33·Legends

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Saudi Arabia

The thirty-three greatest. Build your eleven, then settle the duels.

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The 33 of Saudi Arabia

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1 MA 87 Majed Abdullah Fans knew him as the Arabian Pelé, and he answered in finals, scoring the second goal against China in 1984 and burying his penalty in the 1988 shootout against South Korea. Two Asian Cups, Asia-Oceania Player of the Year in 1984, six Saudi league top-scorer awards, four league titles at Al-Nassr, and 72 goals in 117 caps. ST1984–88

2 MN 87 Mohamed Noor On 5 November 2005 he scored in the 33rd minute of the AFC Champions League final second leg in Jeddah, and Al-Ittihad beat Al Ain 4-2 to take the title 5-3 on aggregate, with Noor voted the tournament's best player. Back-to-back Asian titles in 2004 and 2005, seven Saudi league championships, 525 appearances for one club, and 90 caps across the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. CM2002–06

3 NA 87 Nawaf Al-Temyat His 2000 ended in Beirut on 29 October, beaten 1-0 by Japan in the Asian Cup final, and the four seasons that followed were mostly spent injured, with barely a game between 2001 and 2004. Asian Footballer of the Year for 2000, the 1999-2000 Asian Club Championship with Al-Hilal, five Saudi league titles, an Asian Cup runners-up medal, and 63 caps with 11 goals. CM1999–2004

4 SA 87 Salem Al-Dawsari In the 53rd minute at Lusail on 22 November 2022 he turned inside the box and curled the ball past Emiliano Martínez, the goal that ended Argentina's 36-match unbeaten run. Two AFC Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2025, the 2019 and 2021 AFC Champions League, six Saudi league titles with Al-Hilal, and 27 goals in 114 caps. LM2019–25

5 MA 86 Mohamed Al-Deayea He kept goal for Al-Ta'ee's handball team as an eight-year-old until a coach moved him into football in 1988, and eight years later he stood in the Abu Dhabi shootout that won the 1996 Asian Cup, 0-0 after extra time and 4-3 on penalties against the hosts. An Asian Cup winner in 1996 and runner-up in 2000, best goalkeeper of that tournament, a FIFA U-16 world title in 1989, four World Cups, and 173 caps. GK1988–2000

6 MA 86 Mohammed Al-Shalhoub Twenty years separated his debut on 17 October 2000 against Qatar at the Asian Cup from his retirement in 2020, all of it at Al-Hilal, where he arrived in 1998 and left with 329 league appearances, 64 goals and the 2009-10 top-scorer award on twelve goals. Eight Saudi league titles, the AFC Champions League in 2000 and 2019, eleven Crown Prince Cups, two King's Cups, and 118 caps with 19 goals. RM1998–2020

7 SA 86 Saeed Al-Owairan Five minutes into the game at RFK Stadium on 29 June 1994 he collected the ball inside his own half, ran through the Belgian defence and scored the goal that beat them 1-0 and took Saudi Arabia into the last 16 on their World Cup debut. Asian Footballer of the Year in 1994, sixth in FIFA's Goal of the Century poll, and three straight Saudi league titles with Al-Shabab from 1991 to 1993. RM1991–94

8 SA 86 Sami Al-Jaber One hundred caps came on 27 May 1998, when he was twenty-five and the youngest player in the world to reach the mark, and he scored at three different World Cups, against Morocco in 1994, South Africa in 1998 and Tunisia in 2006. The 1996 Asian Cup, the 2000 AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal, five Saudi league titles, four World Cups from 1994 to 2006, and 46 goals in 156 caps. CAM1994–2006

9 YA 86 Yasser Al-Qahtani Saudi Arabia reached the 2007 Asian Cup final on his goals, four of them, level with Younis Mahmoud and Naohiro Takahara at the top of the tournament's scoring chart before Iraq took the trophy. He was named AFC Asian Footballer of the Year for 2007, won five Saudi league titles and seven Crown Prince Cups at Al-Hilal, and finished with 42 goals in 108 internationals. SS2000s

