In the end, the Saudi Pro League season didn't quite live up to the excitement that fans felt last summer when a host of world famous names arrived. Neymar, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and others all joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Kingdom, but it soon became apparent that there wasn't going to be much of a title race.
AI Hilal were already a winning machine with 18 league titles and four Asian Championships - both records and quickly hit their stride. In the Riyadh derby in early December, it was first v second but when Hilal ran out 3-0 victors over AI Nassr, it was clear where the trophy was going. In the end, the Blues, led by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, won with a margin of 14 points. In the meantime, they also embarked on a world-record winning-streak of 34 games in all competitions.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
