In the Mexico vs. South Africa game, Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup edition. Mexico and South Africa opened the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, June 11, in front of a sellout crowd at the iconic Estadio Azteca. With all eyes on the first game of the competition, Julian Quiñones made his way in history by scoring the first goal of the World Cup. As South Africa attempted to build possession out from the back, midfielder Siphephelo Sithole was suffocated by a high press from Erik Lira, who forced a crucial turnover deep in the attacking third. Quiñones pounced on the loose ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a low, powerful strike that nutmegged goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, opening the tournament’s scoring account in the 8th minute. MEXICO SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP 🇲🇽It's Julián Quiñones in the scoresheet! pic.twitter.com/SnoP04ltFP— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 11, 2026 By finding the back of the net early, Quiñones accounted for the fastest goal scored in a World Cup opening match since Germany’s Philipp Lahm famously curled one past Costa Rica in the 6th minute back in 2006. The gold standard for the earliest goal in a tournament curtain-raiser still belongs to 1934, when Argentina’s Ernesto Belis struck in just the 4th minute against Sweden. Quiñones breaks scoring drought with Mexico Julian Quiñones arrived at the World Cup carrying some of the most scorching club form on the planet, having found the back of the net a stunning 37 times across 35 total appearances for Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah. In fact, the dynamic forward completely stole the headlines by outlasting global heavyweights Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo in a thrilling Golden Boot race, claiming the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League’s top-scorer crown with 33 goals in 31 domestic matches. In stark contrast, his track record with El Tri had been far less clinical, as he entered the tournament with just two goals in 22 international caps. With his early strike against South Africa, Quiñones not only successfully translated his blistering club form to the international stage, but he also snapped an agonizing national team drought dating back to June 8, 2024, when he last scored in a 3-2 friendly defeat against Brazil. *Developing story…
The Saudi Pro League has unveiled another honor for Cristiano Ronaldo following his performances with Al Nassr. Al Nassr achieved their long-awaited goal of winning the Saudi Pro League title this season. It was also Cristiano Ronaldo‘s first trophy since joining the club in January 2023, earning him several individual accolades along the way. The latest was announced Thursday through the league’s official social media accounts. “After 34 match-weeks played, the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League Fantasy team of the season is here,” the post on X reads alongside an image featuring the 11 selected players. Cristiano Ronaldo was, unsurprisingly, included as one of the forwards in the lineup, alongside Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Al-Taawoun’s Roger Martinez. The Team of the Season also features one of CR7’s teammates during Al Nassr‘s title-winning campaign: Joao Felix. The other players recognized by the Saudi Pro League were Al-Ettifaq goalkeeper Marek Rodak, Al Qadsiah’s Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Julian Quinones, Al Ittihad’s Danilo Pereira, Al Hilal’s Theo Hernandez and Ruben Neves, and Al-Shabab’s Yannick Carrasco. After 34 match-weeks played, the 2025/26 @SPLfantasy team of the season is here 👑 pic.twitter.com/S3xE0AZJbr— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) June 4, 2026 What is Saudi Pro League Fantasy? Saudi Pro League Fantasy is a virtual manager game that allows fans to build their ideal team from the league and compete against other users on a weekly basis. Each participant receives an initial budget to select players, with certain restrictions, including a maximum of three players from the same club. Based on the performances of those selected players in each match, users earn points. The combined total from the 11 selected players determines the winner of each Matchday and, ultimately, the overall season champion. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the highest-scoring players of the season in Saudi Pro League Fantasy with 296 points, earning him a place in the Team of the Season. The top performer was Julian Quinones with 356 points, followed by Ivan Toney with 319 and Joao Felix with 311. Other honors received by Ronaldo this season The Saudi Pro League Fantasy Team of the Season selection adds to a lengthy list of honors Cristiano Ronaldo received during Al Nassr’s title-winning 2025-26 campaign. The Portuguese forward was also named among the five finalists for the Player of the Season award, which was voted on by team captains, coaches, media representatives and fans. However, Joao Felix claimed the top honor. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was voted Fans’ Player of the Season.
