Al-Ettifaq create unusual Saudi Pro League pairing with Rayane Messi and Abdullah Kante

Al-Ettifaq have produced one of the more unusual stories of the current Saudi Pro League transfer window by bringing together the surnames of Lionel Messi and N’Golo Kante at the same club.

Neither of the two globally recognised stars plays in Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi, widely known as “La Pulga”, is with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, while France international N’Golo Kante is a player for Turkish club Fenerbahce.

However, Al-Ettifaq have linked the famous names through two younger players who now represent the Dammam-based side.

The club announced on 14 August that it had signed French winger Rayane Messi from Strasbourg on loan until the end of the current season.

The 19-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at NEOM, making 13 appearances. He scored once and provided one assist during that spell.

Although Rayane Messi has yet to establish himself as a major footballing star, Al-Ettifaq made full use of the attention surrounding his surname when unveiling the signing on their official X account.

The announcement featured a video accompanied by the words: “Messi is Ettifaq”.

The post attracted attention because the club did not include the player’s first name. Al-Ettifaq repeated the same approach on Sunday when confirming the arrival of Ivorian midfielder Abdullah Kante.

A video announcing that transfer was posted on the club’s official X account with the caption: “Kante is Ettifaq”, again leaving out the player’s first name.

Abdullah Kante is a 21-year-old midfielder who joined Al-Ettifaq from English club Middlesbrough. Reports put the transfer fee at €5m.

The two signings have allowed Al-Ettifaq to create a social media narrative around two surnames that are already strongly associated with elite football, despite the fact that neither Rayane Messi nor Abdullah Kante has yet reached the level of their more famous namesakes.

Lionel Messi is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game and remains with Inter Miami in the United States. N’Golo Kante, meanwhile, continues his career in Turkey with Fenerbahce.

Al-Ettifaq will hope their new arrivals can make an impact on the pitch as well as generate interest online. The club have lost two of their opening four matches of the new season and sit ninth in the Saudi Pro League with six points.

The side will be looking for improved results from Rayane Messi and Abdullah Kante as the campaign develops, with the club hoping that the two players can live up to the attention created by their names and help them climb the table.