Saudi Arabia's professional league has an elite roster of big stars, but melbet.com/tr 's exclusive investigation reveals the complex web of power, politics and money behind this inner circle.
At 9pm in Jeddah, the Al-Ettifaq dressing room is buzzing with activity. Henderson hangs his green jersey on a hanger in front of the entrance, next to his red captain's armband. Now let's look at which records and highlights stand out to fans and supporters.
1. Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo Broke the Record for Most Headed Goals in Football History
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to break records in Saudi Arabia. 38-year-old Ronaldo scored his 145th headed goal for Al Nassr against US Monastir in the Arab Club Champions Cup held at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. With this goal, he surpassed German legend Gerd Muller, who previously held this record with 144 headed goals throughout his career.
Ronaldo set an unprecedented record in the Saudi Pro League when he helped his team to a crucial 3-0 win over Al Akhdoud at the King Abdullah Sports City on Tuesday evening, scoring twice to move one point behind league leaders Al Ittihad. helped them rise to second place.
Ronaldo's success in Saudi Arabia, where the top-flight domestic league is state-sponsored, demonstrates the country's efforts to become an international force in football. To achieve this goal, it established the Center of Excellence in Player Acquisition, which attracts top foreign players with high salaries while encouraging young Saudi talent.
Strategy zamIt will bear fruit in no time. Aiming to secure high-profile players with large social media followings could help promote and grow the SPL globally while also expanding its audience, according to a source close to the league.
2. Al Hazm's Allan Saint-Maximin Sets the Record for Most Goals in a Single Season
Only 3 spectators watched Al Hazm's last match against Al Ittihad in the top division of the Saudi Pro League, which they lost 1-696, which is a shame when compared to European leagues such as the French Ligue 1, the Italian Serie A or the English Premier League. extremely low. To ensure the continued interest of the local community and to attract big stars such as Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Georginio Wijnaldum back to the field for Al Hazm and Al Ittihad players!
Al Ahli and Al Hazm meet for the opening match of the season in Jeddah, a city with impressive coastal views of the Red Sea from its cornice and latticed balconies in its old town. However, Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, home of PIF-owned Al Ahli Al Faisal club in this league, can be found in the south-east of the city, tucked away next to a deserted car park or an underpass next to abandoned car parks – an unusual sight indeed!
3. Al-Ittihad's Mohamed Salah Broke the Record for Most Goals in a Season
Liverpool's winger Mohamed Salah quickly became one of the most sought-after players in Europe, thanks to his goal-scoring and creative playmaking skills, and became a well-known name in England, as well as the symbol of Egypt's return to global fame with his international performance in the Egyptian national team. .
He started his career in the Egyptian Football Federation youth team and quickly earned his first cap for the senior team. HE zamSalah has since become an integral member of the Egyptian national team, playing in every match throughout the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and 2021 World Cup qualifiers, and received both the BBC and CAF African Footballer of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.
Salah led Liverpool to a historic Premier League title in 2019 with an incredible goalscoring record, earning himself a new contract and becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals – a goal he achieved after just 36 games!
Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad are reportedly interested in the player and are ready to make an unprecedented world record offer to transfer him. Unfortunately, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp praised the 31-year-old player's performance this season and it seems unlikely that this transfer will happen.
4. Al-Fateh's Sofiane Bendebka Broke the Record for Most Goals in a Single Season
The Saudi Arabian Pro League resumed on Friday evening with Al Riyadh hosting the newly promoted Al Okhda team at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, ultimately drawing with Knowledge Musona's late equalizing goal.
The match was competitive from start to finish, with both sides taking shots at the goal from both ends of the field. Mathias Normann narrowly missed hitting his target with his long-range effort narrowly missed by Al Okhdood, while Mohammed Al Kuway's kick almost gave Al Okhdood the advantage but his try narrowly missed.
Bulgarian star Sofiane Bendebka scored a spectacular goal to prevent his team from being relegated, firing a spectacular volley past Arsenal defender Rossi and towards the far post, scoring with ease.
With this victory, Al Okhda secured its place in the top flight for the first time and made its best start since 2008, thanks to the early goal scored by its new transfer Cristian Tello for Al Okhda, which could not qualify for the league due to the late red card he received against his former club Huesca. Talisca Anderson looked set to put his team back in front but his shot from a tight angle hit the post before he was blocked by an offside flag late in the second half.