Al-Riyadh newspaper has revealed the duration of Salem Al-Dawsari’s absence from the pitch after the recent injury he sustained while playing for his club, Al-Hilal — a setback that hits both the Saudi national team and Al-Hilal’s knockout-stage campaign at once.
Background: why Al-Dawsari’s availability matters
Al-Dawsari is one of the most consistent attacking players in the Saudi Pro League and a central figure in the national team’s attacking setup under Hervé Renard. The 34-year-old player participated in 27 matches across all competitions this season, scoring 8 goals and providing 10 assists — numbers that make him a dual threat as both finisher and creator, and the kind of output that clubs and national teams build game plans around.
Key details: the injury timeline
Al-Dawsari was supposed to join the Saudi national team during the current international break, but coach Hervé Renard was forced to exclude him due to the injury. According to recent reports, Al-Dawsari needs approximately three weeks to recover and return to playing matches.
The Saudi international is confirmed to miss the matches against Al-Taawoun and Al-Kholoud on April 4th and 7th, respectively, and his absence may also extend to the match against Al-Khaleej on April 11th. That run of three matches — all in the domestic league — is where Al-Hilal will most feel the absence, particularly in any title-race or cup-run scenarios where a full-strength attack is needed.
What’s next: Asia beckons
Following this, Al-Dawsari will undergo further medical examinations, with the hope that he will have recovered in time to participate with Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League against Al-Sadd. The AFC knockout tie is the realistic target for his return — a fixture important enough that the medical staff will push for availability rather than run any risk that pushes it back further.
For Renard and the Saudi national team, Al-Dawsari’s recovery arc also matters for the coming months. With the 2026 World Cup approaching and the Saudi coaching situation itself under pressure (per recent reporting around Renard’s position), the national team cannot afford to lose one of its most reliable attacking pieces for any extended window. The next medical update will determine whether Al-Dawsari fits into the next Saudi camp or if Renard — or whoever succeeds him — will need to rebuild the attacking unit around his absence.
