Ronaldo v Al Bulayhi: Capital Derby offers latest twist in modern RSL rivalry

Ali Al Bulayhi is not one for taking a backwards step.

Al Hilal’s combative defender loves to ruffle feathers and get under the skin of opposition forwards, and the higher their profile, the more enjoyment he seems to take.

His penchant to provoke has long been known to fans of the Roshn Saudi League, but it took on international prominence at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It was there, at Lusail Stadium, that Al Bulayhi’s 182-centimetre frame stood over Argentina legend Lionel Messi, shortly after Salem Al Dawsari had thumped Saudi Arabia into a shock 2-1 lead.

As the almost 90,000 crowd inside the ground were still catching their breath, and the players were making their way back into position for the restart, Al Bulayhi made a beeline for the then seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, tapping him on the shoulder and belligerently declaring: ‘You will not win!’

It takes some level of chutzpah to say that to one of the greatest players of all time. But then, that is Al Bulayhi. The bigger the occasion, the bigger the opponent, the more he thrives.

Taking on one genuine superstar is one thing; doing it to a second is another thing entirely. Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in the Kingdom, at arch-rivals Al Nassr to Al Bulayhi’s Al Hilal, the Saudi centre-back has made it almost his personal mission to confront the Portuguese great at any given opportunity.

Already, there was no love lost between Al Hilal and Al Nassr at the best of times, particularly when Al Bulayhi is concerned. In October 2021, the 58-time Saudi international incurred the wrath of Al Nassr fans after a fiercely contested AFC Champions League semi-final, a match in which Al Hilal prevailed 2-1 to advance to yet another continental final.

Played at Al Awwal Park, home of Al Nassr, Al Bulayhi marked the occasion by planting a giant Al Hilal flag in the middle of the centre circle, effectively and provocatively declaring that this was Al Hilal territory. In the eyes of those wearing yellow and blue, it made him public enemy No.1.

Since then, his ongoing personal battle with Ronaldo is one of the most intense and gripping player rivalries in the RSL. As chief provocateur, Al Bulayhi looks to take immense joy out of riling the Real Madrid legend. Whether it’s following his every move around the pitch, not giving an inch of personal space, feigning injury to elicit a reaction, or confronting Ronaldo for a bout of banter, Al Bulayhi has done it all.

But it was the incident in the semi-final of the 2023 Saudi Super Cup, played in April of this year, that supercharged the bitter professional rivalry. With Al Hilal leading 2-0 in the dying stages at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the ball went beyond the touchline for an Al Nassr throw-in. As Ronaldo sprinted after it, Al Bulayhi got there a fraction of a second earlier and shielded the ball.

As the two tussled for the ball, Ronaldo flung up an elbow and Al Bulayhi was sent flying to the turf. As players rushed from all directions, and the referee attempted to defuse the situation, Ronaldo saw red for his actions. He was subsequently given a two-game ban for violent conduct, while Al Bulayhi and Al Hilal marched on to claim another piece of silverware.

A case in point, Al Bulayhi's actions can be stunningly effective. Despite his remarkable goal-scoring record since moving to Al Nassr at the end of 2022, Ronaldo, who recently surpassed 900 career goals, has yet to score a league goal against Al Hilal in three appearances, with Al Nassr failing to win any of the matches.

They remain - along with Al Batin, who Ronaldo played against only once shortly after joining Al Nassr - the only club the Al Nassr captain has not scored against in the RSL.

Given how often Al Hilal have been the thorn in Al Nassr’s side since Ronaldo joined the nine-time Saudi champions from Manchester United – his side finished runners-up in last season’s RSL - it will be a record the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward will be determined to rectify.

It represents an anomaly in an otherwise exquisite Saudi top-flight contribution. Last term, Ronaldo scored an unprecedented 35 goals to land the RSL golden boot and set a single-season record for the competition.

This season, he has six goals in seven RSL appearances to sit third in the scoring charts. At the summit? Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, with whom Ronaldo will be in direct confrontation on Friday night in the campaign’s first Capital Derby of 2024-25. The match at Al Awwal Park forms the second of three encounters to mark the RSL’s inaugural Derby Week.

Ronaldo, now 39 but not showing much evidence of slowing, will be fully aware of his personal shortcomings against the defending champions and current league leaders. For a player who makes a habit of setting new marks, righting that record this year most probably constitutes a primary objective.

Ronaldo's on-pitch battle with Al Bulayhi will, therefore, go some way to deciding if he rises to the occasion against Al Nassr’s great Riyadh rivals. It is just one of many fascinating subplots ahead of what will be another defining Capital Derby.

But, with Ronaldo and Al Bulayhi going head-to-head again, who will have the last laugh come full-time on Friday?

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