with 19 league titles to their name. They have also been a major force at continental level, winning the AFC Champions League on four occasions — more than any other team in Asia.
The 2024-25 season was a slight let-down, however. Al Hilal finished second to Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League and were knocked out of the AFC Champions League by Al Ahli at the semi-final stage. To most Saudi clubs, that would still look like a decent season, but standards at Al Hilal are higher than they are elsewhere.
How did they get here?
As winners of the 2021 AFC Champions League.
Al Hilal won the AFC Champions League in 2021 (AFP/Getty Images)
It is worth noting, too, that Al Hilal have some history with the Club World Cup in its old format: they participated in 2019, 2021 and 2022, and even reached the final in that final year thanks to a semi-final win over Brazilian giants Flamengo.
What’s their style of play/how are they likely to line up?
Al Hilal are under new big-name management: Simone Inzaghi, twice a UEFA Champions League finalist with Inter, including last month, was appointed at the start of June. That makes it hard to be too certain about how the team will line-up, not least because the squad does not look ideally suited to the Italian’s favoured 3-5-2 system.
The smart move would probably be to build on the work of his predecessor, Jorge Jesus, whose attacking brand of football brought the best from wingers Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari in particular.
Al Hilal probable line-up (4-3-3): Bounou; Cancelo, Al-Bulaihi, Koulibaly, Lodi; Kanno, Neves, Milinkovic-Savic; Malcom, Marcos Leonardo, Al-Dawsari
Tell us about the coach…
To the short-sighted, Inter’s capitulation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in Munich probably looked like a damning indictment of Inzaghi’s ability as a manager. Really, though, it highlighted just how well he had done to get an ageing squad so far in the competition.
Inzaghi may not quite be on the level of the superstar coaches, but he is a canny tactician and, at 49, still has a lot of runway ahead of him. His arrival is undoubtedly a major coup for Al Hilal and Saudi football.
Who is their star player?
To call Al-Dawsari a fan favourite would be to undersell things. Al Hilal’s captain is the embodiment of the club, a link between the past and the future. He has now been there for 14 seasons, with only a very brief — and forgettable — loan spell at Villarreal in the middle. His experience sets the tone both on and off the field.
Salem Al-Dawsari (Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Crucially, he has also improved with age. Al-Dawsari will be 34 in August, but the 2024-25 season was arguably his best yet: he scored 15 goals and set up 15 more in the Saudi Pro League, a remarkable return. If Al Hilal do spring a surprise in the U.S., expect the winger to play a key role.
And their rising star?
A couple of years ago, Marcos Leonardo was seen as one of the rising stars of Brazilian football. A product of the Santos youth system, he racked up 50 senior goals before his 21st birthday, starred for his country at the Under-20 World Cup, and earned a transfer to Benfica.
It didn’t really work out for him in Portugal, but he has looked a lot more like his old self since joining Al Hilal last summer. He managed 25 goals in all competitions in 2024-25 — a decent tally whichever way you cut it, but especially impressive because he was sharing game time with former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
What is their best chant?
Al Hilal are known for roping pop stars in to create new songs about the team and its fans. Syrian singer Assala released one in 2020, which included lyrics such as “Your place is the summit” and “Your attention is on the sky above”.
Another, sung by Saudi artist Ayed, was a little more down-to-earth in its content. “Play Al Hilal, your fans are behind you,” it went. “The stadium shook for you tonight. Al Hilal, you won the league with heroism and action. Your love has been passed down from generation to generation, and every day that love grows stronger.”
Who are their biggest rivals back home?
The Riyadh derby against Al Nassr tends to be the match upon which fans place most importance. Al Hilal’s 5-1 win over their neighbours in 2017 is still seen as one of the club’s most memorable results, although there have been a few more big wins in the years since.
Al Hilal beat Al Nassr in the Saudi Super Cup last year (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
There is also a slightly more collegiate rivalry with Al Ittihad, who have provided the stiffest challenge to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League in recent decades.
Tell us something weird and/or wonderful about the club
Al Hilal have had no fewer than 19 Brazilian coaches over the years, many of whom went back for multiple spells. The roll call includes some big names, too, such as Mario Zagallo and Toninho Cerezo. Incredibly, there was a run of nine Brazilians in a row between November 1988 and June 1996.
Why should a neutral fan root for them?
It would be nice to see Inzaghi stick it to his critics. Premier League fans can enjoy the sight of Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo. And — let’s cut to the chase here — there’s every chance they sign an ageing European superstar for €140million about two hours after I type this final sentence.
Who are they playing?
(All kick-offs ET/BST)
- June 18 — Real Madrid, 3pm/8pm
- June 22 — Red Bull Salzburg, 6pm/11pm
- June 26 — Pachuca, 9pm/2am (June 27)
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Kelsea Petersen)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Mavericks’ Dereck Lively will miss rest of season after foot surgery
Lively played in just seven games this season while dealing with persistent right foot issues Stacy Revere / Getty ImagesThird-year Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot, the team announced Wednesday.Lively, a 2023 lottery pick, has been injury-prone since a promising rookie season in 2023-24. The 21-year-old played in just seven games this season while dealing with persistent right foot issues. He missed 36 straight games last season with what the team called a stress fracture in his right ankle, then underwent surgery over the summer to remove bone spurs in his right foot. He had been sidelined since late November with “right foot injury management.”In his seven games (four starts), he averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are 9-16.This story will be updated.
