Al-Hilal: Can Benzema take Al-Dawsari’s armband? | OneFootball

Could Al-Hilal’s captaincy change after Benzema’s arrival?

Al-Dawsari / @nabd.com/

Many Al-Hilal supporters are wondering about the future of the captain’s armband following the official arrival of French striker Karim Benzema to the squad.

The "Zaim" announced on Monday that Benzema (38) has signed for the club starting January 2026 on an 18-month contract. The forward joins as a free agent after concluding his spell with Al-Ittihad.

Could Al-Hilal’s captaincy change after Benzema’s arrival?

In this context, club legend Mohammed Al-Deayea weighed in on the possibility of the armband passing from Salem Al-Dawsari to the new star.

Speaking on the show “Dourina Ghair,” Al-Deayea emphasized that Al-Hilal’s traditions are crystal clear on this matter: the captain’s armband is reserved for Saudi players only.

The former Saudi national team goalkeeper underlined that this rule is one of the club’s core principles. He expressed confidence that Salem Al-Dawsari would remain captain, dismissing any suggestion that a foreign player could inherit the armband.

It’s worth recalling that “KB9,” Benzema’s nickname, wore the captain’s armband at Al-Ittihad since the summer of 2023, following his departure from Real Madrid.