10 YA 86 Yousuf Al-Thunayan The penalty he struck in the 74th minute against South Africa on 24 June 1998, at thirty-four and in his only World Cup, gave Saudi Arabia the single point they took from the tournament. The Philosopher won the Asian Cup in 1988 and 1996 and lost the 1992 final, added the Asian Club Championship in 1991 and 2000, and left Al-Hilal after 21 seasons with 24 trophies and 33 goals in 95 caps. SS1988–2000

11 FA 84 Fahad Al-Herafy Paulo César Carpegiani put him into the Al-Nassr side at eighteen in 1984, and eight years later his three goals in Japan made him top scorer of the 1992 Asian Cup. Winner of the 1988 Asian Cup, runner-up in 1992 and at the first King Fahd Cup that year, he took three Saudi league titles with Al-Nassr, played the 1994 World Cup and retired on 24 international goals. CAM1984–94

12 FA 84 Fuad Anwar On 20 June 1994 he scored against the Netherlands, the first goal Saudi Arabia ever registered at a World Cup finals, and he did it from holding midfield in a side that went on to reach the last 16. The 1996 Asian Cup sits at the head of his record, followed by two World Cup finals, 95 caps and a place in the AFC's Fans' All-Time World Cup XI, voted in 2020. CDM1994–2020

13 HI 84 Hamzah Idris Thirty-three league goals in 1999-2000 gave him a Saudi single-season record that no one touched until Abderrazak Hamdallah scored 34 in 2018-19, and he wore the Al-Ittihad number nine for a decade. Back-to-back AFC Champions Leagues in 2004 and 2005 head the list, with five Saudi league titles, the 1999 Asian Cup Winners' Cup, the 2005 Arab Champions League, the 1994 World Cup and the 1999 Confederations Cup. ST1994–2018

14 HA 84 Hussein Abdulghani In the Crown Prince Cup final of 11 March 1998 he laid on the 97th-minute golden goal that ended thirteen years without a trophy for Al-Ahli, the club he would go on to captain. He won the 1996 Asian Cup at nineteen, went to three World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006, took two Pro League titles with Al-Nassr in 2014 and 2015, and was the first Saudi to play in the Swiss Super League. LB1996–2015

15 SA 84 Saleh Al-Nu'eimeh One club held him for fourteen years, Al-Hilal from October 1976 to 1990, and Saudi Arabia used him 99 times between 1978 and 1989, one cap short of a hundred. A defender in both of Saudi Arabia's first two Asian Cup triumphs, he was central to the 1984 win in Singapore and was named in the all-star team of the 1988 tournament in Qatar, where his side beat South Korea on penalties in the final. CB1976–90

16 SA 84 Salman Al-Faraj His penalty against Egypt on 25 June 2018 pulled Saudi Arabia level and opened the door to a 2-1 win, the country's first at a World Cup since the summer of 1994. Two AFC Champions League titles with Al-Hilal, in 2019 and 2021, eight Saudi Pro League championships, the captaincy at the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup, and nine goals in seventy-five caps since 2012. CM1994–2022

17 MA 83 Mohammed Al-Sahlawi Sixteen goals in qualifying carried Saudi Arabia to Russia 2018, five of them in one night against Timor-Leste on 17 November 2015; only Ahmed Khalil of the UAE matched Al-Sahlawi's tally across Asia. Three Saudi Pro League titles with Al-Nassr between 2014 and 2019 sit alongside the Crown Prince's Cup, back-to-back Saudi Footballer of the Year awards in 2013-14 and 2014-15, a place at the 2018 World Cup, and 28 goals from 42 caps. ST2013–19

18 OA 83 Obaid Al-Dosari Seven years at Al-Wehda brought him 122 goals in 180 league games, and in 1999 he finished as the Saudi league's leading scorer before he moved to Al-Ahli in 2000. He scored 41 goals in 94 games for Saudi Arabia between 1994 and 2002, played at the World Cup in France in 1998 and in Asia in 2002, went to the 1996 Olympics, and added 50 more league goals in five years at Al-Ahli. ST1994–2002

