Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — French midfielder N’Golo Kanté played a pivotal role in Al Ittihad’s title-winning Saudi Pro League campaign, helping the Jeddah club clinch their 14th league title and their second in three years.

Kanté, a 2018 FIFA World Cup winner with France, now joins a rare group of players to have won both the World Cup and the Saudi league title.

His achievement draws comparisons to Brazilian legend Roberto Rivellino, who lifted the 1970 World Cup and later led Al Hilal to the Saudi league crown in 1979, followed by the King’s Cup in 1980.

Rivellino starred alongside local icons like Saleh Al-Nuaimi and Abdullah Foudeh.

Kanté’s impact has been immediate and profound since joining Al Ittihad on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

Signed on a three-year deal, he brought world-class pedigree to the midfield, returning even to France’s national team last summer for the UEFA European Championship.

Now in his second season with Al Ittihad, the 33-year-old is eyeing a domestic double. The club will face Al Qadsiah in the King’s Cup final on May 30, giving Kanté the chance to add another title to his growing collection.

The story of foreign World Cup winners in Saudi football includes another name: Brazilian striker Bebeto, who won the 1994 World Cup and had a brief stint with Al Ittihad in the 2002-2003 season.

Bebeto scored once in five matches before his contract was terminated midseason. Ironically, Al Ittihad went on to win the league that year with a dramatic 3-2 win over Al Ahli.

But unlike Bebeto’s fleeting experience, Kanté has become a cornerstone of Ittihad’s success — his consistency, leadership, and championship mindset proving invaluable in a historic campaign.