Al Hilal locks down Marcus Leonardo as a Saudi Pro League future star with a bold move
11 November 2025
Rising Star, Future in Focus
Al Hilal’s management has begun taking steps to secure Marcus Leonardo’s future after a breakout season.
Leonardo arrived from Benfica last summer and quickly became a goal machine, following in the footsteps of his former blue-club teammate to keep the attack buzzing.
This season, the 22-year-old continues to excel, emerging as an indispensable piece for the squad.
Contract Talks and Interest from Sao Paulo
ESPN Brazil highlighted his blistering early-season form and reported that the club intends to adjust his salary and extend the deal through 2029.
Meanwhile, Sao Paulo remains keen on a January loan move, hoping to bring the forward back to Brazil on a temporary basis.
Numbers, Turning Point, and Voices from the Sidelines
Since arriving in Riyadh, Leonardo has netted 37 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions, adding four assists along the way.
This season alone, he has eight goals in 11 matches, a tally that even puts him ahead of some high-profile incoming players and signals his rising value.
A turning point came after Joao Cancelo’s injury, prompting the club to register Leonardo domestically and reflect a broader shift in squad planning. It followed the departure of Rennan Lodi and underscored a more aggressive internal approach to keep key players in blue.
Nawaf bin Saad, President of Al Hilal, publicly criticized the league schedule, noting a tough run that included two fixtures in Jeddah against major rivals in quick succession and calling for a fairer calendar and potentially foreign referees in the future.
As for the title chase, Al Nassr has opened with eight straight league wins, while Al Hilal sits third with 20 points after eight matches, scoring 22 and conceding eight, underscoring a competitive season in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Nassr’s results included dominant displays such as a 5-0 win over Cooperation and a 5-1 win over Fajr, among others, highlighting the fierce pressure at the top of the table.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, have won six, drawn two, and lost none in similar fashion, boasting a solid offense and a resilient defense as Leonardo’s goals keep tipping the scales in crucial matches.
From the coach’s perspective, the Brazilian’s form has become a central piece of the tactical plan for the season, with Leonardo scoring against rivals like Al Ittihad and Al Shabab in high-stakes encounters.
And there’s no shortage of public commentary: the club’s leadership is keen on maintaining momentum while navigating the AFCON 2025 window scheduled from late December to late January, during which Al Hilal would reportedly miss some core players like Yassine Bono and Kalidou Koulibaly.
In discussing the calendar’s fairness, the club’s hierarchy has urged for clarity and parity, hoping the schedule serves all clubs equally as the season unfolds.
What did Al Nassr deliver this campaign? They opened with eight straight league wins, signaling a formidable challenge for rivals as Leonardo’s performances continue to draw attention across the league.
What did Al Hilal deliver? The squad logged six wins and two draws, remaining unbeaten, with Leonardo contributing to a 22-goal tally and eight conceded—an indicator of the team’s balance and ambition this term.
Two concrete numbers stand out: 37 goals in 54 games for Leonardo since joining, and eight goals in 11 matches this season, placing him among the league’s most in-form forwards.
Punchlines to close with a wink: If Leonardo keeps scoring like this, the contract extension will require its own renewal clause—call it a seasonal mortgage with a full recap at year-end. And hey, on the calendar front: if the schedule keeps bending, maybe the ball should start filing its own complaint with human resources for overtime and extra time jokes.