19 OH 83 Osama Hawsawi A single appearance for Anderlecht in 2012 made him the first Saudi to play in the Belgian top flight, a footnote beside the 138 caps he gathered between 2006 and 2018, the last of them wearing the armband in Russia. Runner-up at the 2007 Asian Cup, five Saudi Pro League titles across Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, five Crown Prince Cups, two King Cups, and an AFC Champions League final with Al-Hilal in 2017. CB2006–18

20 SK 83 Saud Kariri Kariri opened the scoring in the 29th minute in Dammam on 25 March 2005 as Saudi Arabia beat South Korea 2-0 in the final round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. He won the AFC Champions League with Al-Ittihad in 2004 and 2005, was in the Saudi squad that reached the 2007 Asian Cup final, took the Gulf Cup in 2003, and added two Saudi Professional League titles, two King Cups and the Arab Club Champions Cup. CDM2003–07

21 AD 82 Ahmed Dokhi Saudi Arabia named him in three World Cup squads in a row, for France in 1998, Asia in 2002 and Germany in 2006, and he finished with 113 caps and a decade in the Al-Hilal back line. He won the Asian club title twice, with Al-Hilal in 2000 and Al-Ittihad in 2005, took four Saudi league titles at Al-Hilal and a fifth at Al-Ittihad in 2007, two AFC Super Cups, and the Qatar Cup with Qatar SC in 2009. RB1998–2009

22 AJ 82 Ahmed Jamil Al-Ittihad had him from 1985 to 2000 and nowhere else, and he was in the Saudi back line on 29 June 1994 when Saeed Al-Owairan ran from his own half against Belgium and the country reached the last sixteen on its first World Cup appearance. Two Asian Cup titles with Saudi Arabia, in 1988 and 1996, a runners-up medal in 1992, the 1994 Gulf Cup, three Saudi league titles with Al-Ittihad, and 117 caps between 1986 and 1998. CB1985–2000

23 FA 82 Fahad Al-Muwallad On 7 May 2018 he got eleven minutes at Leganés, the first of the nine Saudis loaned to Spanish clubs that winter to actually reach a La Liga pitch. He won the King Cup with Al-Ittihad in 2013 and was voted the tournament's best player, added the Crown Prince Cup in 2017, and took 17 goals from 80 caps across the 2018 World Cup and the Asian Cups of 2015 and 2019. LM2013–19

24 MA 82 Mohammed Al-Breik The right flank at Al-Hilal was his from 2014 to 2024, 188 league matches of it, and IFFHS put him at full-back in its Asian team of the decade for 2011 to 2020. Two AFC Champions Leagues in 2019 and 2021, six Saudi Pro League titles, four King Cups, four Super Cups, 46 caps, and World Cup squads in Russia and Qatar. RB2011–24

25 NA 82 Nawaf Al-Abed Two seconds after kick-off against Al-Shoulla on 7 November 2009, Al-Abed had already scored, and FIFA never ratified the record because Al-Hilal had fielded overage players in that Prince Faisal U-21 Cup tie. He won the 2019 AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal, five Saudi league titles, two King Cups and six Crown Prince Cups, and was named best player of the 2014 Gulf Cup across 57 caps for Saudi Arabia. CAM2009–19

26 YA 82 Yasser Al-Shahrani Deep into stoppage time against Argentina in Lusail on 22 November 2022, with a 2-1 lead to protect, he collided with his own goalkeeper, left the pitch with a fractured jaw and facial bones, and was flown to Germany for surgery. Six Saudi Pro League titles with Al-Hilal, the AFC Champions League in 2019 and 2021, five King Cups, and 82 caps at left back. LB2019–22

