Foreign stars from more than 15 different nations to represent burgeoning Roshn Saudi League on international stage
Roshn Saudi League may have paused for the international break, but there is no rest for a sizeable contingent of the competition’s foreign stars.
Players from more than 15 different nations were selected in the initial squads to compete across the next 10 days in the first international window since last year’s FIFA World Cup.
When you add in the footballers chosen by Herve Renard for Saudi Arabia’s friendlies against Venezuela and Bolivia, the number of call-ups balloons beyond 50 stars; illustrative of the growing stature of the competition around the world.
Headlining those jetting off is, of course, Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo who will link up with his Portugal team-mates for their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Al Wehda forward Gerson Rodrigues’ Luxembourg. An appearance in either game will see Ronaldo become the male footballer with the most international caps, on 197.
The Portugal captain will also be hoping to translate his club form, where he has scored nine goals in eight league matches, and add to his staggering world record tally of 118 international strikes.
Others involved in Euro 2024 qualifiers include the Ettifaq duo of Robin Quaison and Darko Velkovski, for Sweden and North Macedonia. The latter nation also called up Al Fayha attacker Aleksandar Trajkovski.
Al Khaleej striker Sokol Cikalleshi could be in action for Albania and Montenegro have summoned Al Adalah shot stopper Milan Mijatovic.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is one of three foreign Al Nassr players called up, with Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast) and Jaloliddin Masharipov (Uzbekistan) also earning the honour of being selected for their country.
Masharipov, however, can keep his passport at home as he is in the unique position of not having to leave Saudi Arabia this week as Uzbekistan will be playing both of their friendly matches, against Venezuela and Bolivia, just 350km up the road from his home in Riyadh, in the city of Buraidah.
League leaders Al Ittihad have the most foreign players called up with four. Defensive lynchpin Ahmed Hegazi and midfield enforcer Tarek Hamed are on their way to Cairo to link up with Egypt for a pair of African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi.
Winger Helder Costa may be in action for Angola against Ghana. Abderrazak Hamdallah, fresh off a hat-trick against Al Fateh, has been called up by FIFA World Cup 2022 semi-finalists Morocco – along with Al Wehda goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi – for their friendlies against Brazil and Peru.
In the second of those matches against the South American nation, two familiar foes are provided by Al Hilal’s Andre Carrillo and Al Adalah’s Christofer Gonzales.
Cameroon’s qualifiers against Namibia will feature Abha goalkeeper Devis Epassy – their breakout star at FIFA World Cup 2022 – and Al Tai full-back Collins Fai.
Damac’s goal-scoring goalkeeper Moustapha Zegba has been selected by Algeria, Cape Verde call on towering Al Raed centre forward Julio Tavares, Al Tai striker Guy Mbenza is with Congo and his club-mate Alfa Semedo should pull on the Guinea-Bissau jersey.
Al Khaleej midfielder Andre Biyogo Poko and Al Shabab forward Aaron Boupendza are present for Gabon’s double-header with Sudan.
Elsewhere, Al Wehda’s Costa Rica defender Oscar Duarte will be playing in the CONCACAF Nations League. Kaku will be determined to replicate his stellar form for Al Taawoun when Paraguay tackle Chile.
Al Shabab and South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu will return to his homeland for matches against Colombia and Uruguay, the latter of which they faced just a few months ago when they played a 0-0 draw in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup.
From Europe, through Central America, right across Africa and almost everywhere in between, wherever you look over the next week you’ll find a player, not just representing their country, but representing Roshn Saudi League on the international stage.