3 Malaysian Super League footballers who later played in Roshn Saudi League
By Lee Seng Foo3 days ago
The Malaysian Super League has long attracted foreign players from across the globe. However, when these players continue their careers elsewhere, the Roshn Saudi League is not a destination that usually comes to mind.
While most move on to other Asian leagues or return home, only a very small number have gone on to feature in Saudi Arabia’s top flight, either directly from Malaysia or later in their careers via other leagues.
Here are three who eventually made that unlikely journey.
Dimitri Petratos
The Australian joined Malaysian treble winners Kelantan in 2012, but due to the league’s foreign player quota, he featured exclusively in the AFC Cup. Despite the limitation, Petratos made his mark by scoring four goals in seven appearances in the continental competition.
He returned home the following season and enjoyed major success with Brisbane Roar, winning the A-League Premiership and Championship double. Nearly a decade after his Kelantan stint, Petratos joined Al-Wehda for the 2020-21 Saudi Pro League season.
The Brazilian forward is a rare example of a direct move from the Malaysian Super League to Saudi Arabia’s top division. After starring for Kelantan, Wander Luiz secured a transfer to Al-Raed, where he spent two seasons competing in the Saudi Pro League.
He later returned to Malaysian football with Perak, playing a key role in the club’s memorable triumph in the 2018 Malaysia Cup.
The much-travelled Brazilian winger arrived at Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) after spending two seasons with Al-Batin. His stint in Malaysia was unfortunately short-lived and included a loan spell with UAE-based Fujairah FC.
With his earlier performances in Saudi football making an impression, he earned a return to the Kingdom in 2019 when he signed for Al-Qadsiah.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup and other football tournaments inevitably hog global headlines for the upcoming year, but it is equally defined by an extraordinary slate of other major sports. With mega-events spread across every continent, 2026 shapes up as one of the most packed and significant sporting years of the modern era.
Here are some of the biggest non-football events set to define 2026.
Winter Olympics & Paralympics
February 6-22 & March 6-15
For the first time since 2006, Italy returns to the Olympic and Paralympic stage as Milan-Cortina hosts the world’s premier winter multi-sport spectacles. The Olympics will debut ski mountaineering as an official medal sport, while the Paralympics are projected to be among the largest in history by participation, reflecting the continued evolution of the winter programmes.
February 7-March 8 & June 12-July 5
India and Sri Lanka host the men’s tournament, while England and Wales take charge of the women’s counterpart. With cricket now confirmed for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles as well as other major multi-sport events, both T20 competitions serve as critical benchmarks for the sport’s next global expansion phase.
World Baseball Classic
March 5-17
Following its dramatic global breakthrough in 2023, the World Baseball Classic returns as the sport’s true international showcase. Shohei Ohtani and Japan enter as defending champions against an even deeper field led by the United States, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and South Korea. Crucially, Major League Baseball player participation is again expected to be near full strength, reinforcing the tournament’s legitimacy as a true world championship.
April 28-May 10
London hosts the centenary edition exactly 100 years after staging the inaugural event in 1926, the same year the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was founded. China enter once more as overwhelming favourites: the men’s team have won 23 titles, while the women’s team have lost only twice since 1975. However, as what we have seen from recent WTT events, Chinese players are not unbeatable and the likes of Japan, South Korea, Germany and France could be David to China’s Goliath.
UFC White House
June 14
Possibly the most ambitious crossover between global sport, politics and entertainment in modern sports history, the UFC’s proposed MMA spectacle has been publicly confirmed by both US President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White. The fight card has yet to be confirmed, but world-class fighters are expected to vie for a place in the historic event.
July 4-November 29
The debut edition of the Nations Championship represents the most sweeping structural reform in modern international rugby union. The 12-team competition unites the six Six Nations teams (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales), the four Rugby Championship sides (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina), plus invited unions Japan and Fiji.
Commonwealth Games
July 23-August 2
Originally awarded to Australia’s Victoria before being cancelled by its state government in 2023 due to spiralling costs, the 2026 edition arrives in Glasgow under compressed circumstances. Only 10 sports are set to be contested, while major staples such as badminton, table tennis, gymnastics and field hockey have been dropped. Despite the reduced scope, the Games still carry deep historical and sporting weight.
