There’s more to Saudi Arabian football than Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al Nassr move
Much has been written and talked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia. So I have been thinking for a while whether I should add my two cents – another 1,000 words of text – to the array of content, published online and on print, on the Portuguese superstar and his contentious transfer to Al Nassr FC.
Then on Thursday, just as I was contemplating what to submit before the deadline for the sports writing assignment at my university here in London, I was reminded why it was indeed a story worth writing – by none other than Al Nassr’s biggest rivals Al Hilal SFC who defeated Iran’s Foolad Khuzestan 1-0 some 3,000 miles away in Qatar.
They will now face Qatari giants Al Duhai SC in the semifinals of the AFC Champions League on Sunday and if they emerge winners in that game which they are favourites going into, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds stand between them and back-to-back continental titles in a two-legged final in two months’ time.
Back to the point, Ronaldo’s star power has instantly propelled the Saudi Pro League (SPL) as the most popular of the Asian leagues with matches now relayed to around 130 countries in the world. Here in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports began live streaming SPL games on its YouTube channel — something other Asian leagues can only dream of.
But signs are that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend’s arrival in the Middle East could only be the beginning of what could be a decade filled with excitement, hope and controversies for football in Saudi Arabia where sports is a vital cog in the Vision 2030 project that looks to rebrand the country.
Al Hilal still the team to beat despite big-spending Al Nassr
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Despite all the spotlight on Al Nassr in recent months, it is their crosstown rivals Al Hilal who continue to fly the Saudi Arabian flag in the world stage as the most successful club in the continent with four AFC Champions League titles in their trophy cabinet and looking on course to add another this season.
Al Hilal, managed by Argentine tactician Ramon Diaz, created a major upset when they defeated South American champions Flamengo 3-2 to reach the final of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup where they scored three past Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
It is said that a supremely-confident Flamengo picked Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira at the start of the year to manage them, specifically to better prepare them for their clash with Real in the final of the Club World Cup, a competition much loved in South America, unlike in these parts of the world.
But the Riyadh-based outfit had other plans. Saudi Arabia international Salem Al-Dawsari scored twice from the spot before Argentine attacker Luciano Vietto sealed Al Hilal’s victory over the Brazilian side featuring former Chelsea stars David Luiz and Filipe Luis, Arturo Vidal, Gabigol and Guillermo Varela.
Expectations were not too high heading into the decider, but Vietto scored twice and Moussa Marega was also on target against the European champions as Al Hilal settled for runner-up medals. But history was already made as they became only the third Asian club to make the final after Kashima Antlers in 2016 and Al Ain FC in 2018.
These feats are made all the more impressive because they come at a time when the club are operating under a multi-window transfer ban. In fact, Ronaldo was reportedly set to move to domestic champions Al Hilal for a £2 million-a-week deal which was thwarted by the punishment.
Al Hilal, once their ban ends, and other teams will look to add more star names to a league that has suddenly become a lot more attractive. There are already talks of Wilfried Zaha leaving the Premier League to link up with Ronaldo. And what are the chances of Lionel Messi following in the footsteps of his great rival? Possibilities are endless for SPL!
Green Falcons set to soar as 2030 World Cup beckons
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Before Al Hilal stunned a South American side at the Club World Cup, Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia national team sent shockwaves across the globe with that famous 2-1 win over eventual world champions Argentina in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener in Lusail back in November.
Though they somehow managed to crash out with defeats to Poland and Mexico – hampered by injuries to key stars – there is still good news for the Green Falcons as they have a decent amount of talent coming through while a majority of the 2022 squad will still be around for the next World Cup in three years and three months’ time.
But before that they will have the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar to stamp their authority in Asia. The usual suspects – Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia – will be gunning for the title, but the Saudis have a point to prove as the second-most successful team with three titles, but their last having come way back in 1996.
They have not progressed past the Round of 16 since finishing runners-up in 2007, but Renard’s players will have the belief of mounting a title challenge later this year – just like Felix Sanchez’s Qatar stormed to the continental title in the last edition held in the United Arab Emirates.
And what of the 2030 World Cup? The tournament could be heading to Asia for the second time in eight years as Saudi Arabia look to launch a bid, reportedly, with Egypt and Greece as co-hosts. The move, coming on the back of a much-scrutinised one in Qatar, is already in the news for all the wrong seasons.
So, while things look up on the playing field, the country, for starters, has a much more alarming human rights record than neighbours Qatar and led by a controversial leader in Mohammed bin Salman, will have plenty to answer off it, especially if their World Cup bid turns successful.
