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The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Top 10 Middle East footballers to watch at the Club World Cup
The revamped and expanded Fifa Club World Cup may be the biggest chance yet for domestic teams to represent themselves on the global stage. But there will be plenty of national and regional pride at stake, too. Some of the leading players from the Mena region will be vying for attention at the competition in the United States, and they are not solely confined to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal or the UAE's Al Ain. Here is a selection of outstanding players from the region to look out for this summer. 1). Achraf Hakimi Club: Paris Saint-Germain National team: Morocco Slotted the opening goal in PSG's rout of Inter Milan in the Uefa Champions League final, and was eulogised by many observers as the best right-back in the world. Given's PSG's form, he might expect to go one better than the semi-final exit he managed with the Morocco national team in the Qatar World Cup. 2). Omar Marmoush Club: Manchester City National team: Egypt Scored 15 goals in 17 games in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt before being summoned to City in the January transfer window to try to breathe life into their ailing season. The form of the outgoing English champions did pick up after the arrival of their new Egyptian forward. They may have ended defeated in the FA Cup, but they could make up for that with a trophy in the US. 3). Ali Al Bulayhi Club: Al Hilal National team: Saudi Arabia Makes this list not so much for the merit of his defending as the fact his confrontations with star opponents are usually box office. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Son Hueng-min have all been on the receiving end of the Hilal centre-back's antics. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland had better be ready. 4). Soufiane Rahimi Club: Al Ain National team: Morocco Asia's MVP when he fired Al Ain to the AFC Champions League crown in 2024, and he then top-scored in the Olympics for Morocco, too. The Garden City club have fallen flat in the time since, going through three managers this season. Rahimi's form has coolled, too, but expect him to revel on the big stage in the US. 5). Mehdi Taremi Club: Inter Milan National team: Iran Cut a disconsolate figure as an unused substitute on the bench in Inter Milan's capitulation against PSG in the Uefa Champions League final. The striker, who has been central to Iran's march to World Cup qualification, will be itching to right some wrongs when Inter face Monterrey, Urawa Reds and River Plate. 6). Ramy Bensebaini Club: Borussia Dortmund National team: Algeria The Algerian defender has been deployed on the left side of a three-man defence as Dortmund closed out a largely disappointing season strongly, most notably with a big win away at Bayer Leverkusen. He might not be everybody's cup of tea: German great-turned-pundit Lothar Matthaus has been one outspoken critic. But Bensebaini is valued by his club and is said to have suitors that include Marseille. 7). Brahim Diaz Club: Real Madrid National team: Morocco The dual-national winger was born in Malaga, signed for the Manchester City academy age 16, and plays for Morocco at international level. He will be looking to aid Madrid's bid to complete a Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup double. 8). Salem Al Dawsari Club: Al Hilal National team: Saudi Arabia An Arabian Gulf great, as a legend of Hilal and the Saudi Arabia national team. His finest moment was his goal in their shock win over the eventual champions Argentina in the group phase of the Qatar World Cup. His celebrity has yet to extend too far beyond Asia, though. His one crack at broadening his horizons ended prematurely with an ill-fated loan spell with Villarreal in Spain in 2018. 9). Wessam Abou Ali Club: Al Ahly National team: Palestine Danish-born but proudly Palestinian, he also acknowledges he feels Egyptian now, given how well loved he has become since joining Al Ahly last year. The striker enjoyed an extraordinary 2024, moving from the Swedish lower leagues in January, then becoming the top scorer in Egypt, and contributing to the CAF Champions League win, which qualified Ahly for this tournament. 10). Oussama Idrissi Club: Pachuca National team: Morocco Netherlands-born and raised, but the tricky left-winger had had a good look around since. He represents Morocco at senior level – having previously played for the Dutch age-group sides – and has found his way to Mexico via Spain. He knows what success tastes like in cross-border club competition, too. Idrissi scored a fine goal as Pachuca beat Brazil's Botafogo to reach the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final, where they lost to Real Madrid.
The National
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Love is Blind Habibi host Elham Ali has big plans for her future in Saudi cinema
As I walk down the French Riviera during the Cannes Film Festival, it's like a league of nations, with pavilions from countries around the world lining the seafront. There is always something exciting brewing here, not least at the Saudi pavilion, where seven talented women have arrived as guests of the Red Sea Film Foundation. The Mena-focused festival is celebrating women in cinema, choosing those who are helping shape a new generation of talent in the Arab world, Africa and Asia. Among this stylish septet is Saudi actor and presenter Elham Ali, looking resplendent in a white trouser suit and silver jewellery. 'I'm here, first of all, to support Saudi women in cinema,' she tells The National amid a hectic afternoon of press meetings. One of the most prominent figures in Gulf and Saudi television, theatre and cinema – and co-presenter of Love is Blind Habibi alongside her husband Khaled Saqer – Ali has never been to Cannes before. But she sees it as more than just a chance to schmooze with A-listers. For Ali, who has been acting for more than a decade, coming to prominence in shows such as Rihana and The Way of Female Teachers, it's all about waving the Saudi flag, as the country's film industry continues to grow. Her mission, she says, is to help 'reiterate the importance of our culture and to convey the image of our culture to the world. I believe that, as Saudis, we are ready to be more present in the international arena and to be the storytellers of the Saudi story.' Ali is not the only Saudi talent the Red Sea International Film Festival has commandeered for its Women In Cinema initiative. She's joined by Sarah Taibah, the artist and filmmaker behind the acclaimed dark comedy series Jameel Jeddan. Others include Egyptian actor Amina Khalil, Syrian filmmaker Gaya Jiji and acclaimed Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni, whose work I Am Not A Witch and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl screened at Cannes. Last year, Norah became the first Saudi film officially selected for Cannes, while the Saudi-backed Red Sea Fund continues to invest in films that have made their way to the festival (including this year's Un Certain Regard entry Promised Sky). Ali suggests it's all a learning curve for the Saudi film industry. 'We need competition. Competition is useful, and we have been taking the first steps, good and healthy steps, because we need to learn and know more about the industry in general.' Does she feel there is increasing support for Saudi actresses in cinema? 'There is strong support given to the Saudi woman. Hence my presence here,' she says. 'And the support is not just for women in cinema, it's for women at large.' The international stage could be the next logical step. Ali has already worked in an English language film, the Saudi horror The Cello (2023), alongside Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons and Tobin Bell, the star of the Saw franchise. She's always been a horror film fan, 'especially Dracula', she says with a grin. As such, she is open to other English-speaking roles. 'If I feel the role is suitable for me and I am suitable for the role, definitely I will do it because I'm open to any learning experience.' Given The Cello was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, the filmmaker behind multiple entries in the Saw series, I suggest that Ali may have an emerging career as a Saudi scream queen. 'I wish!' she say, her eyes lighting up. However, you're more likely to find her tapping away at a keyboard. 'I have a new passion, which is writing. Reading scripts gives me ideas.' So will we see her credited as a screenwriter in the future? 'I would love to try,' she smiles.
