Former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez has been removed from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad following the arrival of Karim Benzema, a move that significantly impacts the Uruguayan international’s preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision, made by Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi, stems from the league’s restrictions on the number of foreign players permitted in a squad.
According to reports, Saudi Pro League teams are limited to registering eight foreign players born before 2003. With the signing of former Real Madrid star Benzema, Al-Hilal was forced to build a roster adjustment, resulting in Núñez’s exclusion from the domestic league list. The move effectively limits Núñez’s competitive opportunities to the AFC Champions League, where he may participate in a maximum of five matches should Al-Hilal reach the final.
Núñez joined Al-Hilal in August 2025 for a reported £46 million ($63m) after three seasons at Anfield, where he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances and won a Premier League title. Despite a promising start in Saudi Arabia, with seven goals in 23 outings, his playing time is now severely restricted. He also spent 25 days sidelined earlier in the season due to a knee injury.
The situation raises concerns about Núñez’s match fitness and form ahead of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Since joining Al-Hilal, Núñez has played 16 games, scoring six goals and providing four assists in the local league. However, his lack of consistent playing time could hinder his preparation for the tournament.
Núñez’s struggles for goals extend to the international stage. He has not scored for Uruguay since finding the net against Bolivia in the Copa América on June 27. He has failed to score in his last 11 appearances for the national team, a drought that spans nearly two years. He also served a five-match suspension stemming from an incident following Uruguay’s defeat to Colombia in the Copa América semi-final.
Despite his recent lack of goals, Núñez is expected to be included in Uruguay’s squad for upcoming friendly matches against England on March 27 and Algeria in early April. Uruguay will debut in the 2026 World Cup against Saudi Arabia on June 15, 2026, in Miami.
Pablo Mari, a former Arsenal defender, has also been removed from Al-Hilal’s squad list alongside Núñez. Al-Hilal currently leads the Saudi Pro League, one point ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
