When the name Ali Al-Bulaihi, Al-Hilal defender, is mentioned, the first thoughts that come to mind are provocations and controversies. However, this is not the complete truth, as this international star has a rich record of achievements that places him among legends, even though he is not a forward. Al-Bulaihi is known for intentionally provoking opponents, whether players or fans, on the field or even through media, which has exposed him to harsh criticism. Currently, he is also facing criticism regarding his performance level following errors in matches against Al-Ain from the UAE, where some blamed him for the team's elimination from the AFC Champions League.
However, it cannot be denied that Al-Bulaihi is appreciated by a large segment of Saudi fans in general, and Al-Zaeem fans in particular, not only for his strong personality but also for his impressive statistics.
**Always Controversial**
Al-Bulaihi has become accustomed to creating controversy wherever he goes, not just with his provocations, which have become his "trademark," but also through his bizarre celebrations. Finding moments of controversy surrounding Al-Bulaihi doesn't take long; with the click of a button, one can recall unforgettable memories for Arab fans regarding this feisty Saudi defender.
Looking back just three years, Al-Bulaihi sparked significant controversy after the famous "flag planting" incident following qualifying against rivals Al-Nassr for the AFC Champions League final. Al-Bulaihi showcased placing the Al-Hilal flag in the middle of "Mrsool Park," capturing a historic photo, which he posted with the comment, "This land is mine, this time is mine... Bulaihi Park," in an act deemed humiliating to the yellow rivals.
Al-Nassr star Anderson Talisca tried to respond similarly after winning the King Salman Cup for Champions, but Al-Bulaihi prevented him and got into a confrontation. About a year after the flag incident, global media highlighted the feisty defender after he provoked Lionel Messi, the Argentine national team's captain, during their opening matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a moment that gained attention due to Saudi Arabia's historic victory over Argentina. Al-Bulaihi later stated he told Messi in Arabic, "If you play against us four matches, you won’t win; you have to respect us."
Al-Bulaihi's provocations didn't stop and extended to Al-Nassr fans during the derby match of the ongoing Saudi league season last December. After leading 3-0, he looked at the stands while placing his hands like "glasses" signaling "I can't see you!" which led Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan to send him off.
Hussain Abdelghani, a former Al-Nassr star, commented on this incident, saying, "What Al-Bulaihi does with his provocations is within his right as long as he is on the field. This is football, and a player has the right to do anything to distract rivals from the game, but I do not agree with his gestures towards the fans."
In contrast, Sami Al-Jaber, Al-Hilal legend, shared photos of the defender with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Karim Benzema, commenting, "14 Ballon d'Ors and one diamond ball... be proud of Al-Bulaihi, no shame in that."
**New Victims**
Al-Bulaihi's habit of creating drama continued in the major matches, notably during the quarter-finals' second leg of the AFC Champions League this season, with the victim this time being Abderrazak Hamdallah. Al-Bulaihi aggressively intervened on Hamdallah during a shared aerial ball, provoking the striker who fell into the trap and got involved in a verbal spat that ended with him choking his opponent, resulting in a red card.
Attempts by Al-Bulaihi to provoke Cristiano Ronaldo during the first derby of the league season were met with sarcasm from the latter, but his tactics bore fruit during the Diriyah Super Cup. Al-Bulaihi directed annoying words at the Portuguese star during the semi-final match earlier this April in Abu Dhabi, which prompted the Portuguese star to hit the defender off the ball. Ronaldo lost his temper, leading to his expulsion, and he nearly struck referee Mohammed Al-Huwesh with the ball, resulting in the player's suspension and the loss of his contributions.
**Bizarre Celebrations**
The controversy surrounding Al-Bulaihi is not restricted to provoking opponents; he has also tried to draw attention to himself through his goal celebrations. He celebrated by placing a blue balloon in his mouth after his last-minute goal against Al-Fayha in the Saudi league last December. He repeated a similar celebration but with a green balloon after his decisive goal in the dying seconds of the match between Saudi Arabia and Oman in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
This bizarre celebration was not his first, as he previously celebrated by riding in an ambulance on the track after scoring against Al-Ittihad last season, and before that, using his "shoe" as a mobile phone after scoring against Al-Raed in the King's Cup 2021, although that goal was later disallowed. We cannot forget his refusal to celebrate with Saudi national team players and fans after the victory over Kyrgyzstan in the Asian Cup, after the green stars relied on a celebration style that had become customary for Al-Nassr since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival.
