Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, who plays for Al-Ittihad's first football team, ignited excitement early before the anticipated Clasico against their traditional rival, Al-Hilal, after leading the "Dean" squad to a valuable and hard-fought victory over Al-Fayha in the Saudi Professional League.

A hard-fought victory and a final rehearsal before the summit

Al-Ittihad secured a valuable three points with a 2-1 victory over Al-Fayha at Al-Inma Stadium on Friday evening in the 22nd round of the league. The match saw Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri score his first league goal for Al-Ittihad in the 36th minute, marking his first goal for the club since joining during the winter transfer window. Despite Al-Fayha equalizing through Zambian Fashion Sakala in the 55th minute, defender Hassan Kadash played the hero, scoring the decisive winning goal seven minutes before the final whistle.

Rajkovic challenges Al-Hilal: The champion's character never dies

In televised remarks following the match, Rajkovic delivered a strong message to their upcoming opponents, emphasizing that his team would enter the derby with only one goal in mind: victory. The Serbian goalkeeper stated, "We will fight and we will go for the win. We are not afraid; we are the champions from last season, and we remain the champions." These words reflect Al-Ittihad's desire to regain its prestige and close the technical and psychological gap before the crucial encounter.

The context of El Clásico and the challenges facing Al-Ittihad

The Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Hilal match carries exceptional significance that transcends the mere three points at stake; it represents the pinnacle of Saudi football and a historic battle for supremacy. Despite Al-Ittihad trailing league leaders Al-Hilal by 16 points this season, Rajkovic's statements indicate that "Al-Ittihad" will play for pride and the club's history, especially as the team enters the match as the reigning champions of the previous season's league, a title in which Rajkovic played a pivotal role.

Fatigue and match pressure

Rajkovic didn't shy away from discussing the team's physical condition, pointing to the impact of their continental participation, noting that they had played a tough match just three days prior against Al-Gharafa of Qatar in the AFC Champions League. He explained that fatigue was evident against Al-Fayha, but the team's character ultimately prevailed, a quality Al-Ittihad fans are counting on to face Al-Hilal's formidable attack in the upcoming 23rd round.

As the clock ticks faster, signaling the approach of the biggest football event, the eyes of football fans are turning towards the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where preparations are underway for the 2026 World Cup finals. Amid this global anticipation, Argentine star Lionel Messi has returned to the forefront of the sports scene, not with a legendary goal this time, but with a simple symbolic gesture on social media platforms, which was enough to ignite speculation about his international future.

Mysterious message via LEGO

On Saturday, the Argentine captain posted a photo and video on his official Instagram account showcasing a World Cup trophy meticulously crafted from Lego bricks. Messi captioned the post with a brief but meaningful message: "We did it." What caught the eye most was a small figurine inside the model, wearing Argentina's iconic sky-blue and white jersey and embracing the trophy – a gesture interpreted by millions of his followers as a subtle message confirming Messi's desire to defend his country's title in the upcoming World Cup.

Between recovery and World Cup ambition

This controversial digital appearance comes at a time when the Inter Miami star is undergoing a period of recovery, carefully balancing physical rest with mental relaxation. Messi recently suffered a minor strain in his left hamstring during a friendly match, prompting the medical staff to rest him and postpone his participation in subsequent friendlies. This cautious approach is interpreted as a long-term strategy to keep the legend fit for an exceptional year, as he seeks to avoid any risks that could jeopardize his career in its final stages.

Qatar's 2022 legacy and the challenge of the new edition

This event cannot be separated from its recent historical context, as fans still vividly remember Argentina's triumph at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the missing piece in Messi's illustrious career. With the new format of the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, the challenges and excitement are even greater. The tournament, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, will be played in 12 groups, opening the door to major upsets and opportunities for ambitious teams.

Argentina's group and a date with history

According to the current tournament schedule, Argentina will compete in Group J, alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. This lineup presents Messi and his teammates with a diverse array of footballing styles, ranging from European powerhouses to ambitious Arab and African teams. The most pressing question on everyone's mind is: will North American stadiums be the stage for Messi's final act, marking the end of an unparalleled footballing saga? Only time will tell.

Moroccan star Youssef En-Nesyri received widespread praise from major international sports newspapers and websites after scoring his first official goal with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Professional League, a move that reflected his impactful and rapid attacking presence since joining the “Dean” during the winter transfer window.

The Moroccan striker led his team to a valuable and morale-boosting victory in his second league appearance, scoring a brilliant goal against Al-Fayha in the match held on Friday evening, which ended with Al-Ittihad winning 2-0, as part of the 22nd round of competition. En-Nesyri's goal came in the 35th minute of the first half, capitalizing on a perfect cross from Malian player Mohamedou Doumbia, rising to meet it with a powerful header that found the back of the net, marking the beginning of his scoring account in the league while wearing the "Tigers" jersey.

The major exchange deal has received widespread global attention

En-Nesyri's brilliance did not go unnoticed, as the international press highlighted the massive swap deal that saw him move from Fenerbahçe to Al-Ittihad, in exchange for Frenchman N'Golo Kanté's transfer to the Turkish club. The Hespress this achievement, noting that En-Nesyri scored his first goal in the Saudi League in only his second appearance, praising his perfect positioning and precise header – a quality for which the "Moroccan Lion" has long been known in European leagues and with his national team.

For its part, the website AsistAnaliz that En-Nesyri continued his remarkable form, highlighting his impressive statistics: he played three matches (including the Asian Champions League), scoring two goals and providing one assist. Meanwhile, the CatenaccioTR his start with the team as "amazing," and Spotitalia that Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição regained his composure and tactical balance after overcoming the previous heavy defeat against Al-Nassr, thanks to goals from En-Nesyri and defender Hassan Kadash.

The post-Benzema era and the challenges facing "Al-Ittihad"

En-Nesyri's brilliance is of paramount strategic importance to Al-Ittihad at this critical juncture, as the club's management and coaching staff seek to compensate for the departure of French star Karim Benzema, who officially joined rivals Al-Hilal on a one-and-a-half-year contract. Al-Ittihad fans are counting on En-Nesyri to be the lone striker capable of converting chances, particularly from aerial balls, an area the team has struggled to exploit effectively in the past.

En-Nesyri had opened his scoring account with Al-Ittihad in continental competitions before domestically, finding the net in the resounding 7-0 victory over Qatari side Al-Gharafa in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League. Al-Ittihad fans have high hopes for the Moroccan striker to revitalize the team's attack and fiercely compete for both the AFC Champions League and King's Cup titles, aiming to salvage the season with a major trophy, especially as retaining the Roshan League title now seems mathematically impossible.