FIH Hockey World Cup (Men & Women)
August 15-30
For the third time in FIH Hockey World Cup history, both men’s and women’s tournaments take place concurrently in the same host nations as Belgium and the Netherlands welcome the world’s best field hockey teams.
September 19-October 4 & October 18-24
Japan hosts the Asian Games for the third time after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994, and hosts the Para Games for the first time. Staged across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, the Asian Games program combines all 32 core Olympic sports alongside a vast set of additional disciplines including wushu, kabaddi, sepak takraw, kurash, jujitsu, dancesport, surfing, cricket, esports, MMA and padel. Meanwhile, 18 sports are expected to he held for the Para Games.
Rugby League World Cup (Men, Women & Wheelchair)
October 15-November 15
As in 2021, the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will again be staged simultaneously. From 2026 onward, however, the three competitions will diverge into separate cycles after financial and logistical concerns cancelled the planned 2025 edition. As a result, this edition co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea will be the final time fans are able to experience all three World Cups as a single global festival.
Inter will head into the new year as Capolista after a gritty 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Sunday evening. Lautaro Martínez once again proved to be the difference-maker, securing the three points that keep the Nerazzurri at the summit of Italian football.
The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute. A horribly misplaced pass from Berat Djimsiti was pounced upon by the industrious Francesco Pio Esposito. The youngster showed veteran composure, laying the ball off to Martínez, who clinical finish sent the San Siro into a frenzy.
For Martínez, the goal serves as further evidence that his early-season rust has been well and truly shaken off. After a sluggish start to the campaign that saw him net just four times in 12 league appearances, the Argentine captain has rediscovered his world-class form. He has now racked up five goals and an assist in his last four Serie A outings.
Crucially, this marks the first time since 2021 that "El Toro" has found the net in four consecutive league matches. Despite his earlier inconsistency, Martínez currently leads the Serie A scoring charts—a testament to his ability to influence games even when not at 100%.
"Hungry Kids" and High Standards
Speaking to the club’s official website after the match, Martínez was candid about his physical struggles following a grueling 2025.
"At the end of last season, I had a flexor problem and struggled, even while playing important games," Martínez admitted. "After the summer, I rested and worked hard to get to this season in the best possible way. The staff is key; they help us raise the bar. Plus, having young, hungry kids behind you pushes you... you always have to be ready and eager to grow."
The victory was more than just three points; it was a necessary response to a weekend where Inter’s rivals refused to blink. Just hours prior, AC Milan had briefly claimed top spot with a 3-0 dismantling of Verona, while Napoli kept pace with a 2-0 win over Cremonese.
Inter end 2025 with a slender one-point lead over Milan and a two-point cushion over Antonio Conte’s Napoli. For Cristian Chivu, overcoming Atalanta’s trademark aggressive pressing was the perfect way to sign off for the holidays.
"This victory is a nice Christmas gift for all Inter fans," Chivu noted. "We are a team that still wants to send signals, especially to ourselves. Atalanta is a strong team that makes you play badly, but we approached the race perfectly. These three points are a gift to the fans, but also to our families, who are always by our side."
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in football, with major tournaments taking place across every level of the sport. From the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup in North America to youth, women’s, futsal and regional championships spread throughout the calendar, the year offers an unusually concentrated slate of competitions.
Here’s what the year has in store for us.
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
January 6-24
Saudi Arabia host one of Asia’s defining youth tournaments, featuring the continent’s strongest U-23 sides at a moment when many nations are rebuilding ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. With West and East Asian teams upgrading youth pathways, the 2026 edition should be the most competitive yet.
January 21-February 7
For the first time, Europe’s premier futsal competition will be staged across multiple hosts, with Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia jointly organising the 2026 edition. It is also the first time the tournament will take place in the Baltics, marking a strategic shift by UEFA to grow the sport in emerging regions.
January 27-February 7
Indonesia welcome Asia’s futsal elite as long-standing giants Iran and Japan attempt to preserve a dominance that has lasted since the tournament’s inception in 1999. The question for 2026 is whether the likes of Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam or even the hosts can finally break the duopoly.
