Al Ittihad Captain Karim Benzema Shines in Saudi Pro League Debut Season; Shares Spiritual Journey with Umrah Video

The former Real Madrid player can be heard stating, “Mashallah, the best of the best,” as he posts the clip to Instagram and X. To God be the glory, alhamdulillah.

Benzema wore an ihram (white garments) and filmed the clip while completing Tawaf (seven counterclockwise circuits of the Kaaba). The French translation of his caption reads, “very happy.” There were a lot of people that saw the video.

Benzema has made the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina before. He went to Saudi Arabia in 2016 and did the full journey.

Sadio Mane, a new signing for Al Nassr, made his debut on Thursday, August 3, and just hours later, he performed the Umrah pilgrimage. A video of Mane and his Muslim teammates, including former RC Lens captain Seko Fofana, setting out on this trip has gone viral.

Beginning with Cristiano Ronaldo last year and continuing with Karim Benzema, Jordan Henderson, and Sadio Mane this year, Saudi Arabian football clubs have signed a slew of significant names despite fruitless overtures to Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

According to one of its top administrators, the Saudi Pro League is “determined to be a success” and will continue to attract some of the biggest names in sports.

Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana, Brazilian fullback Alex Telles, and Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic have all joined Ronaldo at Al Nassr this summer.