• Brazilian star Neymar attends Al Hilal's Saudi Founding Day celebrations. Photo: Al Hilal/Twitter
    Brazilian star Neymar attends Al Hilal's Saudi Founding Day celebrations. Photo: Al Hilal/Twitter
  • Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal celebrated Founding Day. Photo: Al Hilal
    Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal celebrated Founding Day. Photo: Al Hilal
  • Neymar is back in Saudi Arabia as he continues his recovery from injury. Photo: Al Hilal
    Neymar is back in Saudi Arabia as he continues his recovery from injury. Photo: Al Hilal
  • Neymar poses for a group photo during the Saudi Founding Day celebrations. Photo: Al Hilal
    Neymar poses for a group photo during the Saudi Founding Day celebrations. Photo: Al Hilal
  • Neymar, centre, after the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Raed at the Kingdom Arena on Sunday. Getty Images
    Neymar, centre, after the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Raed at the Kingdom Arena on Sunday. Getty Images
  • Neymar at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Getty Images
    Neymar at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. Getty Images
  • Neymar has been out of action for months due to injury. Getty Images
    Neymar has been out of action for months due to injury. Getty Images

Neymar, Benzema and Ronaldo don traditional attire for Saudi Founding Day


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Neymar joined the festivities with Al Hilal as the SPL club celebrated Saudi Founding Day.

The Brazil star, back in Saudi Arabia as he continues rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury, celebrated a significant day for the kingdom.

Neymar was seen in traditional Saudi attire with the Al Hilal team. Last year, Neymar and Karim Benzema wore traditional Saudi clothing to mark the kingdom's 93rd National Day.

February 22 has been earmarked as Saudi Arabia's Founding Day, a new annual holiday to commemorate the founding of the first Saudi state.

It celebrates the history of Saudi rule which goes back hundreds of years. However, it is different to the Saudi National Day, which falls on September 23.

Neymar looked in good spirits as he recovers from his knee injury. He has been on the sidelines after rupturing his ACL and meniscus during Brazil's World Cup qualifying defeat to Uruguay in October.

Last year, Neymar underwent right ankle surgery that required months of recovery before he left Paris Saint-Germain to join Saudi giants Al Hilal.

The Brazilian joined SPL leaders Hilal for a reported €90 million last August, signing a two-year contract worth €150m per year. Neymar managed only five appearances for Al Hilal before his season was cut short by injury.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad also produced a stunning video to mark Saudi Founding Day.

The video was posted with the following message: "From inception, we've celebrated a legacy of three hundred years marked by remarkable accomplishments and glory. We cherish our vibrant present and look forward with optimism to a brighter future."

It features Ittihad's star players, including Ballon d'Or winner Benzema, World Cup winner N'Golo Kante and Brazil star Fabinho dressed in traditional clothing as they joined the celebrations.

Another SPL club, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, also produced a patriotic video to mark the occasion.

As well as the four-minute tribute video they released an 'insider look' at the making of the video. It features Ronaldo with a falcon perched on his arm and his teammates in national dress enjoying the occasion.

Ronaldo is set to compete in the UAE next month after the Al Nassr captain scored in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday to book a quarter-final clash with Al Ain.

  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day wearing local traditional clothes at Al Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day wearing local traditional clothes at Al Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
  • Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo drinking Saudi coffee during Saudi Arabia's Founding Day celebrations. Reuters
    Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo drinking Saudi coffee during Saudi Arabia's Founding Day celebrations. Reuters
  • Cristiano Ronaldo joins in the celebrations. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo joins in the celebrations. Reuters
  • Al Nassr and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 22, 2023. Reuters
    Al Nassr and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 22, 2023. Reuters
  • Cristiano Ronaldo joins in the celebrations on Saudi Arabia's Founding Day. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo joins in the celebrations on Saudi Arabia's Founding Day. Reuters
  • Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day wearing local traditional clothes. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Saudi Arabia's Founding Day wearing local traditional clothes. Reuters
Updated: February 23, 2024, 11:14 AM