Explore Diversity: Al-Hilal's Foreign Players Revealed
Al-Hilal is one of the most popular and successful football clubs in Saudi Arabia and Asia. Founded in 1957, the club has won a record 62 domestic and continental trophies, including 16 Saudi Professional League titles, 13 King Cups, 7 Crown Prince Cups, 3 AFC Champions League titles, and 1 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.
One of the reasons for Al-Hilal's dominance is their ability to attract and retain some of the best foreign players in the region. Over the years, the club has signed many stars from different countries, who have contributed to the club's glory and fan base. In this article, we will take a look at the current foreign players in Al-Hilal, and learn more about their backgrounds, achievements, and roles in the team.
The foreign players in Al-Hilal
As of February 2024, Al-Hilal has six foreign players in their squad, who occupy four of the five allowed foreign slots in the Saudi Professional League. They are:
- Luciano Vietto (Argentina)
- Bafétimbi Gomis (France)
- Sebastián Giovinco (Italy)
- André Carrillo (Peru)
- Ali Al-Habsi (Oman)
- Yasir Al-Shahrani (Saudi Arabia)
Let's take a closer look at each of these players and see what they bring to the table.
Luciano Vietto
Luciano Vietto is a 30-year-old Argentine striker who joined Al-Hilal in January 2020 from Sporting CP. He is a versatile and skillful forward who can play as a central striker, a second striker, or a winger. He is known for his pace, dribbling, finishing, and movement.
Vietto started his career in his native Argentina, where he played for Racing Club and scored 18 goals in 69 appearances. He then moved to Europe, where he played for Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, and Fulham, scoring 36 goals in 167 appearances. He also had a brief stint in Portugal, where he played for Sporting CP and scored 9 goals in 31 appearances.
Vietto has been a key player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, scoring 36 goals in 71 appearances so far. He has helped the club win two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, and one AFC Champions League title. He is also the club's top scorer in the current season, with 14 goals in 18 games.
Bafétimbi Gomis
Bafétimbi Gomis is a 38-year-old French striker who joined Al-Hilal in August 2018 from Galatasaray. He is a powerful and prolific striker who can play as a lone striker or a target man. He is known for his strength, aerial ability, finishing, and celebration.
Gomis started his career in his native France, where he played for Saint-Étienne and Lyon, scoring 117 goals in 327 appearances. He then moved to England, where he played for Swansea City and scored 17 goals in 71 appearances. He also had a loan spell in France, where he played for Marseille and scored 26 goals in 54 appearances. He then moved to Turkey, where he played for Galatasaray and scored 38 goals in 71 appearances.
Gomis has been a star player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, scoring 79 goals in 116 appearances so far. He has helped the club win two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, and one AFC Champions League title. He is also the club's captain and leader, and the second top scorer in the current season, with 13 goals in 18 games.
Sebastián Giovinco
Sebastián Giovinco is a 37-year-old Italian attacking midfielder who joined Al-Hilal in January 2019 from Toronto FC. He is a creative and dynamic playmaker who can play as a central midfielder, a winger, or a second striker. He is known for his vision, passing, dribbling, free kicks, and long shots.
Giovinco started his career in his native Italy, where he played for Juventus and scored 20 goals in 135 appearances. He also had loan spells in Italy, where he played for Empoli and Parma, scoring 23 goals in 71 appearances. He then moved to Canada, where he played for Toronto FC and scored 83 goals in 142 appearances. He also won the MLS MVP award in 2015.
Giovinco has been a vital player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, scoring 25 goals and providing 32 assists in 79 appearances so far. He has helped the club win two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, and one AFC Champions League title. He is also the club's main creative force and set-piece specialist, and the third top scorer in the current season, with 9 goals and 10 assists in 18 games.
André Carrillo
André Carrillo is a 32-year-old Peruvian winger who joined Al-Hilal in July 2019 from Benfica. He is a fast and tricky winger who can play on either flank or as a second striker. He is known for his speed, dribbling, crossing, and work rate.
Carrillo started his career in his native Peru, where he played for Alianza Lima and scored 8 goals in 44 appearances. He then moved to Portugal, where he played for Sporting CP and scored 15 goals in 161 appearances. He also had loan spells in England and Saudi Arabia, where he played for Watford and Al-Hilal, scoring 6 goals in 38 appearances and 7 goals in 25 appearances respectively.
