Moroccan stars Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou lead a wave of Arab talent nominated for the Ballon d’Or [TNA/Getty]
Saudi football is making headlines on and off the pitch, with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez set for a £46 million move to Al-Hilal and Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez close to joining Al-Nassr, while Moroccan stars Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou lead a wave of Arab talent nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
On the court, Saudi Arabia's basketball team stunned Jordan 77–73 at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, as Iraq slumped to a second straight defeat.
Nunez, Martinez set to join Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr
Liverpool FC is set to agree on a deal to sell Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, following much speculation over his future.
Al-Hilal agreed to a fee of ₤46 million, according to reports on Thursday. The 26-year-old is expected to undergo his medical soon before his move to the Saudi club.
The Saudi Pro League has had a long-standing interest in the player, with Liverpool reportedly rejecting an offer for him from Al-Nassr during the January transfer window.
The Uruguay international was initially signed from Benfica three years ago on a ₤65 million price tag that some critics say he failed to live up to.
Nunez has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but only started eight Premier League games during Liverpool's last season, when they won the Premier League title.
Interest from AC Milan and Napoli did not materialise into significant enough bids for Liverpool to consider, despite Nunez and his representatives pushing for a move.
In other Saudi transfer news, Barcelona's Inigo Martinez is close to making a surprise move to Al-Hilal’s rivals, Al-Nassr, as per reports on Thursday.
The signing came as a shock for Barcelona's fans as the Spanish centre-back was not the subject of any transfer rumours amid the ongoing window.
Martinez also enjoyed a solid season with the Catalan club between 2024 and 2025, and proved instrumental for their multiple trophies during the season.
He is set to join another high-profile signing, after former Barcelona and Chelsea player Joao Felix signed for the Saudi team last week - already home to superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Arab talent featured in Ballon d'Or nominations
A host of Arab stars have been shortlisted for several categories in the prestigious Ballon d'Or awards, following the announcements on Thursday.
Leading the pack is Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, who features among the 30 players shortlisted for the men's best player trophy.
Hakimi excelled with Paris Saint-Germain during the 2024/2025 season, having featured in 55 matches across all competitions for the French side. During the season, the defensive player scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists.
The right-back proved vital during PSG's stellar season, which saw them lift the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, the Trophee des Champions and the Coupe de France trophies. All in all, a total of nine PSG players are nominated for the best male player trophy, reflecting the record-breaking season that Luis Enrique's players had.
This marks the first time Hakimi, considered the best in his position globally, has made the shortlist.
Also nominated is Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian king who was also crowned the Premier League champions this year.
Salah’s performance as Liverpool FC’s talisman this season makes him among the favourites to win. The Egyptian forward netted a total of 34 goals in 52 games across all competitions, propelling Liverpool to Premier League glory.
Despite not advancing far in the Champions League, Salah’s domestic contributions earned him the Premier League’s top scorer and Player of the Season.
Hakimi’s compatriot, Yassine Bounou, has scored his second nomination ever in the men’s Yashin Trophy category, which is awarded to the season’s best-performing goalkeeper.
Bounou, who plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, is one of 10 nominees for the coveted trophy.
The Moroccan goalkeeper impressed with Al-Hilal during the FIFA Club World Cup, with whom he reached the quarterfinals after beating Manchester City.
This marks the second time Bounou makes the list for the Yashin Trophy, having been nominated in 2023 and finishing third overall.
Two other players with Moroccan roots have also been shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or awards. Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal is a favourite to win the best men’s player trophy, having impressed this season with world-class quality for Barcelona and Spain.
The 18-year-old is also nominated for the Kopa Trophy, presented to players under 21. The award's nominees also include Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 17-year-old France international who plays for Lille.
Saudi Arabia stun Jordan as Iraq suffer second defeat at FIBA Asia Cup
Saudi Arabia's national team secured their first victory at the FIBA Asia Cup, hosted in Jeddah, after defeating Jordan 77–73 on Thursday in a Group C showdown.
The two Arab sides are now level in second place with one win and one loss each. The match was fiercely contested until the final seconds, with Jordan nearly snatching the win.
Saudi Arabia led from the first quarter (21–17) and widened the gap in the second (27–14), relying on three-point shooting that gave them the edge over their opponents, who struggled offensively and lost possession frequently.
Although Jordan improved their attack in the second half and reduced the gap to three points in the dying seconds, Saudi Arabia managed to hold on for a deserved and exciting win that boosts their chances of advancing.
In the same group, China defeated India 100–69 in a result that highlighted the gulf in quality and moved the Chinese closer to qualification for the next round. China will face Jordan in the third round, while Saudi Arabia meet India, with the hosts favoured to win.
Elsewhere in the competition, Lebanon defeated Qatar in their Group B match at the FIBA Asia Cup.
In Group D, Iraq lost to Chinese Taipei 87–60 in what was expected to be a difficult game given the difference in individual and team quality between the two sides. Iraq trailed from the first quarter (13–18), then in the second (15–21), third (13–24) and fourth (19–24). In the other Group D match, New Zealand beat the Philippines 94–86. Iraq are bottom of the group after two consecutive defeats and will end their first-round campaign against the Philippines next Saturday, seeking their first win.
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