RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Winger Salem Al-Dawsari will lead the Saudi Arabia national football team as captain for the FIFA World Cup 2026, consolidating his position as the primary operational figure and undisputed leader of the national selection. The 34-year-old Al-Hilal talisman enters the tournament backed by a historic career filled with individual and team milestones within both Saudi and Asian football.
Al-Dawsari has accumulated 27 goals in over 112 international caps for the “Green Falcons.” He currently stands as Saudi Arabia’s joint all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup™ history, tied with three goals alongside the legendary forward Sami Al-Jaber.
The most celebrated goal of his international career—and one of the most shocking moments in modern World Cup history—occurred on November 22, 2022, in Qatar. Al-Dawsari’s brilliant second-half strike secured a historic 2–1 victory against eventual champions Argentina during the group stage.
On the continental stage, the attacker reached the pinnacle of individual recognition when he was named the AFC Asian International Player of the Year for 2022 (awarded in late 2023), honoring his stellar performances for both club and country. Additionally, Al-Dawsari holds a distinguished record in the FIFA Club World Cup™, having scored 4 goals across various editions—including a memorable brace against Flamengo in the 2022 tournament—making him one of the highest-scoring Arab players in the competition’s history.
Domestically, the midfielder has spent virtually his entire professional career with Al-Hilal, winning numerous league titles and AFC Champions League trophies. His lifelong tenure with the Riyadh giants was interrupted only in 2018 by a brief six-month loan spell in Spain’s La Liga with Villarreal CF, where he made his official debut in a memorable 2–2 draw against Real Madrid.