Saleh Al Shehri: firing for club, central to country's World Cup hopes | OneFootball

As Al Ittihad captain, Karim Benzema has led the club’s stirring start to the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League, the tip of a tantalising forward line that has propelled the 2022-23 champions into the thick of a title race.

Personally, Benzema burst out of the blocks this campaign, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner scoring eight goals in the first eight matchweeks. Like Al Ittihad sitting second in the table, the Frenchman’s individual input placed him behind only Aleksandar Mitrovic in the early going for the golden boot.

But then Benzema was struck by injury. Consequently, he has sat out Al Ittihad’s past two RSL matches, the first of which was the highly anticipated Sea Derby with Jeddah rivals Al Ahli.

Yet, Al Ittihad did not skip a beat. They defeated their cross-city foes 1-0, then last week saw off Al Orobah 2-0 away. As such, Laurent Blanc’s men went into the current FIFA international break one point off the summit and will resume the domestic campaign next week looking only at Al Hilal in front.

Of course, given his resume and reputation, Benzema will always be missed in some way. But in those two most recent matches, Al Ittihad’s attack has continued to thrive. And a large part of that is down to a local who has found form at just the right time. Tasked with almost impossible boots to fill, Saleh Al Shehri has embraced the challenge, and ensured Al Ittihad momentum maintains.

The Saudi Arabian has been patient, but when required, pivotal, too. He netted the winner against Al Ahli in Matchweek 9, a cool finish following great work from assist-machine Moussa Diaby, then opened the scoring last time out at Al Orobah. On that occasion, Al Shehri stole between opposing defenders to meet Muhannad Al Shanqiti's cross and head home from close range. The latter helped lift Al Ittihad to the top of the table, albeit temporarily.

Both goals displayed Al Shehri’s sublime predatory instinct. Having begun his career at Al Ahli, the Jeddah-born striker returned to the city this summer following five years in Riyadh with Al Hilal. During that time, Al Shehri collected a multitude of trophies, including four league titles and three King’s Cup crowns. He is a two-time AFC Asian Champions League winner.

In the RSL alone, he scored 23 goals for Al Hilal, a relatively modest number but a result of him starting only 20 league matches there. In all, Al Saleh made 98 appearances from the bench. (It is worth noting the forward netted 16 times in 25 matches for Al Raed during the RSL 2018-19, prompting his transfer to Al Hilal).

Yet, such is Al Shehri's skillset, that Al Ittihad moved in the off-season to make him part of the club’s robust rebuild. It is a decision that appears to be reaping its rewards. Even though he has started only two of his eight league appearances thus far, Al Shehri has chipped in with three goals – the latter two proving crucial to his team’s title challenge.

It's the sort of form that makes Al Shehri particularly integral to the national team’s hopes of making the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Like lately at Al Ittihad, the frontman is expected to lead the line for his country across the next five days, which encompasses the hugely significant qualifier against Australia in Melbourne on Thursday, then again in Indonesia next Tuesday.

As the qualification third round reaches its halfway point, Saudi Arabia are third in Group C, level on five points with second-placed Australia and fourth-placed Bahrain. Japan lead the way, on 10 points. Only the top two are guaranteed a spot at the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Returning Saudi manager Herve Renard, taking the team for the first time since his reappointment last month, knows exactly what Al Shehri offers. In qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he scored seven goals in 13 appearances. In the second round this time, under then-manager Roberto Mancini, he notched four in five qualifiers.

And, of course, Al Shehri’s most memorable contribution came in Renard’s finest moment in charge of the national team. With the Green Falcons 1-0 to Argentina in their Group C opener at the Qatar World Cup, Al Shehri equalised three minutes into the second half. Saudi went on to win 2-1 and record one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Argentina eventually won the tournament.

And, as Al Ittihad have found this this month, Al Shehri is a player willing and able to make the difference. On Wednesday, at the pre-match press conference in Melbourne to preview the Australia clash, he was asked about carrying the Saudi attack in the absence of injured captain, and reigning AFC Player of the Year, Salem Al Dawsari.

Al Shehri’s reply should not have surprised. Having deputised expertly in the RSL for Benzema, he knows exactly what he can provide.

“As a Saudi team, we always have a lot of players that can fill any shoes,” Al Shehri said. “So, either me or my other colleagues, we’re going to do our best to win this game. On the personal side, I think I’m going to have a good game. And, hopefully, I’m going to score for my team tomorrow.”

Clearly crucial to his club, Al Shehri is ready to play a central role for his country also.