Sport

Recent Developments Surrounding Al Hilal SFC

Al Hilal Saudi Football Club, commonly known as Al Hilal SFC, is a professional multi-sports club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded on October 16, 1957, they are one of the most successful clubs in Asia, having won a record 70 official trophies, including 19 league titles and four AFC Champions League titles. 

 

In the 2024–25 season, Al Hilal continues to compete in the Saudi Pro League, the King Cup, the AFC Champions League Elite, the Saudi Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. 

 

The team boasts a strong squad featuring notable players such as forwards Aleksandar Mitrović and Marcos Leonardo, midfielders Sergej Milinković-Savić, Malcom, Rúben Neves, and Salem Al-Dawsari, and defenders João Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly. 

 

Recently, the team faced a setback as defender João Cancelo suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for approximately two months. This means he will miss Portugal's Nations League quarter-final against Denmark this month. 

 

In their latest league match, Al Hilal secured a convincing 5-1 victory over Al Kholood. Brazilian forwards Malcom and Marcos Leonardo played pivotal roles, with Malcom netting two goals and Marcos Leonardo adding one, bringing his season tally to 15 goals. This places him third in the league's top scorers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (17 goals) and Karim Benzema (16 goals). 

 

Al Hilal is currently second in the Saudi Pro League standings with 51 points, trailing leaders Al-Ittihad by six points. The team is set to face Pakhtakor Tashkent in the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 on March 4, 2025.