Luiz Felipe Scolari opened up about the eternal rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, revealing previously unknown details of his relationship with the Portuguese captain. The former national team coach explained the emotional and professional reasons behind his choices in the polls for the best player in the world.
Lionel Messi has officially reached billionaire status, joining his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in one of the most exclusive clubs in world sport. The Inter Miami and Argentina icon has seen his net worth soar past the $1 billion mark following a career defined by record-breaking contracts and savvy off-field investments.
Napoli have issued a hands-off warning to suitors from the Premier League and the Middle East by rejecting several lucrative offers for Scott McTominay. The Scotland international has become a cornerstone of the side in Italy, and the club are now working around the clock to secure his long-term future at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Al-Nassr launched an ambitious approach for Pep Guardiola prior to the manager's newly confirmed announcement that he will officially step down from Manchester City at the end of the season. The pursuit by the Saudi Pro League champions opens up the sensational possibility of a historic tactical partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jorge Jesus has confirmed his departure from Al-Nassr after winning the Saudi Pro League title and insisted Pep Guardiola should be “proud” to replace him amid rumours linking the Manchester City boss with the club. The Portuguese coach also opened up on Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in his move to Saudi Arabia.
The wait is over. Cristiano Ronaldo has finally done it. He's won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. The news will doubtless provoke nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders from an awful lot of people. Others will actually be quite bitter about it. What's interesting, though, is how much lifting a first major trophy with Al-Nassr clearly meant to Ronaldo.
Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.
How many teams are in the Saudi Pro League?
Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.
Who has made the most Saudi Pro League appearances ever?
Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Saudi Pro League?
Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.
Which famous players have played in the Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Saudi Pro League?
Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.
What is the biggest stadium in the Saudi Pro League?
The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.
Who is the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping £77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.