Firas Al-Buraikan Explained

Firas Al-Buraikan
Fullname:Firas Tariq Nasser Al-Buraikan
Birth Date:14 May 2000
Birth Place:Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Height:1.81 m[1]
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Al-Ahli
Clubnumber:20
Youthyears1:2011–2017
Youthclubs1:Al-Nassr
Years1:2017–2021
Clubs1:Al-Nassr
Caps1:28
Goals1:4
Years2:2021–2023
Clubs2:Al-Fateh
Caps2:62
Goals2:32
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Al-Ahli
Caps3:27
Goals3:13
Nationalyears1:2017–2019
Nationalteam1:Saudi Arabia U20
Nationalcaps1:20
Nationalgoals1:14
Nationalyears2:2019–2022
Nationalteam2:Saudi Arabia U23
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Saudi Arabia
Nationalcaps3:41
Nationalgoals3:9
Club-Update:27 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:11 June 2024

Firas Tariq Nasser Al-Buraikan (Arabic: فراس طارق ناصر البريكان; born 14 May 2000) is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Saudi Arabia national team and Saudi Professional League side Al-Ahli.[2] [3]

Club career

On 8 July 2021, Al-Buraikan joined Al-Fateh on a four-year deal.[4] Al-Buraikan ended his first season at Al-Fateh scoring 11 goals and assisting four in 28 matches. He finished as the club's top scorer. In his second season, Al-Buraikan scored 18 goals in all competitions, once again finishing as the club's top scorer. On 3 June 2023, Al-Buraikan renewed his contract with Al-Fateh until the end of the 2027–28 season.[5]

On 3 September 2023, Al-Buraikan joined Al-Ahli on a five-year deal for a reported fee of SAR40 million (around €9.9 million).[6]

International career

Al-Buraikan was first summoned for the U-20 national team in Saudi Arabia's successful 2018 AFC U-19 Championship conquest, scoring one goal in Saudi Arabia's 3–1 win over Australia. Although scoring just one, his successful display in the tournament allowed him to be summoned for the Saudi squad in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he had a successful performance with two goals against Mali and Panama; however, his successful performance didn't transcend to the team as the under-20 Asian champions crumbled from the group stage with a humiliating three straight defeats. He carried the same successes to the under-23 team in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship and 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, as the Saudis reached the final twice, winning the latter for the first time; the good form in 2020 event allowed him to become part of the Saudi Olympic side in the 2020 Summer Olympics, though this time, he failed to score as Saudi Arabia once again crumbled at the group stage with three straight defeats.

Nonetheless, his good form at the under-20 allowed him to be summoned for the senior side in 2019 for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round against Singapore. He scored his first international goal against Kuwait in the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup as Saudi Arabia lost 3–1. He went on to play an instrumental role, scoring three goals in the third round as Saudi Arabia impressed by topping the qualifiers. He then took part in the 2022 FIFA World Cup of the squad, and greatly impressed with an assist in Saudi Arabia's historic 2–1 win over Argentina in what would be the greatest upset in World Cup history. However, the assist turned to be Al-Buraikan's only impression, as his inability to score saw Saudi Arabia condemned to bottom place after losing to Poland and Mexico.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueKing CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al-Nassr2017–18Saudi Pro League111021
2018–1940205010120
2019–2091108000181
2020–21142100000152
Total2845013010474
Al-Fateh2021–22Saudi Pro League2711102811
2022–233017213218
2023–24540054
Total62323100006533
Al-Ahli2023–24Saudi Pro League2713222915
Career total117491031301014152

International

As of 6 June 2024

Scores and results list Saudi Arabia's goal tally first.[7]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 27 November 2019 Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar align=center 1–3 align=center 1–3 24th Arabian Gulf Cup
2. 2 December 2019 align=center 1–0 align=center 3–1
3. 14 November 2020 Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia align=center 3–0 align=center 3–0 Friendly
4. 7 October 2021 King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia align=center 1–0 align=center 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 12 October 2021 align=center 3–1 align=center 3–2
6. 27 January 2022 align=center 1–0 align=center 1–0
7. 26 March 2024 Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan align=center 1–0 align=center 1–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
8. 6 June 2024 Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan align=center 1–0 align=center rowspan=23–0
9. align=center 2–0

Honours

Al-Nassr

2019, 2020Saudi Arabia U19

Saudi Arabia U23

2022Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: Saudi Arabia . . 24 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022.
  2. Web site: فراس البريكان - . 3 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Firas Al-Buraikan (Al Ahli SC) - Career Stats - Flashscore.com. www.flashscore.com. 25 May 2024.
  4. Web site: الفتح يتعاقد مع بريكان النصر لأربع سنوات .
  5. Web site: الفتح يحتفظ بالبريكان حتى 2028. arriyadiyah.com. 25 May 2024.
  6. Web site: البريكان يعزز هجوم الأهلي. arriyadiyah.com. 25 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Buraikan, Firas . national-football-teams.com . National Football Teams. 8 December 2019.
  8. Web site: مدرب الاتحاد وحمدلله .. وحارس الفيصلي والبريكان نجوم شهر فبراير.. . 28 February 2023 . 15 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230815142339/https://www.spl.sa/ar/news/4077 . dead .