Carrillo has been a consistent player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, scoring 16 goals and providing 24 assists in 75 appearances so far. He has helped the club win two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, and one AFC Champions League title. He is also the club's main source of width and pace, and the fourth top scorer in the current season, with 7 goals and 8 assists in 18 games.
Ali Al-Habsi
Ali Al-Habsi is a 42-year-old Omani goalkeeper who joined Al-Hilal in July 2017 from Reading. He is an experienced and reliable goalkeeper who can play as a sweeper-keeper or a shot-stopper. He is known for his reflexes, agility, distribution, and leadership.
Al-Habsi started his career in his native Oman, where he played for Al-Midhaibi and Al-Nasr, winning two Oman Professional League titles and one Sultan Qaboos Cup. He then moved to Norway, where he played for Lyn and Bolton Wanderers, making 156 appearances. He also had loan spells in England, where he played for Wigan Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion, making 122 appearances and winning one FA Cup. He then moved to England, where he played for Reading and made 93 appearances.
Al-Habsi has been a solid player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, making 108 appearances and keeping 47 clean sheets so far. He has helped the club win two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, and one AFC Champions League title. He is also the club's first-choice goalkeeper and vice-captain, and the most capped foreign player in the current squad, with 135 caps for Oman.
Yasir Al-Shahrani
Yasir Al-Shahrani is a 31-year-old Saudi Arabian defender who joined Al-Hilal in July 2012 from Al-Qadisiyah. He is a versatile and energetic defender who can play as a right-back, a left-back, or a wing-back. He is known for his stamina, tackling, crossing, and overlapping runs.
Al-Shahrani has been a loyal and dependable player for Al-Hilal since his arrival, scoring 9 goals and providing 35 assists in 282 appearances so far. He has helped the club win six Saudi Professional League titles, five King Cups, four Crown Prince Cups, one AFC Champions League title, and one Asian Cup Winners' Cup. He is also the club's main defensive option on both flanks, and the only Saudi Arabian player in the current foreign squad.
Conclusion
Al-Hilal is a club that has a rich history and a bright future, thanks to their foreign players who have added quality, diversity, and flair to the team. The current foreign squad consists of six players from five different countries, who have different styles, skills, and roles in the team. They have all contributed to the club's success and popularity, both domestically and continentally.
Whether it is Vietto's versatility, Gomis' power, Giovinco's creativity, Carrillo's pace, Al-Habsi's experience, or Al-Shahrani's loyalty, the foreign players in Al-Hilal have something unique and valuable to offer. They are not only foreign players, but also Al-Hilal players, who have embraced the club's culture, values, and fans. They are the pride of Al-Hilal, and the envy of their rivals.
FAQs
Who is the most expensive foreign player in Al-Hilal?
The most expensive foreign player in Al-Hilal is Luciano Vietto, who cost the club €7.5 million when he joined from Sporting CP in January 2020. He is also the highest-paid foreign player in Al-Hilal, earning €4.5 million per year.
Who is the most capped foreign player in Al-Hilal?
The most capped foreign player in Al-Hilal is Ali Al-Habsi, who has made 135 appearances for Oman, making him the most capped player in the history of Oman. He is also the oldest foreign player in Al-Hilal, at 42 years old.
Who is the most decorated foreign player in Al-Hilal?
The most decorated foreign player in Al-Hilal is Bafétimbi Gomis, who has won 19 trophies in his career, including two Saudi Professional League titles, one King Cup, one AFC Champions League title, one FA Cup, one Turkish Super Lig title, one Turkish Cup, one Turkish Super Cup, one Ligue 1 title, one Coupe de France, one Coupe de la Ligue, and one Trophée des Champions with Al-Hilal and his previous clubs.
Who is the most popular foreign player in Al-Hilal?
The most popular foreign player in Al-Hilal is Sebastián Giovinco, who has a huge fan base in Saudi Arabia and around the world. He has over 2.5 million followers on Instagram, making him the most followed foreign player in Al-Hilal. He is also known for his friendly and humble personality, and his involvement in charitable and social causes.
Who is the most versatile foreign player in Al-Hilal?
The most versatile foreign player in Al-Hilal is Yasir Al-Shahrani, who can play as a right-back, a left-back, or a wing-back. He is also capable of playing as a winger, a midfielder, or a defender. He is known for his stamina, tackling, crossing, and overlapping runs.