27 AA 81 Abdullah Al-Mayouf On 12 May 2023 the King Cup final against Al Wehda went to penalties and stayed there, and the kick that finally settled it at 7-6 was struck by Al-Hilal's own goalkeeper. Two AFC Champions Leagues in 2019 and 2021, six King Cups, Saudi league titles with Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal, runners-up at the 2022 Club World Cup, and the opening match of the 2018 World Cup against Russia. GK2018–23

28 AO 81 Abdullah Otayf Bahrain took the Gulf Cup final 1-0 on 8 December 2019, and the tournament's best player award still went to the beaten team's holding midfielder, Abdullah Otayf. Two AFC Champions League titles with Al-Hilal, in 2019 and 2021, head his record, alongside five Saudi league championships, four King Cups, three Super Cups and 45 caps that covered the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. CM2018–22

29 AZ 81 Abdullah Zubromawi Abu Dhabi, 21 December 1996: 120 goalless minutes against the hosts, then he converted his kick in the shootout that made Saudi Arabia champions of Asia. That title came with a place in the 1996 Team of the Tournament, and he finished with 142 caps, three World Cups from 1994 to 2002, and selection to the AFC fans' all-time World Cup XI. CB1994–2002

30 KA 81 Khaled Aziz Jakarta, 29 July 2007: a midfielder by trade, he started the Asian Cup final at left back and held the line until Younis Mahmoud met a corner on 73 minutes and Iraq took the trophy. Runner-up in that tournament, a place in the 2006 World Cup squad, 63 caps in four years between 2005 and 2009, and nine seasons at Al-Hilal that ran to 203 league appearances. CDM2005–09

31 MA 80 Mohammed Al-Owais Messi converted his penalty after ten minutes at Lusail on 22 November 2022 and then spent the rest of the night finding Al-Owais in the way; Saudi Arabia won 2-1 and the goalkeeper took the man of the match award. Behind that night sit two Saudi Pro League titles with Al-Hilal, three King Cups, three Super Cups, the 2017-18 Goalkeeper of the Season award, 68 caps and two World Cups. GK2017–22

32 OH 80 Omar Hawsawi He was 34 when he left Al-Nassr for Al-Ittihad in 2020, and three years later he was in the back line that ended the club's fourteen-year wait for a league title. Four Saudi Pro League titles in all, three of them at Al-Nassr, plus the Crown Prince's Cup, two Super Cups, 53 caps, the 2018 World Cup, and the armband at the 2019 Asian Cup. CB2018–20

33 RT 80 Redha Tukar Al-Ittihad won Asia in 2004 with a 6-3 aggregate over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, and the award for the tournament's best player went to their centre-back. Back-to-back AFC Champions Leagues in 2004 and 2005, two Saudi league titles, two King Cups, the Arab Champions League, an Asian Cup Winners' Cup with Al-Shabab, plus 98 caps and 11 goals for Saudi Arabia, with World Cup squads in 2002 and 2006. CB2002–06

About this XI

At the head of Saudi Arabia's pool stand Majed Abdullah, Mohamed Noor and Nawaf Al-Temyat. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 14 midfielders and 6 forwards. Majed Abdullah leads the pool at 87 overall. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.

Who is the greatest Saudi Arabia footballer of all time?

In the 33 Legends editorial ranking, Majed Abdullah leads Saudi Arabia with an overall rating of 87. The editorial top five: Majed Abdullah, Mohamed Noor, Nawaf Al-Temyat, Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohamed Al-Deayea. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.

How were these 33 Saudi Arabia players chosen?

The pool covers every position across Saudi Arabia's football history. Ratings weigh peak level, longevity, honours and historical standing, then the full methodology page explains the tiers. Fan votes in the duels build a second, independent ranking.

Which Saudi Arabia players reach the Immortal tier or higher?

None yet. Majed Abdullah leads the Saudi Arabia pool at 87, in the Icon tier.

Can I build and share my own Saudi Arabia all-time XI?

Yes. Pick one of eight formations, drag any of the 33 onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.