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RIYADH: Brazilian footballer Neymar on Monday expressed his full support for ��������Ƶ’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and said that he believes it has the potential to be the best tournament yet.

After touring the Saudi 2034 bid exhibition with Hammad Albalawi, the head of the bid unit, Neymar described it as “the best project I’ve ever seen” for players and fans alike.

The exhibition showcases the proposed host cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and NEOM — and includes interactive displays of the 15 stadiums envisioned for the event.

��������Ƶ is bidding to be the sole host of a 48-team World Cup tournament. It aims to leverage its geographic advantage, given that 60 percent of the world’s population live within an eight-hour flight of the Kingdom.

Neymar was particularly impressed by the focus of the Saudi bid on the needs of the players, saying: “They’re thinking about the players … making it easier to get from the game to the hotel and recover faster.”

The 32-year-old Brazilian, who has lived in Riyadh since signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in August 2023, praised the passion for football in the Kingdom and the warm welcome he and his family received. Despite an injury that limited his playing time so far, he noted the enthusiastic support among local fans.

The rapid growth in the development of football in ��������Ƶ in recent years has included an expansion in the number of youth-training centers to 23, support for more than 300,000 boys and girls in school leagues, and an increase in the number of registered football coaches from 700 in 2019 to more than 4,000.

Neymar said he believes this investment in the future of Saudi football will pay off, adding: “They will definitely be more competitive in 2034.”

He also acknowledged the influence he and other international soccer superstars who have relocated to the Kingdom, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, are having on the nation’s football scene.

“We want to influence all the kids and the youth to do the right things, and to bring joy to everyone with our football,” he said.

��������Ƶ submitted its official bid for the 2034 World Cup, which has the theme “Growing. Together,” in July. A decision on the host is due to be made on Dec. 11 during a FIFA Congress.

Al-Nassr defeated holders Al-Ain 5-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday to move into third place in the group and give ��������Ƶ the top three positions in the 12-team table.

With Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli winning on Monday to stay perfect on 12 points after four games, Al-Nassr are just two behind thanks to a devastating performance against the UAE’s powerhouse side.

The last time Al-Ain met ��������Ƶn opposition was just 15 days ago and fans were treated to a nine-goal thriller as Al-Hilal ran out 5-4 winners.

The last time they met Al-Nassr was at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition in March when the UAE team triumphed on penalties in what was a painful evening for the fans in Riyadh.

It was a different story this time with Al-Nassr going ahead in the fifth minute with an impressive goal, though Al-Ain’s coach Hernan Crespo was left asking questions of his defenders.

Mohamed Simakan has impressed since joining from RB Leipzig, but there seemed to be little danger when the center-back picked up the ball inside his own half. The French defender was allowed to cross the halfway line, though, and with the opposition falling back, a short pass found Talisca who made space for the shot with his first touch and then fired home with his second.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired just wide from a similar position at the edge of the area after 10 minutes, but given Al-Ain’s scoring capabilities there was a feeling that more was needed.

Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing and Ronaldo had a goalbound shot blocked before the five-time Ballon d’Or winner got the all-important second with one of his less spectacular strikes. Khalid Eisa failed to hold on to a long-range effort from Sadio Mane and there was Ronaldo to slot it home from close range.

It was just the cushion that the Riyadh club wanted but they kept coming forward and, soon after, moved further ahead.

Angelo broke into the left side of the area after 37 minutes and his low cross was deflected off the leg of Fabio Cardoso to loop over Eisa and into the net.

The home fans were in dreamland and it could have been even better three minutes before the break had Eisa not got a foot to a Talisca shot that seemed goalbound.

There was just a hint of danger from Soufiane Rahimi in added time to remind Al-Nassr that the Moroccan had scored 13 in the last tournament and four already this time around, but at the break it was looking very good indeed as Al-Nassr had probably produced their best 45 minutes of the season.

They also started brightly after the restart, but after 10 minutes Al-Ain were on the scoresheet and back in the game with a goal from nowhere. Park Yong-woo’s powerful low shot from outside the area bounced off the post but then hit the diving Bento and rebounded into the goal.

A few nerves resulted and Bento was the busier of the two goalkeepers, although, at the other end, Aymeric Laporte headed over from a corner.

Al-Ain went closer when, with 13 minutes remaining, Rahimi rolled the ball across the face of goal for Abdoul Traore to net, but he somehow miscontrolled and the massive chance went begging.

It was his side’s last chance as Wesley sealed victory with nine minutes remaining, the Brazilian curling the ball home from inside the area.

There was no coming back from that, and there was even time for Talisca to grab his second and his team’s fifth as he lifted the ball smartly over Eisa to end a perfect evening for Al-Nassr and a perfect round of games for ��������Ƶ.