Tue Apr 29 17:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Al Hilal’s Cancelo Out for Season, but Expected to Recover for Club World Cup
**JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia** – Al Hilal’s star defender, João Cancelo, will miss the remainder of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals (ACLE) and the Saudi Pro League season due to a hamstring injury. The injury occurred during Friday’s 7-0 quarterfinal victory over Gwangju FC, a win overshadowed by Cancelo’s setback. The Portuguese international, who only recently returned from a previous hamstring injury, is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.
Despite the disappointment, Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus expressed confidence that Cancelo will be fit for the FIFA Club World Cup, where Al Hilal will face Real Madrid on June 18th in Miami. “The only negative part [of the win] was the injury to João Cancelo,” Jesus said. “He will be out of matches for between four to six weeks. So his season is going to be over, but he will be well prepared for the Club World Cup.”
Al Hilal, four-time ACLE champions, will face fellow Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli in the semifinals on Tuesday. Al Ahli, managed by Matthias Jaissle, are aiming for their first Asian title and will draw confidence from their recent 3-2 victory over Al Hilal. Jaissle acknowledged Al Hilal’s strength, stating, “[Al Hilal] is a club with a lot of quality…So, of course, we need to be at our best level.”
This year’s ACLE features three Saudi Arabian teams in the semifinals, a testament to the rising strength of Saudi football, according to Jesus. “If we have this number of Saudi teams in the semifinals, it’s evidence that Saudi football is advancing more and more,” he stated. The other Saudi team, Al Nassr, will face Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinals.
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