Ali_Al_Bulaihi

Ali Al-Bulaihi

Ali Al-Bulaihi

Saudi Arabian footballer (born 1991)

Ali Hadi Mohammed Al-Bulaihi (Arabic: علي هادي محمد البليهي; born 21 November 1989) is a Saudi who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Saudi Arabia national team.[4]

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Al-Bulaihi has gained reputation of constantly trash talking and taunting the opposition players. In January 2024, he drew criticism for physically abusing opposing forwards like shoving and grabbing the hair of South Korean forwards Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, unprovoked during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round of 16 clash. Al-Bulaihi had previously similarly taunted Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski by slamming on the back during their fixtures in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also on Luis Suárez. He also did similar instances in club level as well. Most notably in multiple occasions against Cristiano Ronaldo during the Riyadh derby games in the Saudi Pro League and did the same against Hakim Ziyech at 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.[5][6]

Club career

Al-Bulaihi started his career at Al-Amal where he spent three years before joining Al-Nahda in 2014.[7] On 23 July 2015, he joined Al-Fateh.[8]

Al-Hilal

On 21 June 2017, Al-Hilal signed Al Bulaihi on a free transfer. He signed a three-year contract with the club.[9]

In April 2024, in a derby match against rival team Al Nassr, he gathered some controversy after being elbowed by Cristiano Ronaldo after trying to intimidate him, resulting in a red card for Ronaldo and a yellow card for Al-Bulaihi.[10]

International career

Al-Bulaihi with Saudi Arabia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

In June 2018, Al-Bulaihi was named in Saudi Arabia's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[11] He made his debut in the competition against Uruguay.[12] In November 2022, he was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[13] In the opening game, he played the whole match as his team defeated the eventual world champions Argentina 2–1.[14]

In January 2024, he drew criticism for shoving and grabbing the hair of South Korean player Son Heung-min, unprovoked, during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round of 16. Al-Bulaihi had previously similarly taunted Argentine player Lionel Messi by slapping him on the back.[15][16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 20 January 2024[17]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Appearance in Crown Prince Cup
  2. Six appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup, one appearance in Saudi Super Cup, and one appearance in Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup
  3. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  4. One appearance in Saudi Super Cup, and two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  5. One appearance in Saudi Super Cup, and two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  6. appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup

International

Statistics accurate as of match played 21 March 2024.[18]
More information Saudi Arabia, Year ...
More information No., Date ...

Honours

Al Hilal

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    Ali Al-Bulaihi at Soccerway Edit this at Wikidata
  2. [2]
    "FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019: List of Players: Al Hilal SFC" (PDF). FIFA. 5 December 2019. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Ali Al-Bulaihi". Saudi Pro League. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  4. [4]
    "علي هادي آل بليهي - Ali Al-Boleahi".
  5. [5]
    "Son Heung-min involved in clash with Saudi player who has already confronted Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo". SPORTbible. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. [6]
    "메시 도발했던 사우디 선수, 손흥민 머리채 잡고 황희찬 목 조르고". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  7. [7]
    "النجم علي البليهي من ملعب نادي البكيرية إلى الملاعب العالمية".
  8. [8]
    ""الفتح" يوقع مع "البليهي".. ويواجه "الترجي" ودياً غداً". 23 July 2015.
  9. [9]
    "الهلال السعودي يعلن ضم مدافع الفتح". 9 July 2019.
  10. [10]
    "Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo red-carded for elbowing Saudi Super Cup soccer foe". 9 April 2024.
  11. [11]
    Soliman, Seif (4 June 2018). "Saudi Arabia announce final 23-man World Cup squad". kingfut.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Uruguay 1–0 Saudi Arabia". FIFA. 20 June 2018.
  13. [13]
    "Renard announces the national team list for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  14. [14]
    "'You won't win' - What Saudi Arabia defender Ali Al-Bulayhi said to Lionel Messi during shock victory over Argentina". Goal.com. 22 November 2022.
  15. [15]
    "Son Heung-min involved in clash with Saudi player who has already confronted Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo". SPORTbible. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  16. [16]
    "메시 도발했던 사우디 선수, 손흥민 머리채 잡고 황희찬 목 조르고". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  17. [17]
    "Ali Al-Bulaihi". Soccerway.
  18. [18]
    Ali Al-Bulaihi at National-Football-Teams.com
  19. [19]
    "Team of the Tournament". Instagram.com. AFC Asian Cup. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
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