**What Does He Say?**
Al-Bulaihi does not deny that he is a "provocative" player; in fact, he boasts of it and considers this approach a powerful weapon against formidable strikers. He stated in television interviews, "I argue with all opponents. That's me; that's my way. When I play against Ronaldo, I tell him Messi is better, and if I play against Messi, I say the opposite."
Al-Bulaihi excels in "outspoken" remarks; after the rivals Al-Ittihad were defeated three times in a row over 11 days last March, he commented, "Our encounters against Al-Ittihad were easy." He also displayed a considerable amount of arrogance when he claimed after winning the Diriyah Super Cup that “there is only one team capable of defeating Al-Hilal, which is the team’s second squad,” sending a message of disdain towards all rivals.
However, some linked this excessive confidence to Al-Hilal's fall in the subsequent match against Al-Ain from the UAE (2-4) in the AFC Champions League semi-finals, a loss that came after winning 34 consecutive matches. When asked about the reasons behind such statements, he replied, "My statements are natural in the world of football; I try to gain confidence through these words."
**Criticism Due to Errors**
Al-Bulaihi is facing severe criticism from Al-Hilal fans due to the blunders he committed during the matches against Al-Ain in the Champions League semi-finals, to the extent that some called for him to be punished by being excluded from the lineup in the upcoming period. From the comments on social media platforms, most fans believe that the defender was responsible for errors leading the team to concede four goals, three in the first leg and one in the return leg.
The 34-year-old defender erred in offside coverage twice in the first leg, the first leading to a goal and the second causing a penalty that resulted in a second goal, before he caused another penalty leading to the team's third goal. He repeated his offside coverage mistake in the play that ended with Al-Ain’s only goal in the return match.
**Numerous Achievements**
Despite all that, it cannot be denied that Al-Bulaihi boasts a record filled with both collective and individual achievements, making him one of the legends of Saudi football throughout history, at least in the defensive line. Since joining Al-Hilal in 2017, Al-Bulaihi has won the Saudi Professional League four times in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022, and is on track to secure a fifth title this season, as his team leads the ranking table, making his win a matter of time.
Moreover, Al-Bulaihi has won two King’s Cup titles in 2020 and 2023, and three Super Cup titles in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Additionally, he secured two AFC Champions League titles in 2019 and 2021, and earned a silver medal at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022. Internationally, Al-Bulaihi participated twice with Saudi Arabia in the World Cup in 2018 and 2022, along with two appearances in the Asian Cup in 2019 and 2023, although he has yet to win a title with the green squad.
**A Scoring Defender**
Aside from the numbers, Al-Bulaihi is an indispensable key player in the defense of both Al-Hilal and the Saudi national team, despite advancing in age (34 years). He has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Saudi Professional League, rivaling elite international defenders, including his teammate Kalidou Koulibaly and Aymeric Laporte.
Al-Bulaihi played 41 matches this season in all competitions and only missed two league matches for Al-Hilal due to suspension. No one can deny Al-Bulaihi's essential role in the historic series of 34 consecutive victories across all competitions, as he has managed to protect the Zaeem's goal with the help of his teammates. Thanks to Al-Bulaihi's efforts, Al-Hilal boasts the strongest defense in the league, conceding 17 goals, along with the most clean sheets with 14 matches.
Al-Bulaihi's contributions are not limited to defensive coverage and disrupting opponents' attacks while tightly marking top strikers like Ronaldo, Messi, and Benzema; they also extend to significant offensive contributions. He has scored 17 goals in Al-Hilal's colors, plus two for the Saudi national team, noting that the last five goals he scored came in the dying moments of matches.
Al-Bulaihi snatched a precious victory for the green squad with his goal against Oman in stoppage time in the Asian Cup, and he also scored for Al-Hilal against Al-Fayha just four minutes before the end of regular time in the Saudi league. He added another goal for Al-Hilal against Uzbekistan's Navbahor in stoppage time in the AFC Champions League. Last season, he netted a dramatic goal against Al-Wehda in the King’s Cup final and scored the decisive winner against Al-Ta'ee in the league.
