It’s official: Al Deayea is the most capped player  
14  March  2006
  

RIYADH: Saudi national team and Al Hilal goalkeeper Mohamed Al Deayea has been confirmed as the most capped international

player in the world by FIFA.

Al Deayea has turned out for the Saudi national team 179 times so far and his last appearance was against Portugal in a

friendly on March 1, 2006.

The 34-year-old Saudi goalkeeper equalled the previous world record of 173 caps held by legendary Mexican defender Claudio

Suarez in December 2004 in the Gulf Cup held in Doha, Qatar. But Al Deayea was inactive in 2005 and missed Saudi Arabia’s

World Cup qualifying campaign, which would have swelled his tally sooner, after previous coach Argentine Gabriel Calderon

preferred Mabrouk Zayed over him as the first goalkeeper.

Al Deayea returned to favour in December 2005 when Al Hilal trainer Marcos Paqueta replaced Calderon and has been fielded in

six international matches so far.

The Al Hilal veteran made his debut for Saudi Arabia way back in 1990 against Bangladesh and notched up his 50th appearance

against Kyrgyzstan in 1996. The century of caps came against Mexico in 1998 and the 150th cap was added to the kitty in 2001

against Mongolia. He has conceded 193 goals so far.

Other key Saudi players in the elite century club are the evergreen Sami Al Jaber (Al Hilal; 155 caps), Majed Abdullah (ex-Al

Nasr;139 caps) and former Al Ittihad great Mohamed Al Khiliwai who pulled on the Saudi shirt 143 times.


PLAYERS WITH A CENTURY OF CAPS: 1. Mohamed Al Deayea, KSA (179), 2. Claudio Suarez, Mexico (173), 3. Hossam Hassan, Egypt

(170), 4. Cobi Jones, US (164), 5. Adnan Al Talyani, UAE (retired, 164).
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