Al Hilal's 68-Year Odyssey: Celebrations, Records, and a World-Class Keeper Shines
17 October 2025
Founding and a Trophy-Laden Legacy
Al Hilal fans enjoyed an unforgettable day as the club marked its 68th founding anniversary, celebrating the team that is the most decorated in Saudi football history.
Al Hilal was founded on October 16, 1957, by Abdulrahman bin Said, and since then has stood as a symbol of sporting excellence in the Kingdom.
Celebrations and Messages from the Squad
On Thursday, supporters of the "Leader"—the club's nickname—took part in activities shared on the club’s official X account to honor this milestone and to delight fans across the country.
Several players issued congratulatory messages, including midfielder Serge Milinković-Savić, Portuguese Ruben Neves, Brazilian winger Malcolm, forward Marcus Leonardo, Uruguayan Darwin Núñez, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Local stars Ali Lajami, Mohammed Kanno, and Mohammed Al-Qahtani joined the celebrations, and the club offered fans a chance to pose with the cups the team has won over the years.
A Glorious Record, A Star Emerges
The club's long list of achievements in Saudi football includes 21 league titles (a Saudi record), nine King’s Cups, 13 Crown Prince Cups, five Saudi Super Cups, and four AFC Champions League titles. It also holds the Founder’s Cup from 2000, earned after beating Al-Ahli in the final.
The day was especially meaningful for Salem Al-Dawsari, who was named Asia's Best Player in 2025 for the second time, after a year that featured 27 goals and 18 assists across 51 matches, along with a league tally of 15 goals and 15 assists.
Al-Dawsari led the league in assists with 15, tied for the most contributions with Karim Benzema at the top of the standings, and topped Asia in the AFC Champions League with 10 goals, even as the team bowed out in the semi-finals to Al Ahli.
In the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, he contributed in the early rounds before missing the knockout games due to injury. He also earned local awards as the league's best player and was named Best Player in the league by SofaScore.
Yassine Bono Signs On and Keeps the Goal Clean
The celebrations culminated with the club announcing the renewal of Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bono's contract for two more seasons through 2028, despite interest from European clubs following his standout World Cup performance.
Bono joined from Sevilla in 2023 and has since appeared in 99 matches for the club, conceding 94 goals and keeping 38 clean sheets. His finest hour came at the 2025 Club World Cup, with 23 saves—the most of any goalkeeper—earning him a place among the tournament's best, and helping him earn a spot on the initial Ballon d'Or goalkeeper shortlist issued by France Football.
He has been lauded for his contributions, and his renewal signals that Al Hilal intends to keep a guard at the gates as they push for more glory in Asia and beyond.
Punchline 1: If trophies were bullets, Al Hilal would need a bigger safe. Target acquired, squad locked.
Punchline 2: Their defense is so tight that even the scoreboard asks for permission to blink. Boom, another goal!