The Saudi Pro League triumph has already sparked discussions about the next phase of the project in Riyadh, with major internal changes and ambitious new targets now emerging behind the scenes. Cristiano Ronaldo finally achieved one of his biggest objectives in the Middle East after guiding Al-Nassr to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title, ending years of frustration and bringing the club its first league crown since 2019. The triumph has already sparked discussions about the next phase of the project in Riyadh, with major internal changes and ambitious new targets now emerging behind the scenes. The Saudi side sealed the championship dramatically on the final day of the season with a commanding 4–1 victory over Damac at Al-Awwal Park. Ronaldo delivered a decisive brace, while Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman added goals in a performance that perfectly captured the attacking strength the club showed throughout the campaign. Al-Nassr finished the season with 86 points from 34 league matches, narrowly edging fierce rivals Al-Hilal by two points in one of the closest title races in recent Saudi Pro League history. The club also finished as the league’s most dangerous attacking side after scoring an impressive 91 goals across the season. The championship carried enormous emotional significance for the 41-year-old superstar after several difficult seasons in Saudi Arabia. Despite his remarkable scoring numbers since arriving in Riyadh, major trophies had repeatedly slipped away from him in league races, domestic cup competitions, and continental tournaments. Only days before lifting the Saudi title, the club had suffered another painful setback after losing the AFC Champions League Two final against Gamba Osaka. That defeat placed even greater pressure on the squad heading into the final league fixture against Damac. Jorge Jesus leaves after fulfilling his promise The title celebrations also marked the end of Jorge Jesus’ short but memorable spell in Riyadh. The Portuguese coach officially stepped down immediately after helping the club secure the championship, having reportedly planned from the beginning to remain for only one season. Jesus later confirmed that helping Ronaldo become Saudi champion had always been one of his main objectives at the club. “I came here to help Cristiano and this club to win,” Jesus said after the celebrations. “We did an incredible job all together… now for me it’s time to go.” What a journey. What a chapter. 🏆💛Obrigado, Mister 🙏🏼#ChampionStateOfMind pic.twitter.com/kVKSnRXkRX— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) May 28, 2026 The veteran manager admitted the challenge had been one of the toughest of his career because of the quality of Al-Hilal and the expectations surrounding the project. His tactical approach transformed the team into one of the most balanced and aggressive sides in Saudi soccer. “When I accepted this challenge, I knew it would be extremely difficult,” Jesus explained. “To beat Al Hilal, we had to become much better than everybody else. And we did that because we built a very united group.” His departure now leaves Al-Nassr searching for a new permanent manager at one of the most important moments in the club’s modern history. Al-Nassr’s next major objective finally revealed While winning the Saudi Pro League represented a huge achievement, it is already clear that the club’s ambitions are growing even larger. According to the club’s former Legal Department Manager, Saad Al-Subaie, the strategy for next season has already been approved internally with a long-term vision focused on sustained dominance. The primary goal will now be building a squad capable of competing for and winning the AFC Champions League Elite. Club officials reportedly view continental success as the next major step in establishing Al-Nassr among the elite clubs in Asian soccer. Edouard Mendy of Al Ahli lifts the AFC Champions League Elite trophy with teammates. Retaining the Saudi Pro League title and competing for addition