Em alta, lateral-direito do Vasco recebe sondagens do exterior
Paulo Henrique em jogo do Vasco no Brasileirão contra o São Paulo (Crédito: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O lateral-direito Paulo Henrique, um dos grandes destaques do Vasco na temporada 2025, vive o melhor momento da carreira. Eleito melhor lateral do Campeonato Brasileiro na premiação oficial da CBF e convocado por Carlo Ancelotti para a Seleção Brasileira, o jogador de 29 anos entrou de vez no radar do mercado internacional. Clubes da Alemanha, Itália e Arábia Saudita já sondaram a situação do atleta e procuraram seu staff, embora nenhuma proposta oficial tenha sido apresentada ao Cruz-Maltino até o momento. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAos 29 anos, PH entende que esta pode ser a última oportunidade de atuar no futebol europeu, sonho antigo desde o início da carreira. No entanto, o Vasco não pretende facilitar uma transferência. Com contrato válido até 31 de dezembro de 2027, o […]
Bahia vende Tiago e acerta a terceira maior venda da história
Tiago pelo Bahia. Foto: Luiz Erbes/AGIFO Bahia está próximo de confirmar sua primeira venda após o fim da temporada e o protagonista da vez é o atacante Tiago, de 20 anos. A transferência do jovem para o Orlando City, dos Estados Unidos, está encaminhada e foi inicialmente revelada por Marinho Junior e pelo ge, sendo posteriormente confirmada por veículos esportivos nacionais. A negociação representa mais um movimento importante do Bahia no mercado e pode colocar Tiago entre as maiores vendas já realizadas pelo clube. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADESegundo as informações publicadas no Lance, o acordo gira em torno de seis milhões de euros, algo próximo de 38 milhões de reais na cotação atual. Além disso, o Bahia seguirá com 25 por cento dos direitos econômicos de Tiago, que recentemente havia renovado contrato até dezembro de 2027.A evolução rápida e o impacto de […]
Com Léo Ortiz de titular, Flamengo divulga a escalação para a estreia na Copa Intercontinental
Léo Ortiz será titular nesta quarta contra o Cruz Azul (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)O Flamengo estreia na Copa Intercontinental de 2025 diante do Cruz Azul, do México, nesta quarta-feira, às 14h (de Brasília), no estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, no Catar. Para este importante duelo, Filipe Luís terá quase que força máxima para tentar chegar às semifinais. A grande novidade no time é a volta do zagueiro Léo Ortiz, que ficou fora dos confrontos decisivos do time na Copa Libertadores da América e no Brasileirão. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEO zagueiro pega o lugar de Danilo, herói do time na competição continental e que foi o titular nas partidas das quais Léo ficou de fora. Agora, o jogador da Seleção Brasileira fica como opção para o segundo tempo. Outro destaque é a falta de Pedro. O centroavante ainda não está recuperado de uma […]
2025-26 College football bowl schedule, odds, picks: Best bets on every college football bowl game
The 2025-26 college football bowl schedule has now been completed, including the matchups for Round 1 of the College Football Playoff. With 36 bowls (and the CFP) to wager on, there are plenty of betting opportunities during bowl season, which begins this Saturday, Dec. 13.One bettor at BetMGM already had a not-so-merry start to the holiday season, losing $615,000 on three college football futures wagers when Texas, Penn State and Clemson all missed the CFP.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite losing 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game, Ohio State remains the +225 favorite to win the CFP at sportsbooks, followed by Indiana (+275) and Georgia (+500).Where are the betting opportunities in college football bowl season over the next few weeks?Our college football handicapping trio of Corbie Craig, Ed Feng, Matt Russell will provide a best bet on every game below.It's important to […]
Shohei Ohtani ex-translator gambling scandal being developed for TV drama
A television drama about the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is in development by Starz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The show will tell “the inside story of Shohei Ohtani’s translator Ippei Mizuhara, who journeys from unemployed drifter to international icon only to find himself tangled in a gambling scandal that rocked the sports world.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt will also touch on the relationship between Mizuhara and Ohtani, which dates back to Ohtani's rookie season with Japan's Nippon-Ham Fighters when he was 18 years old.In June, Mizuhara began serving a 57-month prison sentence for stealing nearly $17 million to pay off gambling debts while employed by Ohtani. Mizuhara, 40, was charged with bank fraud and tax fraud, for which he faced up to 33 years in prison.The $17 million is the sum Mizuhara was ordered to pay Ohtani in restitution […]
Related
Mavericks’ Dereck Lively will miss rest of season after foot surgery
Lively played in just seven games this season while dealing with persistent right foot issues Stacy Revere / Getty ImagesThird-year Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot, the team announced Wednesday.Lively, a 2023 lottery pick, has been injury-prone since a promising rookie season in 2023-24. The 21-year-old played in just seven games this season while dealing with persistent right foot issues. He missed 36 straight games last season with what the team called a stress fracture in his right ankle, then underwent surgery over the summer to remove bone spurs in his right foot. He had been sidelined since late November with “right foot injury management.”In his seven games (four starts), he averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are 9-16.This story will be updated.
