Since I don't know when, I fell into the net of football. The game captivated me with its details. I brought the streets of our village to life, playing the game sometimes and watching others. I believed, and still believe, that many deserve a chance to be in its real world.

That's my story, and perhaps the story of many of us with street football, the first refuge and sometimes the last for playing the game. Alleys and neighborhoods are filled with the raw material for real football talents, creating a close connection between street football and talent; the relationship is evident throughout the journey.

Few are fortunate enough to leave these alleys for the light of the real game, but what is certain is that we now recognize every talent playing football for the sake of enjoyment, knowing it is undoubtedly born on the streets.

Our hero is one of those whose talent triumphs for the main purpose of the game, and in his story lies a symbol of the street football narrative and the story of football in his country.

Academic subjects were not his priority. This statement is repeated about most of those enchanted by football, especially those who emerged from the streets. For Salem, the protagonist of our story, studying was challenging, if not impossible.

Academic curricula were like talismans for Salem Al-Dawsari, and school lessons were nothing more than a place to catch some sleep between rounds of playing football, despite growing up in a family dedicated to teaching, where his father and older brother worked.

Al-Dawsari roamed all the streets and corners of Riyadh to play football. Before that, his family had to leave Jeddah for Riyadh due to his father's work, but becoming a professional player seemed impossible at first.

At that time, Saudi Arabia did not have a system for identifying and nurturing talents; relationships determined the fate of those aspiring to a football career. Salem suffered from and benefited from this situation at the same time.

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If you are one of those who dreamed of playing football in their youth, you have undoubtedly experienced youth trials at clubs that often end in rejection, leading to the fate of thousands of talents worldwide. They find themselves with no option but to return to the streets and play the game whenever circumstances allow.

Salem went through this journey as well. The first shock came from Al-Faisaly Club when Mohammad Asoos, the youth categories administrator, saw him and decided to take him to the team's coach. The latter was not convinced of Al-Dawsari's talent, but that did not deter him from continuing to pursue his dream.

The second destination was Al-Asiri Center, the primary source of talent for Al-Nassr Club. At that time, coach Ibrahim Asiri successfully prepared Salem for the first team. However, Manif Al-Shahrani, the administrator at Al-Hilal Club, blocked the way for Al-Nassr, offering him a transfer to Al-Hilal, which Salem gladly accepted.

Salem thought that life had finally smiled at him. However, after being under assessment for 43 days at Al-Hilal Club, the management refused to sign with him, citing that Salem was not suitable to play for the club.

The story was not over yet.

At this point, a considerable number of talents collapse, deciding not to return to the doors of football. It is the same point that reveals the state in which Saudi Arabian football was managed. There is nothing more challenging than insisting on recognizing talent, as in the case of Salem.

But Salem is a man who loves challenges and enjoys exploring them, just as he will do in his future goals.

"I now want to play only for Al-Hilal," said Al-Dawsari in January 2011 when asked about his requests during his registration as an amateur player with the club.

Salem scored seven goals in his first season as an amateur with the club, and this season was enough to catch the attention of Khaled Al-Qoronie, the head coach of the Saudi youth team at that time. He decided to take him as part of the Green Team in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011. Salem excelled in the tournament, becoming his gateway to the first team at Al-Hilal and starting a new era without obstacles, quickly securing his place in the starting lineup.

Steps on the Road

After returning from Colombia, the real journey began, and it wasn't just any moment—it was the Riyadh Derby against the traditional rival, Al-Nassr. Salem entered as a substitute to score against Al-Nassr, making history in the derby matches. This marked the signing of his first professional contract with Al-Hilal in March 2012.

Salem quickly gained the admiration of everyone, proving his worth day after day, amidst those who had initially rejected him. He earned a spot in the Saudi national team under Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard at just 20 years old.

Season after season, Salem's popularity increased not only among Al-Hilal fans but also among the entire Saudi audience. His talent was unprecedented in Saudi Arabia, and the path was paved for Al-Dawsari to become the first star of Saudi football. However, something was still missing to hinder that step.

In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Arabian Football Development Program was launched in 2017, transforming football into a fully professional entity with direct support from the Saudi Crown Prince. An advanced sports management implemented continuous strategic goals.

One of these goals was to develop the training mechanism for youth foundations, establish youth development programs in clubs, and focus on the current Saudi stars, with Al-Dawsari at the forefront.

The plan included a joint agreement with La Liga, leading to more than one Saudi player moving to play professionally in Spain, including Salem to Villarreal. Although his playing experience was frustrating, with only 33 minutes of playing time in six months, it significantly contributed to his technical and physical development.

Salem returned from Spain as a changed person. He was no longer the player who squandered opportunities in front of the goal or the one who irregularly attended training. He led Al-Hilal to win the AFC Champions League for the third time in the club's history, the first as a player. Prior to that, he helped secure the local league title, the Super Cup, and the King's Cup. Recently, he won the AFC Champions League title for the second time.

Salem achieved seven titles with Al-Hilal in six years: two Saudi league titles, two King's Cups, one local Super Cup, and two Crown Prince Cup titles. His impact was evident in all of them. Additionally, he led the Saudi national team to a historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, earning him the title of the Best Asian Player for 2022.

Salem's story tells us about football in Saudi Arabia, but fundamentally, it tells us a true story about lost talents on the streets of football, especially in our Arab world. These talents only need early nurturing in different age groups. Then, we will see 1000 Salems in all our Arab teams and national squads, and why not 1000 Salahs shining under the lights of European stadiums. In conclusion, we are fortunate that Salem Al-Dawsari's talent did not go to waste.