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, supporters of both stars have turned their attention toward a different battle: whether the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer will have the stronger presence on soccer’s biggest stage. The debate surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has once again spilled beyond individual greatness and into the leagues they currently represent. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, supporters of both stars have turned their attention toward a different battle: whether the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer will have the stronger presence on soccer’s biggest stage. Recent social media discussions attempted to paint a dramatic gap between the two competitions, with claims suggesting one league has nearly double the representation of the other at the tournament. However, the reality behind those numbers is far more complicated than many fans initially believed. According to multiple reports, both leagues are sending a significant number of players to the World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The discussion quickly gained traction online because it was framed as another chapter in the Ronaldo-versus-Messi rivalry, despite the context behind the figures telling a much deeper story. MLS benefits from the host nation effect Much of the attention focused on claims that MLS would have around 50 players involved in the World Cup, while the Saudi Pro League would contribute roughly half that amount. While those figures were partially accurate in some early estimates, analysts pointed out that the numbers alone fail to explain the full picture. The biggest factor behind MLS’ strong representation is the automatic qualification of the United States, Canada, and Mexico as tournament hosts. Those three national teams naturally rely heavily on domestic-based talent, giving MLS a substantial numerical advantage. Tim Ream, player of United States, poses with his jersey during the United States World Cup roster reveal The United States squad alone features eight active MLS players representing eight separate clubs. On top of that, many other members of the squad either came through MLS academies or previously played in the league before moving abroad. Canada also includes several MLS-based players, while Mexico continues to feature talent connected to the North American competition. As a result, the league’s total World Cup presence grew rapidly ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament. As per MLS-related reports, more than 50 players connected to the league could participate in the tournament, marking a record number for the competition. Saudi Pro League’s influence extends across continents While MLS may have the advantage in raw numbers, the Saudi Pro League has built a very different kind of World Cup footprint. Rather than relying on host nations, the Saudi competition is represented through a mixture of domestic Saudi talent and internationally recognized stars. The Saudi Arabia national team alone is almost entirely made up of Saudi Pro League players, with around 28 members of the preliminary squad coming from domestic clubs. That instantly boosts the league’s influence at the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates with Joao Felix after scoring Beyond the local core, several major international stars based in Saudi Arabia are expected to play crucial roles for their countries. Cristiano Ronaldo will captain Portugal once again, while teammates Joao Felix and Ruben Neves are also part of the Portuguese setup. Senegal will depend heavily on Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly, all of whom currently compete in the Saudi Pro League. Brazil midfielder Fabinho, Mexico forward Julian Quinones, Turkey defender Merih Demiral, and Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie further strengthen the league’s global representation. 📋 La Liste des 28 Lions retenus par le sélectionneur national Pape Thiaw pour représenter le Sénégal à la Coupe du Monde 2026. #FIFAWC2026 #ListeGaideyi
Julian Quinones, the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot winner, has now made a crucial decision about his future, a development that could shape the balance of power in the competition ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest triumph in Saudi Arabia may have brought celebrations to Al-Nassr, but another major storyline quickly emerged around one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. Julian Quinones, the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot winner, has now made a crucial decision about his future, a development that could shape the balance of power in the competition ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The race between Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivan Toney, and Julian Quinones became one of the defining stories of the Saudi season. While Al-Nassr eventually lifted the league title, the battle for individual scoring honors produced drama until the final matchday, with Quinones remarkably stealing the spotlight. The 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season ended with one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory. Heading into the final round, Ivan Toney led the scoring chart with 32 goals for Al-Ahli, while Quinones followed closely with 30, and Ronaldo