Khalid Al-Muwallad

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Al-Muwallad's rise was meteoric. After rejecting a Barcelona scout, he joined the Al-Ittihad youth setup at age 6, training with the first team by 15. His breakthrough came on 7 February 2012 against Al-Raed. In the 2012/13 season, he scored 10 goals in 26 games, earning MVP honors in the Champions Cup after scoring in both the semi-final and final against Al-Fateh and Al-Shabab respectively. A pivotal moment arrived on 31 July 2011 when, at age 16, he netted his first international goal against Croatia in Colombia. Later, his decisive goal against Guangzhou Evergrande in 2014 helped Al-Ittihad reach the AFC Champions League semi-finals, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer on Asia's biggest stage.

In Their Own Story

On 9 April 2015, facing Hajer, Fahad stepped up to take a penalty that would decide the match. He expertly placed the ball into the top left-hand corner, leaving goalkeeper Mustafa Malayekah helpless for a 1-0 triumph. Just weeks later, on 27 April 2015, he produced one of his most memorable strikes against Al-Taawon. In the 25th minute, after Jamal Bajandouh squared the ball, Fahad touched it up and unleashed a ferocious bicycle kick that flew past Sultan Al-Ghamdi into the net. He followed this with another penalty in the same game. His heroics continued on 31 May 2015 during the 'Derby of Jeddah' semi-final, where he scored from the spot to cancel out Digão's opener, though Al-Hilal eventually won 4-1. Manager Victor Pițurcă praised these late goals as 'heroic,' noting that Fahad had the world at his feet.

Reader's Guide

Al-Muwallad's career is defined by consistent high-impact performances and historic milestones. In the 2016–17 season, he contributed 14 goals across all competitions to help Al-Ittihad win the Saudi Crown Prince Cup. His European journey began on loan in 2018 at La Liga side Levante, where he made two appearances, including a historic debut on 7 May 2018 against Leganés, becoming the first Saudi to play in La Liga. Upon returning for the 2018–19 season, he set a personal record with 16 goals. However, his international path faced turbulence; after being named in the 2018 World Cup squad, his performance was criticized as disappointing. By 2022, he was removed from the national squad for the FIFA World Cup due to doping allegations. In August 2022, he transferred to fellow Saudi side Al-Shabab.

Did You Know?

• Fahad Al-Muwallad became the first Saudi player to appear in La Liga on 7 May 2018 while playing for Levante.
• He scored his very first international goal at age 16 during the 2011 U-20 World Cup against Croatia.
• In a single match on 27 April 2015, he scored both a bicycle kick and a penalty in Al-Ittihad's 4–3 victory over Al-Taawon.
• He was removed from the Saudi squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to doping allegations.
• On 12 September 2024, he was admitted to intensive care following a fall from his second-floor apartment balcony in Dubai.