Al Hilal return to their Brazilian roots

• Al Hilal have a rich history of Brazilian stars
• World Cup winner Rivellino started the trend in the 1970s
• Likes of Marcos Leonardo and Malcom are carrying the torch now

The Saudi Premier League (renamed the Saudi Pro League in 2008) was in its early stages when one of the biggest stars in world football was signed by Al Hilal in 1978. A few months after competing at the 1978 FIFA World Cup™, Rivellino reached Riyadh in what was a pioneering move.

“Football was just getting started over there," he told Sao Paulo-based newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. "Back then, we all trained at the same stadium where the matches were played. There were three teams in the city; we trained from 18:00 to 19:00, another team from 19:00 to 20:00 and the third team from 20:00 to 21:00."

The iconic No11 from Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup™-winning squad arrived at the club accompanied by another Brazilian legend, as Mario Zagallo took over as coach. The duo were crowned Saudi champions in their first season together.

While Zagallo, who was affectionately known as 'The Old Wolf', decided to return to Brazil at the end of that season, Rivellino went on to spend three seasons at the club that would go on to become a tidal force that swept across Middle Eastern and Asian football. At the end of his spell with the Blue Wave, he called time on his stellar career.

Today, Marcos Leonardo, Malcom, Renan Lodi and Kaio Cesar form Al Hilal’s Brazilian quartet at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, honouring a legacy that spans almost half a century on the pitch. On Friday, 4 July, they will take to the field in Orlando to face Fluminense FC in the opening quarter-final fixture.

Interestingly, Rivellino was on Fluminense’s books during the 1970s before making the move to Saudi Arabia. Thanks to back-to-back Rio state championship titles in 1975 and 1976, he etched his name into the club’s history books, while Zagallo also spent time with the club as coach.

When asked about the time he spent with Al Hilal, Rivellino, or 'Rivo' as he was nicknamed in his new home, said that he still felt like an elite player and that he even had the opportunity to join Tele Santana’s phenomenal Brazil squad at the 1982 FIFA World Cup™. “[It was an honour] to have been considered by the Seleção whilst playing in Saudi Arabia," he said. "But at that time, I was in terrible shape. If anyone had seen me play..."

Rivellino’s influence and his 'atomic kick' had such an impact that Al Hilal continued to invest heavily in talent from the five-time world champions. Over the years, the club has signed 37 Brazilian players and hired 20 coaches, the first of whom was Paulo Amaral – former Brazil national-team fitness coach in 1958 when O Canarinho won their first world title – who had also plied his trade at Juventus in Italy. 

The most successful club in Asian football, Al Hilal owes much of its four-time continental success to Verde-Amarela talent, with several connections to Fluminense throughout its history.

In 1991, they won the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time under the guidance of Paulo Emilio, who had also won the Rio de Janeiro state championship with Rivellino at Flu. Another notable figure in Fluminense’s history, midfielder Thiago Neves, was crowned Saudi champion with Al Hilal in 2009 and 2010 and also won the Saudi Crown Prince Cup. In Rio, he won both the Brasileirão and the Rio state championship in 2012. 

In the modern age, Brazilians played a key role in Al Hilal’s victory against the mighty Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup™ Round of 16.

Malcom scored the second goal to put his side ahead and posed a constant threat on the counter-attack with his explosive runs. In the second half, he was replaced by Kaio Cesar, whose role was to sustain the pressure with long balls. Renan Lodi had a great game at the back and showed his knack for passing and crossing, especially from set-pieces.

But the hero of that thrilling match – which was decided in extra time – was Marcos Leonardo, who scored the first and fourth goals, putting himself firmly in contention to be named as the tournament's Top Goal Scorer presented by Bank of America.

“When I scored the goal, as I was controlling the ball, I felt cramps in both my legs, but I said: ‘I can’t stop now’. Thank God it paid off," the forward said. "I have to thank the whole team for their effort in this match. It was very difficult, but we came away with the result. It’s a historic moment.

“We’re taking it game by game, next up: the quarter-finals. There are no easy games. We’re going to face a great team, and God willing we’ll reach the semis."