remained within reach with 26. Everything changed in the closing hours of the campaign. Quinones exploded with a hat-trick in Al-Qadsiah’s 5-1 victory over Al-Ittihad, finishing the season with 33 league goals in 31 appearances. Meanwhile, Toney failed to score during Al-Ahli’s final match against Al-Khaleej. Ronaldo scored twice in Al-Nassr’s 4-1 win over Damac, but his final tally of 28 goals was not enough to secure a third consecutive Golden Boot. Ronaldo still protects a historic record Even though Ronaldo missed out on the individual award, his influence over Saudi soccer continues to dominate the league. The Portuguese forward still owns the all-time single-season Saudi Pro League scoring record with 35 goals, a mark established during the 2023-24 campaign. That record survived another intense challenge this season. Neither Quinones nor Toney managed to surpass the extraordinary total Ronaldo produced at the age of 39, further strengthening the Al-Nassr captain’s legacy in the region. Hat-trick on the final day to become the 🔝 scorer in the #RoshnSaudiLeague? Just Julian Quinones things 😎 🎩 pic.twitter.com/hcpThT81q9— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 24, 2026 Ronaldo also achieved a long-awaited milestone by helping Al-Nassr secure the Saudi Pro League title for the first time since 2019. After years of frustration and near misses, the Portuguese superstar finally lifted the domestic trophy that had previously escaped him in Saudi Arabia. Quinones makes official decision on his future As speculation around his future intensified following his Golden Boot triumph, Julian Quinones officially signed a contract renewal with Al-Qadisiyah until 2029, ending rumors about a potential departure. The Saudi club confirmed the extension through a high-profile social media announcement, presenting the Mexico international as one of the central figures of its long-term project. The club revealed the agreement was finalized alongside CEO James Bisgrove at the club’s headquarters in Khobar. البانثيرا مكمل .. كتابة تاريخه معانا 🐅✍🏻#القادسية | #جوليان_مكمل pic.twitter.com/1j4J761OYw— نادي القادسية السعودي (@Alqadsiah) May 25, 2026 The renewal represents a massive statement from Al-Qadisiyah, especially after Quinones established himself as one of the league’s elite forwards. Since arriving from Club America in 2024, he has reportedly contributed 62 goals and 12 assists for the club. المجد باقي .. من فصوله كثير 🐅❤️#القادسية | #جوليان_مكمل pic.twitter.com/BmrtWgEhyJ— نادي القادسية السعودي (@Alqadsiah) May 25, 2026 His performances throughout the season consistently delivered results in decisive moments. The striker collected 14 Man of the Match awards during the campaign, underlining his importance to the club.
As the season draws to a close, Cristiano Ronaldo walked away empty-handed regarding individual Saudi Pro League honors, while compatriots Joao Felix and Jorge Jesus scooped up major end-of-year recognitions. Cristiano Ronaldo finally shattered his silverware drought in Saudi Arabia, capturing his first official trophy with Al Nassr following a resounding 4-1 triumph over Damac to lift the Saudi Pro League crown. Yet, despite an exceptional individual campaign, the Portuguese icon was surprisingly overlooked for the league’s top individual honors—prizes that instead went to Joao Felix and manager Jorge Jesus. The legendary forward served as the foundational pillar of Al Nassr’s title charge. With 30 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions, he finished as the club’s absolute top marksman for the season, leading their domestic campaign with 28 league tallies. Remarkably, those staggering numbers weren’t enough to secure him the Player of the Season award, which the Saudi Pro League ultimately handed to Joao Felix. The dynamic Portuguese forward enjoyed an exceptional campaign of his own, directly powering the team’s championship run with a phenomenal output of 20 goals and 13 assists in his debut season. Felix wasn’t the only Al Nassr figure to walk away with a year-end honor. The Saudi Pro League also named Jorge Jesus as the Manager of the Season, rewarding a masterclass tactical campaign in which he guided the club to an incredible record of 28 victories, two draws, and a mere four defeats. Al Nassr’s mastermind Jorge Jesus wins the Manager of the Season award in the #RoshnSaudiLeague for 2025/26! 