Neymar Celebrates Saudi Founding Day in Traditional Attire
Neymar, the Brazilian football sensation, recently made headlines when he was seen donning traditional Saudi attire during the preparations for the Kingdom’s founding day. Thereafter, the images shared by his club, Al-Hilal, showcased Neymar in a thobe, shemagh, and headband, items famously associated with the late King Abdulaziz.
Neymar Embraces Saudi Tradition
Accompanied by Esteve Calzada, the CEO of Al-Hilal, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, and other teammates, Neymar danced the Ardah, Saudi Arabia’s national dance, which was visible on social media platform X.
People widely adopt the white thobe in the Kingdom for its comfort in the hot climate and desert setting, and in any case, they often complement it with other traditional attire for special occasions. One such attire is the Oughal Almorudan, worn over the thobe, distinguished by its long arms, and commonly donned during Ardah performances.
Neymar Overcomes Challenges: A Comeback Story
Recently, the 32-year-old made a return to Riyadh. Following surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee, in fact, he is now focused on his rehabilitation. This injury, which occurred during Brazil’s loss to Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last October, has been a significant setback for him.
Celebrating Founding Day
Founding Day, celebrated on Feb. 22 each year, commemorates the establishment of the Kingdom by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727 CE. The Saudi Sports Ministry recently dubbed the 21st round of the Roshan League as the Founding Round.
A Tradition of Unity
In addition to Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammates also embraced Founding Day last year. They donned traditional attire, underscoring the role of sports in cultural exchange.
In conclusion, Neymar’s participation in the Founding Day celebrations not only highlights his respect for Saudi traditions but also symbolizes the unifying power of sports, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries.
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