Club Friendlies Home | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Club Friendlies Overview

Newcastle United v Liverpool - Premier League

Ex-England star Shelvey retires & immediately takes first head coaching role

Jonjo Shelvey is calling time on his distinguished playing career to immediately transition into management with UAE third-tier outfit Arabian Falcons FC. The former Liverpool and England playmaker is stepping into the dugout to lead a promotion charge, marking a swift end to his playing days in the Middle East alongside Ravel Morrison.

Lionel Messi pitch invader Inter Miami Independiente del Valle 2026

📽️ | Messi tackled by pitch invader during chaotic friendly

Lionel Messi was tackled to the turf by a pitch-invading fan during Inter Miami’s chaotic friendly clash with Independiente del Valle. The MLS Cup winners had been due to face Ecuadorian opponents on February 13, but the contest had to be rearranged. It eventually took place in Puerto Rico on February 26, with Argentine GOAT Messi among the stars on show.

Fenerbahce-vs-Aston-Villa-UEFA-Europa-League-2025-26-MD7

Duran booked five minutes into Zenit debut

Jhon Duran’s career continues to be a whirlwind of goals and controversy, with his latest chapter in Russia starting in explosive fashion. The former Aston Villa striker, who recently completed a loan move to Zenit St Petersburg, found himself in the referee's notebook just five minutes into his debut for the club. It was a baptism of fire for the Colombian international, whose reputation for high-intensity play and occasional loss of discipline preceded him to his new surroundings. The 22-year-old was named in the starting XI for a pre-season friendly against Shanghai Port, a match intended to integrate him into the squad. However, the "friendly" nature of the contest was quickly forgotten when Duran became embroiled in a physical altercation with an opposition defender while chasing a long ball. The forward appeared to lose his composure during a battle for possession, leading to a confrontation that left spectators and officials stunned by its intensity so early in the game.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami Barcelona SC 2026

📽️ | Messi turns the clock back with stunning solo goal

Lionel Messi turned the clock back when scoring a stunning solo goal for Inter Miami in their latest pre-season friendly. The Argentine GOAT found himself lining up against Barcelona. He was not reunited with former employers from Camp Nou, but was in action on Ecuadorian soil. The all-time great gave those in the stands what they came for when dancing past defenders and hitting the back of the net.

📽️ | Messi recreates iconic scorpion kick with keeping icon

Lionel Messi recreated an iconic scorpion kick with legendary goalkeeper Rene Higuita ahead of Inter Miami’s latest friendly outing. The Herons, fresh from their historic MLS Cup triumph in 2025, are readying themselves for the start of a new campaign. Javier Mascherano’s side are working their way through a pre-season programme in South America.

Suárez scores as Miami edge Atlético Nacional in Berterame’s debut

Inter Miami claimed a dramatic 2-1 friendly win over Atlético Nacional in Medellín, with Luis Suárez on the scoresheet and Germán Berterame making his first appearance for the club. Lionel Messi played 76 minutes, while a late own goal sealed Miami’s first preseason victory after a tough loss in Peru.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Arsenal	8	8	0	0	23	4	19	24	W W W W W
2	Bayern Munich	8	7	0	1	22	8	14	21	W W W L W
3	Liverpool	8	6	0	2	20	8	12	18	W W W L W
4	Tottenham Hotspur	8	5	2	1	17	7	10	17	W W W L W
5	Barcelona	8	5	1	2	22	14	8	16	W W W L D

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Arsenal

W
W
W
W
W

Bayern Munich

W
W
W
L
W

Liverpool

W
W
W
L
W

Tottenham Hotspur

W
W
W
L
W

Barcelona

W
W
W
L
D

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most Saudi Pro League titles?

Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.

How many teams are in the Saudi Pro League?

Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.

Who has made the most Saudi Pro League appearances ever?

Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.

Who is the all-time top scorer of the Saudi Pro League?

Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.

Who has the most assists in the history of the Saudi Pro League?

Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.

Who is the oldest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?

Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.

Who is the youngest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?

Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.

Which famous players have played in the Saudi Pro League?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.

Which famous managers have managed in the Saudi Pro League?

Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.

What is the biggest stadium in the Saudi Pro League?

The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.

Who is the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League?

Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping £77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.