March 1-21
Australia host Asia’s most prestigious women’s football tournament, bringing together elite teams including China, North Korea, Japan and the Matildas themselves. The competition also marks a milestone with Bangladesh’s debut, making them only the 23rd different nation to take part across the tournament’s 50-year history.
March 27
Reigning Copa América champions Argentina, who also won the 2022 Finalissima by defeating Italy, face Euro 2024 champions Spain in the fourth iteration of the UEFA–CONMEBOL intercontinental showdown. The match serves as a symbolic benchmark between the two dominant footballing continents ahead of the mid-year World Cup.
FIFA World Cup
June 11-July 19
The first 48-team World Cup will unfold across the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring 104 matches in a new format designed to increase global representation. It also marks the World Cup’s return to North America for the first time since 1994.
July 24-August 26
The AFF Championship arrives at a moment of shifting regional narratives: Vietnam rebuilding under a new cycle, Indonesia strengthened by a wave of European-based heritage players and Thailand looking to reassert regional superiority. With several AFF sides showing improvement in World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying, the 2026 edition will be closely watched as a measure of Southeast Asia’s footballing progress.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
September 5-27
Poland are the first Central European nation to host the U-20 Women’s World Cup, a competition that has historically revealed future global stars such as Alex Morgan, Asisat Oshoala and Ada Hegerberg.
October & November
The men’s and women’s youth football tournaments return to Qatar and Morocco respectively for the second consecutive year under FIFA’s new annual hosting model, introduced to widen participation and standardise development pathways across confederations. In 2025, Portugal claimed their first men’s title, while North Korea successfully defended their crown in the women’s competition.
September 19-October 4
At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, South Korea aim to extend their dominance in the men’s U-23 tournament, with military service exemptions once again raising the stakes. In the women’s competition, defending champions Japan have the opportunity to pull ahead of North Korea and China and secure a record-breaking fourth gold medal.
Liverpool are beginning to rediscover their winning rhythm. On Saturday, Arne Slot’s men secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield — their third consecutive win and a result that stretches their unbeaten Premier League run to six matches.
The afternoon began with a poignant tribute to Diogo Jota, commemorating his contributions to both clubs. Jota’s children, Dinis and Duarte, led the teams out as mascots, a touching nod to their father’s legacy.
Diogo Jota’s family members, including two of his children Dinis and Duarte, are mascots for @LFC’s match against @Wolves ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bTkphT934W
For much of the first half, Wolves offered a familiar frustration, sitting deep in a compact low block that dared Liverpool to find a gap. Slot’s side, however, refused to panicking. Their reward arrived in the 41st minute via a move of Premier League pedigree.
Jeremie Frimpong, a constant menace on the flank, reached the by-line before pulling a precise ball back for Ryan Gravenberch. The midfielder swept the ball home with composure, celebrating with a "crocodile" gesture—a direct homage to his teammate Jota.
The momentum shifted into a blitz. Just 90 seconds later, Anfield erupted again as Florian Wirtz marked his arrival in English football. Slid through by Hugo Ekitike, the German international showed exactly why he was the summer’s marquee signing, slotting past Jose Sa for his first Premier League goal.
Despite the two-goal cushion, Liverpool’s old ghosts returned to haunt them early in the second half. At the 52nd minute, a lapse in concentration during a set-piece allowed Wolves back into the contest. Tolu Arokodare’s initial header was parried by Alisson, but only as far as Santiago Bueno, who thumped the rebound into the net.
It was the 12th goal Liverpool have conceded from a set-piece this season—a statistical anomaly that Slot will be desperate to address if his side is to sustain a title charge. The final 25 minutes were far from comfortable, characterized by a "shaky" defensive line, but Liverpool ultimately held firm to secure their third consecutive victory.
Speaking after the match, Florian Wirtz reflected on his milestone goal and the team's late-game dip in intensity:
"It was a beautiful feeling on the pitch with the fans. I was confident the goal would come eventually, but I wanted it to happen sooner. We played a brilliant first half; every time we lost the ball, we won it back immediately.
However, we made the last 25 minutes difficult for ourselves. To be honest, I cannot explain why. We have to address this in training because we have to change it."
Liverpool are now unbeaten in six Premier League outings, taking 12 points from a possible 18. Liverpool are quietly building momentum. The question now: are they finally finding consistency under Arne Slot?