🧠 Presented by @roshnksa pic.twitter.com/vqoZNvtnra— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 22, 2026 Ronaldo misses out on historic Golden Boot milestone Ronaldo entered the Saudi Pro League campaign on the precipice of soccer history. Had the legendary attacker secured the Golden Boot, it would have marked his third consecutive top-scorer crown, making him only the third player in league history to achieve the three-peat. If Ronaldo had clinched the 2025/26 Golden Boot, he would have joined an elite club featuring Al Ahli legend Omar Al Somah (2014/15 to 2016/17) and Al Nassr icon Majed Abdullah (1978/79 to 1980/81) as the only players to have won the award in three straight seasons. Instead, the veteran striker had to settle for a place in the top three. Ronaldo finished third in the race with his 28 goals, falling just short of Al Ahli frontman Ivan Toney (32 goals) and the ultimate winner, Al Qadsiyah’s Julian Quiñones, who topped the charts with 33 tallies. Ronaldo won match-day awards throughout the campaign While Cristiano missed out on a major end-of-season individual trophy, his campaign was far from devoid of recognition; he racked up an impressive eight Man of the Match awards over the course of the season. Even so, that achievement was narrowly eclipsed by Joao Felix, who took home the honor nine times to finish as Al Nassr’s most decorated match-day performer this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup, entering the tournament on a high note after capturing the Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo is putting the final touches on his preparation for the 2026 World Cup—a tournament that will in all likelihood be the swansong of his legendary international career. Fortuitously for Portugal, their captain enters the grand stage in excellent form, fresh off leading Al Nassr to the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League title. The Portuguese icon was the undisputed star of the show in the final matchday’s 4-1 thrashing of Damac. Ronaldo scored a vital brace to emphatically snap a grueling three-year and four-month wait to lift his first official piece of silverware in Saudi Arabia. From an individual standpoint, it was another stellar campaign for Ronaldo. He finished as the club’s top marksman, bagging 30 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions. While he didn’t quite replicate the absurdly high volume of his previous two seasons—where he racked up 35 and 44 goals, respectively—the veteran forward remained incredibly lethal, maintaining an elite average of 0.81 goals per game. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates with the Saudi Pro League Trophy. (Getty Images) While he ultimately steered his side to domestic league glory, Ronaldo finished third in the Saudi Pro League’s Golden Boot race. His 28 league goals placed him just behind Ivan Toney (30 goals) and the eventual winner, Julian Quiñones (33 goals), narrowly missing out on claiming the award for a third consecutive season. Continental heartbreak remains a blemish Despite the domestic triumph, a massive thorn in Cristiano’s side will undoubtedly be his inability to secure continental glory with Al Nassr. After failing to conquer the AFC Champions League Elite in the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons—the latter of which ended in a painful semifinal exit—Ronaldo had a golden opportunity to claim the AFC Champions League Two crown this term. Al Nassr mounted a spectacular campaign, entering the final against Gamba Osaka on the back of a perfect winning streak. However, the Japanese side pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset right in front of the Alawwal Park faithful, leaving Ronaldo empty-handed on the international club stage once again. Final preparations for the 2026 World Cup With the mission of securing his first official Middle Eastern trophy finally accomplished, Cristiano’s focus now shifts entirely to the Portuguese national team and his impending historic run in North America. The forward arrives with excellent match sharpness under his belt, having featured in 37 matches across all fronts. He missed just four games all season (two with Al Nassr and two international friendlies with Portugal) due to a hamstring injury, while he also missed seven games during the initial stages of the AFC Champions League Two after manager Jorge Jesus opted to rest him. Ronaldo seeking the ultimate international glory There is absolutely no doubt that Cristiano will touch down in North America with a singular, driving obsession: leading Portugal to the first World Cup title in the nation’s history. This would far from be the first major honor he has brought to his country. Under his leadership, Portugal first claimed Euro 2016 by defeating host nation France in the final, followed by UEFA Nations League triumphs in both 2019 and 2025, overcoming the Netherlands and Spain, respectively. Now, Ronaldo chases the elusive, final piece of his immortal trophy cabinet—a crowning achievement that Portugal would never, ever forget.
