It is an extremely exciting period for soccer fans in the Middle East, with the sport enjoying a boom across the region. Much of the success being enjoyed is down to the legacy created following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the formation of a competitive competition in the form of the Saudi Pro League. With more high-profile players in the mix, betting on soccer has also seen a significant increase in popularity. More novices are venturing into online betting, with Middle East online football betting strategies being among the top searches on the leading gambling sites, according to a7labet.com. Let’s look at the top soccer players from the Middle East who are making waves at home and abroad.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is widely considered one of the world’s greatest players, and he has been one of the most influential stars in the European game since signing for Liverpool. After enjoying success in Italy with Fiorentina and Roma, he signed for Liverpool in 2017 for a club-record fee. His first season was a huge success after setting a then-record for most goals in a 38-game season. Salah also guided the club to the Champions League final before ultimately being beaten by Real Madrid. However, he would lead the club to European glory the following season before being a key star to help end Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a top-flight title. Salah has also won the FA Cup and EFL Cup during his time at Anfield.
As well as collecting prized team honors, Salah has also picked up several individual accolades throughout his career at Liverpool, including the PFA Players’ Player of the Year on two occasions. The Egyptian also became the club’s highest scorer in Premier League history and is one of just five players to have scored 200 goals for the Reds.
Arda Guler
It is a very exciting period in Turkish soccer, as the national team could arguably be one of the dark horse contenders for glory at this summer’s UEFA Championships. One of the brightest stars to have come out of the nation in recent memory is Arda Guler, who has been rewarded for his progression in the professional game by being signed by Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old came through the youth academy at Fenerbahce before making his professional debut in the 2021-22 season. He made an immediate impact for the club after registering an assist on his league debut before he became the club’s youngest-ever scorer when aged 17 in March 2022. There was huge European interest in the midfielder after recording six goal involvements in just 255 minutes at the professional level, with Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal all sounding out the midfielder. However, he would stay at the Turkish club for another season, scoring six goals in 35 appearances.
Guler would achieve a dream move to Real Madrid in July 2023, with the Spanish giants tying down the Turkish player to a six-year deal. It hasn’t been the start to his career in Spain that he would have hoped for, as he has missed much of the 2023-24 due to injury. However, he won his first trophy with the club following a 4-1 win against Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Yasser Al-Shahrani
There have been few more important players in the Middle Eastern game than Yasser Al-Shahrani. The 31-year-old full-back is one of the most recognizable players in the region after featuring on the Middle Eastern cover of FIFA 16 alongside Lionel Messi.
The Saudi Arabian international has been involved in two World Cups for his national side and was part of the starting eleven that famously beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. He has played almost all his career at Al-Hilal, playing over 240 times for the club and scoring nine goals.
Al-Shahrani has achieved success on the field throughout his career in the Saudi Pro League, winning the top-flight title on five occasions since 2016-17. Furthermore, he has also won the King’s Cup on three occasions and the AFC Champions League twice.
Final Thoughts
The Middle East is currently experiencing a golden era in soccer, with players from the region making significant domestic and international impacts. From Mohamed Salah’s remarkable achievements at Liverpool to Arda Guler’s promising move to Real Madrid and Yasser Al-Shahrani’s consistent excellence for Al-Hilal and the Saudi national team, the region’s talent is shining on the global stage. The success of these players, along with the growing popularity of soccer and the rise of competitive leagues like the Saudi Pro League, is elevating the sport’s profile in the Middle East.