Here is all you need to know about Talal Haji, Saudi Arabian footballer, including his age, bio, career, records and more
In a thrilling match that ended in a goalless tie on Thursday, Saudi team managed to top their group despite four goals being disallowed and a penalty saved.
Who is Saudi Arabia footballer Talal Haji, bio, age, position, games and career stats
Despite the fact that Mancini’s Saudi Arabia and Thailand had already secured their spots in the next round, the top slot in Group F remained open when the competition began in Doha.
16-year-old Talal Haji was brought in by Mancini as part of a triple replacement in the 64th minute and by doing so, he became the youngest player to represent Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup.
The next big thing!
🇸🇦 Talal Haji is the youngest player at the #AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia | #KSAvTHA pic.twitter.com/INmwIRRUzV
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 25, 2024
Known for his ability to score goals, he has made 13 appearances for the U-17 team and scored 13 goals in all. Here is a look at his career.
A look at Talal Haji’s career so far
Talal Haji was signed for the Under-17s squad at the age of 14, having been seen by scouts from his hometown club Al Ittihad. He would also quickly establish himself as the starting striker for the Saudi Arabia U17 national team.
The youngster displayed his instinctive ability to score goals in September 2022 when he led Saudi Arabia to the Arab U17 Championship semifinals in Algeria and ended the competition as the top scorer with seven goals.
A mere nine months later, Haji was captaining the youthful Green Falcons in Thailand’s AFC U17 Asian Cup, where his brace against Tajikistan propelled Saudi Arabia to the quarterfinals.
Long before Haji turned sixteen, in March, former Al Ittihad coach Nuno Espirito Santo invited him to his first practice with the first squad. Haji was formally promoted to the senior ranks once the 2023–24 season got underway, and two days before his 16th birthday in September, he made his debut in a Saudi Pro League matchday squad.
The young player is on Al-Ittihad’s first team, which plays in the Saudi Pro League. In their 2-1 victory over Al Fateh, he made his Al-Ittihad debut. And at sixteen years and five days, he did so to become the youngest player to ever participate in the Saudi Pro League.