Al-Ittihad Wins Saudi King Cup, Completes Domestic Double

Karim Benzema played a pivotal role in leading Al-Ittihad to a 3-1 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi King's Cup final, securing a prestigious domestic double for the club. Benzema scored twice, opening the scoring with a chest finish from a Steven Bergwijn cross and sealing the win with a stoppage-time goal following Moussa Diaby's assist. Houssem Aouar also contributed with a first-half goal, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Al-Qadsiah from the penalty spot, though his side was later reduced to 10 men after Ezequiel Fernandez's red card. Under Laurent Blanc's management, Al-Ittihad dominated the match and finished the season eight points ahead in the league, marking their 10th King's Cup and league title victories, respectively. Benzema's performance earned him the SPL Player of the Season award, highlighting his impressive tally of 38 goals in 62 appearances since joining from Real Madrid. Despite Aubameyang's efforts and 21 goals since his Saudi arrival, Al-Qadsiah remains trophy-less in their 58-year history, continuing their long wait for major silverware.