Latest news with #AlDawsari
Saudi Gazette
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Salem Al Dawsari wins Best Saudi Player award for 2024–25 season
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Salem Al Dawsari has been named Best Saudi Player of the 2024–25 Roshn Saudi League season, capping off a stellar campaign that reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential players in Saudi football. The Roshn League announced the award on Wednesday, highlighting that the Al Hilal winger delivered arguably the best season of his career. Al Dawsari was directly involved in 30 goals between scoring and assisting, despite his team falling short of silverware this year. Known for his technical skill, vision, and leadership, Al Dawsari remained a constant threat in attack and a stabilizing force in the dressing room. His performances helped steady Al Hilal during a season of mixed results, keeping the club competitive through pivotal matches. The 32-year-old has long been a cornerstone of both club and country. He was a standout for Saudi Arabia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is expected to play a key role in the national team's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, as well as Hilal's upcoming AFC Champions League Elite participation. This latest individual accolade adds to Al Dawsari's already decorated résumé and reinforces his reputation as one of the top talents of the past decade in Saudi football.
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal renews Salem Al Dawsari's contract until 2027
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal have announced the contract renewal of club captain Salem Al Dawsari, extending his stay until the summer of 2027. The agreement comes just months before the expiration of his previous deal, which had entered its final six months in January. The renewal follows prolonged negotiations, with the club determined to meet Al Dawsari's demands and secure the future of one of its most influential players. The winger reportedly received competitive offers, including a two-year deal from Al Qadsiah and a three-year proposal from Al Diriyah. Ultimately, Al Hilal retained his services with a two-year extension. Al Dawsari, 32, has enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career, leading by example both on and off the pitch. He was crowned the top scorer of the AFC Champions League Elite, while also netting 15 goals in the Saudi Pro League so far this season, with two rounds still to impact has gone beyond scoring, contributing regularly in assists and key chances created. To mark the renewal, Al Hilal released a video titled ' The story continues...' on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The montage highlighted key milestones in Al Dawsari's career — including his iconic goal against Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his continental triumph with Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League, and his 2022 Asian Player of the Year award.
Saudi Gazette
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Salem Al-Dossary hat-trick powers Al Hilal to wild 5-3 win over Al Raed
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal claimed their first win under interim head coach Mohammed Al Shalhoub with a thrilling 5-3 victory over bottom-placed Al Raed on Thursday in Matchweek 30 of the Saudi Pro League. Club captain Salem Al Dawsari led the charge with a brilliant hat-trick to help the reigning champions bounce back after their AFC Champions League Elite semi-final exit to Al Ahli and the subsequent departure of Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus. Al Hilal took the lead in the 32nd minute when Aleksandar Mitrovic found the net, before Al Dawsari doubled the advantage nine minutes later with a sharp finish from inside the box. Kareem El Berkaoui pulled one back for Al Raed just before halftime, blasting in from close range to make it 2-1. Al Hilal regained control early in the second half. Al Dawsari scored again in the 59th minute with a low strike, and Malcom added the fourth goal in the 66th after a well-worked team move. El Berkaoui, however, responded almost immediately, capitalizing on a misjudgment from Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to score his second of the night. Al Dawsari completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute with a stunning solo effort, cutting inside from the left and rifling a shot into the top corner to make it 5-2. Al Raed were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, which Saleh Al Amri converted for the game's final goal, but it did little to alter the outcome. The win takes Al Hilal up to 65 points in second place, three behind league leaders Al Ittihad. Al Raed remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 21 points and are facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation. The victory also marked a promising start for Al Shalhoub in his first senior managerial assignment, with Al Hilal showing renewed attacking flair and purpose.
Saudi Gazette
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari clinches AFC Champions League Elite top scorer award
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Al Hilal's talisman Salem Al Dawsari was crowned the top goalscorer of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 after netting 10 goals during a standout campaign that ended with his team bowing out at the semi-final stage. Despite Al Hilal's 3-1 defeat to eventual champions Al Ahli Saudi FC in the last four, Al Dawsari's attacking brilliance lit up the competition from start to finish. The Saudi international opened his account on Matchday Two with a goal in the 5-0 win over Al Shorta, before scoring a stunning hat-trick in a 5-4 thriller against Al Ain. He followed that with a brace against Iran's Persepolis FC and a strike versus UAE's Al Wasl to close out the group stage with seven goals. In the knockout rounds, Al Dawsari added three more: one in the second-leg comeback against Pakhtakor, another against Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals, and one final goal in the semi-final loss to Al 33-year-old's performances reaffirmed his status as one of Asia's most consistent and dangerous wide attackers, earning him the tournament's Golden Boot despite Al Hilal falling short of the title.
Observer
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Al Hilal hit 7 past Gwangju to reach Asian semis
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Four-time winners Al Hilal booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinals on Friday night with a thumping 7-0 win against South Korea's Gwangju in Jeddah. The Saudi Arabian champions, who began the campaign with Brazil superstar Neymar in their ranks before his February return to Santos, romped to victory at King Abdullah Sports City, with 2022 Asian Footballer of the Year Salem al Dawsari the standout. The quarterfinal encounter kicked off the inaugural AFC Champions League Elite Finals, where the continent's top eight teams - four from West Asia, four from the East - compete in a centralised location for the trophy. Al Hilal are one of three Saudi sides in the last eight, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Al Ahli, the home team who boast the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney. Al Hilal underlined their credentials by cruising into the last four. They needed all of six minutes to take the lead, when former Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic met AlDawsari's corner to power home a header. Al Hilal doubled their advantage on 25 minutes, Brazilian winger Malcom cutting the ball back for compatriot Marcos Leonardo. The summer signing from Benfica swept his finish past Kim Kyeong-Min in the Gwangju goal. Eight minutes later, Leonardo sent Al Dawsari through on goal, leaving the Saudi Arabia captain to race clear and slide a low shot into the net. Al Dawsari moved to nine goals, making him the joint-top scorer in this season's tournament, alongside Gwangju's Albanian winger Jasir Asani. The only drawback for Al Hilal was that Joao Cancelo, a treble-winner with Manchester City, was forced to leave the pitch shortly before half-time with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Al Hilal maintained their dominance after the break, with Aleksander Mitrovic adding a fourth in the 55th minute. The ex-Newcastle United and Fulham striker, who has missed a large portion of this season through injury, met fellow Serbian international Milinkovic-Savic's cross to side-foot home. With 12 minutes remaining, Malcom exchanged passes with Mitrovic to slot past Kim for 5-0. Substitute Nasser al Dawsari made it six with a deflected effort from the edge of the penalty area. Abdullah al Hamdan then rifled home from range following Mitrovic's set-up. In next Tuesday's semifinal, Al Hilal will meet either fellow Saudi club Al Ahli or Thailand's Buriram United. Those teams face off on Saturday, also at King Abdullah Sports City. Meanwhile, Ronaldo resumes his quest for continental glory on Saturday, when Al Nassr take on last year's runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City. The Japanese side sacked ex-England assistant manager Steve Holland last week, with Australian Patrick Kisnorbo installed as interim head coach. — AFP
