2023–24 Saudi Professional League Review: The Hits and Misses

June 5, 2024 Editor

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Best team Saudi Professional League: Al-Hilal

Al Hilal Saudi Pro League champion_ Proleaguefootballsaudi.com

Not only did Al-Hilal deliver the best campaign in Saudi Arabian football history, but it was also one of the best.

They were an astounding number. Jorge Jesus led his team to a world record 34 straight victories in all competitions, including the Saudi Super Cup, Saudi Pro League, and King Cup. In 31 out of 34 top-flight games, the team triumphed, scoring 101 goals and giving up only 23.

The best performance of 2023–24 had to be this outstanding for them to let him down so frequently.

Best player of Saudi Pro League: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)

Cristiano Ronaldo Highest goal scorer in Saudi Pro League_ Proleaguefootballsaudi.com

Even in the face of an infusion of elite talent, Ronaldo stood out.

We witnessed a thrilling brace against the long-dethroned champions Al-Ittihad established a new record for most goals in an Saudi Professional League season with 35. His 11 assists were only surpassed by fellow countryman Ruben Neves (12) and Al-Ahli’s Riyad Mahrez (13).

The 39-year-old’s ruthless ability to resist the passing of time was highlighted by moments of unparalleled excellence and unquenchable passion, such as November’s absurd lob against Al-Okhdood. Even the chance to score a hat-trick with four Saudi Professional League match balls was available.

Best Saudi player in Saudi Professional League: Saud Abdulhamid (Al-Hilal)

In addition to his imposing 2023–24 performances, Saud Abdulhamid deserves to be at the top of this esteemed list for erupting into his famous “chair” celebration during the heated King’s Cup semifinal match against his boyhood club, Al-Ittihad, in April.

The unstoppable 24-year-old right-back appeared to be comfortable in the company of an incredible new group. Three league goals, a career high, also matched his total from the previous five seasons.

With ties to Toulouse of Ligue 1, this defender eclipsed his famed teammate Salem Al-Dawsari and Al-Ahli’s 17-goal scorer Firas Al-Buraikan, offering a tantalizing glimpse of a worldwide future.

Best coach: Pericles Chamusca (Al-Taawoun)

Pericles Chamusca Coach Al-Taawoun_ Proleaguefootballsaudi.com

Above and beyond Al-Hilal’s Jesus, something exceptional is required.

This was brought for the dark horse Al-Taawoun by Pericles Chamusca. The gregarious Brazilian withstood a flurry of summer losses, including the transfer of prominent Spanish midfielder Alvaro Medran in the winter, assist machine Kaku, and versatile Saudi Arabian defender Hassan Kadesh.

A fourth-place finish, five points ahead of fallen giants Al-Ittihad, ensured qualifying for the AFC Champions League Two amidst this chaos. Head held high, he heads off to the ambitious Yelo League team, NEOM SC.

Best goal: Bernard Mensah (Al-Tai 1-4 Al-Ahli)

Pick your favorite from Bernard Mensah’s incredible Al-Tai ad.

February’s deep run, reminiscent of George Weah, past several Al-Ahli defenders and goalie Edouard Mendy of Senegal’s pin-point low finish almost beat May’s absurdly long run through a crowded penalty box against Al-Fateh.

Best signing: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al-Hilal)

Aleksandar Mitrović_ Proleaguefootballsaudi.com

Someone who was worth the wait was added.

Al-Hilal negotiated Fulham’s enormous Serbian center forward contract for the entire summer. Forty goals in forty-three games, including an early King Cup final opener, a hat-trick in September’s historic 4-3 success against holders Al-Ittihad, and a brace in December’s 3-0 Riyadh Derby victory over Al-Nassr, were the fruits of this effort.

This highly valued goal-scoring ability combined with an unfathomably unwavering demeanor allowed Mitrovic to surpass teammates Malcom and Neves, as well as Marcelo Brozovic of Al-Nassr, Franck Kessie of Al-Ahli, and Fashion Sakala of Al-Fayha.

Worst signing: Habib Diallo (Al-Shabab)

Diallo’s struggles represented a season to forget for eighth-place Al-Shabab.

The Strasbourg newcomer scored just six goals in thirty league games, and between his second and third goals, he went over five months without scoring a goal.

This lackluster performance by the Senegalese forward was inferior to that of the heartbreaking early termination of a Brazil megastar’s season and the short stint at Ettifaq that the then-captain Jordan Henderson had.

The biggest disappointment (Neymar, Al-Hilal)

The Kingdom was affected by events occurring on the opposite side of the world.

Neymar’s horrific knee injury sustained in October while representing Brazil in the World Cup 2026 qualification round put an abrupt end to his al-Hilal career. This put an end to the wild enthusiasm that had been created by the grandiose unveiling in Riyadh in August upon the arrival of Paris Saint-Germain.

The versatile attacker from Brazil only appeared in three RSL matches and scored one in the AFC Champions League. There ought to be a ton more in 2024–2025.

Season to forget: Al-Ittihad

After a miserable Saudi Professional League championship defense, Al-Ittihad’s situation can only get better.

With the arrival of France midfielder N’Golo Kante, Brazil anchorman Fabinho, and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, the top-flight trophy drought had ended, and a quantum jump had been prophesied. But RSL champion manager Nuno Espirito Santo left in October, leaving his demoralized team a distant sixth.

Then, in December’s Club World Cup quarterfinals in Jeddah, Egypt’s Al-Ahly handed a lopsided 3-1 thrashing to the highly sought-after replacement Marcelo Gallardo. The trophy-less squad limped home in fifth place, 42 points behind Al-Hilal and outside of AFC Champions League Elite qualifying. Additionally, Benzema scored just 16 goals in 33 runouts throughout an interrupted campaign.

Funniest moment: Noureddine Zekri’s survival celebration

When Sadio Mane saw his clubmate Ali Lajami, who resembled his twin Qassem in every way, on Al-Fateh’s starting lineup, he nearly had a hilarious pre-match double take.

However, nothing compares to Noureddine Zekri’s famous response to holding up rookies Al-Okhdood. With a slow-motion dash across the field and a “superman” flop at the final whistle of matchweek 34’s relegation-decider against hapless Al-Tai, the 59-year-old manager went viral.

Ones to watch: (Al-Qadsiah)

A Saudi Aramco-owned team is anticipated to have significant success in 2024–2025.

Last month, Al-Qadsiah, the dominant Yelo League champions, demonstrated their expected status by signing Uruguayan midfielder Nahitan Nandez before Roma, and there was still much more to come.

Considering early impressions, a rerun of promoted Al-Ahli’s push to third is not out of the question. They should be ashamed of their current reputation as a yo-yo outfit.