Ivan Toney pushed the race all the way to the final matchday with Al-Ahli, but despite his impressive scoring form, the English striker could not erase one of the most iconic individual achievements in Saudi Pro League history. Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence over Saudi soccer continues to grow even during a season in which the Al-Nassr captain failed to secure another Golden Boot. Ivan Toney and Julian Quinones pushed the race all the way to the final matchday with Al-Ahli, but despite his impressive scoring form, the duo could not erase one of the most iconic individual achievements in Saudi Pro League history. The battle for the scoring crown produced plenty of suspense during the closing weeks of the campaign. Toney entered the final fixture knowing he had already overtaken Ronaldo in the current Golden Boot standings, while Julian Quinones was still mathematically in contention heading into the final round. Al-Ahli closed out its league campaign emphatically with a commanding 4-1 victory over Al-Khaleej at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium. Although Matthias Jaissle’s side had already secured third place in the table, the club still delivered one of its most complete attacking displays of the season. Ivan Toney and Julian Quinones stop Ronaldo from third consecutive Golden Boot Even though he failed to score in the final game, Toney finished the season with 32 league goals. However, Julian Quinones solidified his position as the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League, surpassing the Englishman on the last matchday of the season and finishing the campaign with 33 goals in 31 matches. His total tally was enough to deny Ronaldo a third consecutive Golden Boot award in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pro League 25-26 List of goalscorers That achievement alone represents a major accomplishment considering Ronaldo’s extraordinary consistency since arriving at Al-Nassr. The Englishman adapted quickly to Saudi soccer and became the focal point of Al-Ahli’s attack throughout the campaign. Ronaldo’s legendary record survives another challenge While Quionones captured the Golden Boot, the bigger piece of history remained untouched. Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary 35-goal record in a single Saudi Pro League season officially stays unbroken after Quinones ended his campaign on 32 goals, and Toney on 32 goals. He established that historic mark during the 2023-24 season with Al-Nassr. The Portuguese superstar scored 35 league goals in only 31 appearances, surpassing the previous single-season record of 34 goals held by former Al-Nassr striker Abderrazak Hamdallah. Last two Saudi Pro League Golden Boot winners The achievement became even more remarkable because the superstar accomplished it at the age of 39. His campaign also included 11 assists, three free-kick goals, and an astonishing average of one goal every 75.6 minutes. Meanwhile, second-placed Julian Quinones ends the season with 33 goals, failing to bridge the two-goal gap needed to surpass the Portuguese’s historic benchmark. The Mexico international needed at least five goals in the final game.
Despite their recent draw against Al Hilal, Al Nassr remain a strong contender to win the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League. However, they must secure a victory today against Damac. To that end, fans are keeping a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo, as he could be the difference-maker in terms of scoring. Al Nassr have managed to become as one of the best teams in the Middle East. Not only did they shine in the AFC Champions League Two, but they have also done so in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League. With this in mind, they face Damac today, needing a victory to crown as league champions after many years of drought. For this, fans are keeping a close eye on Cristiano Ronaldo as he points to be differential from a goalscoring perspective. Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Al Nassr FC, being in full physical condition. While he comes from two games without scoring, the Portuguese striker has shown a great ability to shine in high-pressure moments. In addition, the 41-year-old star managed to score in the previous match between both teams, giving signs that it could happen again today, as he looks to close the gap in the top scorers table. Coupled with Cristiano Ronaldo, head coach Jorge Jesus will repeat the successful setup with João Félix. In addition, Sadio Mané and Kingsley Coman will be the options on the wings, as they come in strong form with Al Nassr. Being one of the best attacking teams, they aim to dominate heavily from a goalscoring perspective, as their opponent is one of the teams with the most defensive instability. Unlike Al Nassr FC, Damac are not coming from their best season. With only 29 points, they are fighting to avoid relegation, battling with Al Riyadh SC, meaning they absolutely need a victory. However, they have not shined from a defensive perspective, conceding 51 goals. Despite this, head coach Fábio Carille could opt for an offensive approach, seeking to take advantage of the spaces behind the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo’s team in order to search for a victory. