Al-Hilal are the 2024 King's Cup champions after a dramatic victory over Al-Nassr
On a night of football that will forever be etched in the memories of fans, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crowned Al Hilal with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup title for the 2023-2024 season. This well-deserved victory came after a marathon and thrilling final match between the two Riyadh giants, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium “The Shining Jewel” in Jeddah, which ended with Al Hilal winning 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
The match was dramatic from the outset, with Al-Hilal taking an early lead through their Serbian star, Aleksandar Mitrovic, in the seventh minute. The excitement continued with the sending off of Al-Nassr's goalkeeper, David Ospina, in the 56th minute, before the final minutes of regulation time saw Al-Hilal defenders Ali Al-Bulaihi and Kalidou Coulibaly dismissed. Al-Nassr capitalized on their numerical advantage, scoring a dramatic equalizer through Ayman Yahya in the 88th minute, forcing the match into extra time and then a penalty shootout. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou brilliantly secured the victory for his team, giving them the coveted title.
Historical significance of the King's Cup
The King's Cup, first held in 1957, is the oldest and most prestigious tournament in Saudi Arabian football history. It holds immense symbolic value as it bears the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, making winning it a coveted honor for all Saudi clubs. This title represents a valuable addition to Al-Hilal's trophy cabinet, solidifying their position as one of the most decorated clubs in the competition and completing an unprecedented treble this season, following their undefeated Saudi Professional League title and the Saudi Super Cup victory.
The impact of winning on the sports scene
Domestically, this victory cements Al-Hilal's absolute dominance of Saudi football this season and confirms the success of its sporting project, which boasts a roster of elite local and international stars. Regionally and internationally, the final garnered widespread global attention due to the intense rivalry between the two teams and the presence of world-class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo for Al-Nassr and Neymar (absent due to injury), Mitrovic, and Savic for Al-Hilal. This win further enhances the reputation of the Saudi League as one of the fastest-growing and most attractive leagues in the world, and confirms that its competition has reached international standards.
With this title, Al-Hilal increased its tally of championship wins to 11, narrowing the gap with Al-Ahli, the record holder with 13 titles. Al-Ittihad comes in third place with 9 titles, followed by Al-Nassr in fourth with 6 titles, reflecting the long and storied history of competition among the Kingdom's top clubs for this prestigious cup.