Em alta, lateral-direito do Vasco recebe sondagens do exterior
Paulo Henrique em jogo do Vasco no Brasileirão contra o São Paulo (Crédito: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)O lateral-direito Paulo Henrique, um dos grandes destaques do Vasco na temporada 2025, vive o melhor momento da carreira. Eleito melhor lateral do Campeonato Brasileiro na premiação oficial da CBF e convocado por Carlo Ancelotti para a Seleção Brasileira, o jogador de 29 anos entrou de vez no radar do mercado internacional. Clubes da Alemanha, Itália e Arábia Saudita já sondaram a situação do atleta e procuraram seu staff, embora nenhuma proposta oficial tenha sido apresentada ao Cruz-Maltino até o momento. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAos 29 anos, PH entende que esta pode ser a última oportunidade de atuar no futebol europeu, sonho antigo desde o início da carreira. No entanto, o Vasco não pretende facilitar uma transferência. Com contrato válido até 31 de dezembro de 2027, o […]
Bahia vende Tiago e acerta a terceira maior venda da história
Tiago pelo Bahia. Foto: Luiz Erbes/AGIFO Bahia está próximo de confirmar sua primeira venda após o fim da temporada e o protagonista da vez é o atacante Tiago, de 20 anos. A transferência do jovem para o Orlando City, dos Estados Unidos, está encaminhada e foi inicialmente revelada por Marinho Junior e pelo ge, sendo posteriormente confirmada por veículos esportivos nacionais. A negociação representa mais um movimento importante do Bahia no mercado e pode colocar Tiago entre as maiores vendas já realizadas pelo clube. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADESegundo as informações publicadas no Lance, o acordo gira em torno de seis milhões de euros, algo próximo de 38 milhões de reais na cotação atual. Além disso, o Bahia seguirá com 25 por cento dos direitos econômicos de Tiago, que recentemente havia renovado contrato até dezembro de 2027.A evolução rápida e o impacto de […]
Com Léo Ortiz de titular, Flamengo divulga a escalação para a estreia na Copa Intercontinental
Léo Ortiz será titular nesta quarta contra o Cruz Azul (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)O Flamengo estreia na Copa Intercontinental de 2025 diante do Cruz Azul, do México, nesta quarta-feira, às 14h (de Brasília), no estádio Ahmad bin Ali, em Doha, no Catar. Para este importante duelo, Filipe Luís terá quase que força máxima para tentar chegar às semifinais. A grande novidade no time é a volta do zagueiro Léo Ortiz, que ficou fora dos confrontos decisivos do time na Copa Libertadores da América e no Brasileirão. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEO zagueiro pega o lugar de Danilo, herói do time na competição continental e que foi o titular nas partidas das quais Léo ficou de fora. Agora, o jogador da Seleção Brasileira fica como opção para o segundo tempo. Outro destaque é a falta de Pedro. O centroavante ainda não está recuperado de uma […]
2025-26 College football bowl schedule, odds, picks: Best bets on every college football bowl game
The 2025-26 college football bowl schedule has now been completed, including the matchups for Round 1 of the College Football Playoff. With 36 bowls (and the CFP) to wager on, there are plenty of betting opportunities during bowl season, which begins this Saturday, Dec. 13.One bettor at BetMGM already had a not-so-merry start to the holiday season, losing $615,000 on three college football futures wagers when Texas, Penn State and Clemson all missed the CFP.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite losing 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game, Ohio State remains the +225 favorite to win the CFP at sportsbooks, followed by Indiana (+275) and Georgia (+500).Where are the betting opportunities in college football bowl season over the next few weeks?Our college football handicapping trio of Corbie Craig, Ed Feng, Matt Russell will provide a best bet on every game below.It's important to […]
Shohei Ohtani ex-translator gambling scandal being developed for TV drama
A television drama about the gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is in development by Starz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The show will tell “the inside story of Shohei Ohtani’s translator Ippei Mizuhara, who journeys from unemployed drifter to international icon only to find himself tangled in a gambling scandal that rocked the sports world.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt will also touch on the relationship between Mizuhara and Ohtani, which dates back to Ohtani's rookie season with Japan's Nippon-Ham Fighters when he was 18 years old.In June, Mizuhara began serving a 57-month prison sentence for stealing nearly $17 million to pay off gambling debts while employed by Ohtani. Mizuhara, 40, was charged with bank fraud and tax fraud, for which he faced up to 33 years in prison.The $17 million is the sum Mizuhara was ordered to pay Ohtani in restitution […]
Be the first to leave a comment