Saudi Arabian football club Al Hilal is poised to pursue its 28th consecutive victory in competitive matches on Tuesday, potentially setting a world record for a top-tier team.
Fueled by the goal-scoring prowess of Serbia forward Aleksandar Mitrović during Neymar’s prolonged absence due to injury, Al Hilal sets its sights on this historic feat in the second leg of the Asian Champions League quarterfinals against domestic rival Al Ittihad.
The current recognized record of 27 consecutive wins was established by The New Saints during the 2016-17 season, surpassing the legendary Ajax team led by Johan Cruyff in 1971-72.
Al Hilal’s remarkable run this season comes on the heels of significant investment in player transfers, totaling around 350 million euros ($380 million), following the club’s effective nationalization by the Saudi sovereign wealth entity, the Public Investment Fund, overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The streak comprises 16 victories in the Saudi league, three in the domestic cup, and eight in the Asian Champions League.
“It’s a world record, but it’s not a title,” remarked coach Jorge Jesus. “Titles are the league, the cup, and the Asian Champions League.”
The last instance when Al Hilal failed to secure a win dates back to September 21 in a 1-1 draw against league rival Damac. Shortly thereafter, Neymar sustained a serious knee injury while representing Brazil.
In Tuesday’s match, the Riyadh-based club carries a 2-0 advantage to Jeddah for the encounter with Al Ittihad. The victor progresses to the semifinals to face Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