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr battling for the ball during the Saudi pro league match vs Damac. Al Nassr confirmed lineup vs Damac After their dominant season, Al Nassr arrive as clear favorites to take the victory against Damac, as they have not lost against them since 2021. However, head coach Jorge Jesus will not be able to count on Marcelo Brozović and Sultan Al-Ghannam due to injury. Despite this, they still maintain their main stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix, who will be boosted by the speed and dribbling ability of Sadio Mané and Kingsley Coman. With this in mind, Al Nassr will lineup as follows: Bento Krepski; Nawaf Boushal, Mohamed Simakan, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Inigo Martinez; Kingsley Coman, Ayman Yahya, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Sadio Mane; Joao Félix, Cristiano Ronaldo. Damac confirmed lineup vs Al Nassr Damac arrive with the urgent need to secure a victory against Al Nassr, as they need to avoid relegation. Goalkeeper Kewin Silva could be vital in preventing Cristiano Ronaldo or João Félix from shining. Considering this, they could lineup as follows: Kewin; Sanousi Al-Hawsawi, Jamal Harkass, Abdelkader Bedrane, Abdulrahman Al-Obaid; Hasssan Rabei, Abdu, Dhari Al Anazi, Morlaye Sylla, Arielson, Jonathan Okita.
Morocco announced a training camp roster ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and stars such as Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and Yassine Bounou were not included. With the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup just over 20 days away, many national teams have already announced their final squads for the trip to North America. Morocco unveiled a roster for its pre-tournament training camp, but stars such as Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and Yassine Bounou were not included. “Mohammed Ouahbi calls up a group of players for a preparatory training camp ahead of the final 2026 FIFA World Cup squad announcement,” Morocco shared Thursday in a post on its official X account. That roster is not binding for the World Cup, and it consists of 28 players who are already available to join the national team and begin training at the Mohammed VI Complex between May 22 and May 26. The coaching staff intends to use those days to evaluate players and make final decisions before selecting the 26-man roster for the tournament. The players called up by Ouahbi currently play for clubs in Morocco or in countries where league seasons have already ended. That includes France’s Ligue 1, where players such as Gomis Ibrahim (Olympique Marseille), Ait Boudlal Abdelhamid (Stade Rennais), and Bouaddi Ayyoud (Lille) are based. محمد وهبي يستدعي مجموعة من اللاعبين للدخول في تجمع إعدادي بمركب محمد السادس لكرة القدم قبل الإعلان عن اللائحة النهائية لكأس العالم 2026 Mohammed Ouahbi calls up a group of players for a preparatory training camp ahead of the final 2026 FIFA World Cup™ squad announcement 🇲🇦… pic.twitter.com/aGtQItXCIR— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) May 21, 2026 Hakimi and Morocco’s other stars Unlike Ligue 1, which has already concluded its 2025-26 season, and other leagues such as the Netherlands’ Eredivisie or the Super League Greece, which are in the final stages of their playoffs, several European leagues still have matches remaining. That makes it impossible for players to leave early and join their respective national teams. In Morocco’s case, that situation affects several of the squad’s biggest stars. La Liga will play Matchday 38 this weekend, after which Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abde Ezzalzouli and Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), and Azzedine Ounahi (Girona) will become available. The same applies in Italy with AS Roma’s Neil El Aynaoui and in the Premier League with Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui. Bono will play his final match of the season with Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday. Hakimi, meanwhile, has already finished his Ligue 1 campaign, but he still has the UEFA Champions League final ahead with Paris Saint-Germain against Arsenal. As a result, he will not be able to join Morocco’s training camp until after May 30. Morocco aiming to make history again At Qatar 2022, Morocco became the best-performing African national team in World Cup history by reaching the semifinals. The team lost to France there before finishing fourth after a defeat against Croatia. Now Morocco face the challenge of matching or improving that achievement. As part of Group C, the team will open its North America 2026 campaign against Brazil on Saturday, June 13, before facing Scotland and Haiti.
