Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ahli Classic: A battle for the top spot and market value in the Kingdom. Arena
Tomorrow evening (Monday), all eyes of football fans will be on Riyadh, specifically the Kingdom Arena, the modern stronghold and architectural masterpiece of Saudi sports, to witness the thrilling Saudi Arabian football classic between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli. This highly anticipated match is part of the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League for the current 2025-2026 season, and is a crucial encounter for both teams given their positions in the league standings.
This match holds exceptional significance that transcends the boundaries of the pitch; it comes amidst the tremendous boom in the Saudi Arabian sports sector, where the Saudi League has transformed into a global destination attracting the game's biggest stars. The Clasico is no longer merely a local rivalry, but has become an event with widespread international following, reflecting the success of the sports investment strategy that has made Saudi clubs powerhouses capable of attracting world-class players, thus raising the level of competition and the technical quality of the matches.
In terms of the digital competition, Al-Hilal enters the match sitting atop the Roshan League standings with 46 points, but faces direct pressure from Al-Ahli, who trail by a narrow margin of no more than 3 points. This small difference transforms the encounter into a "six-pointer," as Al-Hilal seeks to widen the gap and extend their lead, while Al-Ahli aims to close the gap and even the score in the heated title race.
When speaking in terms of numbers and money, we are witnessing the most expensive derby in the league's history, with the combined market value of the players on the pitch reaching approximately €351 million. For Al-Hilal, Uruguayan striker Núñez tops the list as the most valuable player with a market value approaching €35 million, followed by French left-back Theo at €28 million, and then Portuguese maestro Rúben Neves at €25 million. Domestically, the solid defender Hassan Tambakti stands out as the most valuable Saudi player in the Blue squad at €1.8 million, followed by "The Tornado" Salem Al-Dawsari at €1.3 million, and then Mutaeb Al-Harbi at €1.2 million, bringing the total value of Al-Hilal's stars to around €180.3 million.
In contrast, Al-Ahli's squad is no less impressive in terms of value and star power. Frenchman Enzo Meo tops the list of the team's most valuable players at €28 million, followed by Brazilian winger Galinho at €22 million, English striker Ivan Toni at €20 million, and Brazilian defender Roger Ibañez at €17 million. Domestically, prolific striker Firas Al-Buraikan leads the list of Saudi players at Al-Ahli with a value of €4 million, followed by Ali Majrashi at €1.2 million and Ziyad Al-Juhani at €700,000, bringing the total market value of the club's stars to approximately €170.78 million.
These astronomical figures are not just statistics, but a true indicator of the high technical quality that the Kingdom Arena stadium will witness, where the audience is waiting for a football show befitting the reputation of the two teams and the status of the Saudi League globally.
