Benrahma Shares Man of the Match Award After Neom’s Roshn League Victory
Algeria international Said Benrahma earned the spotlight for more than his performance on the pitch after Neom defeated Al-Diriyah 2-1 in the Saudi Roshn League. The winger was named man of the match following an influential display, but rather than keep the award for himself, he invited teammate Alexandre Lacazette to share it.
Neom’s win came at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Friday, in the 12th round of the league season. Benrahma opened the scoring from the penalty spot, while former Arsenal striker Lacazette supplied the decisive second goal. Together, their contributions helped Neom secure a valuable result in a competitive fixture.
Benrahma recognises Lacazette’s decisive contribution
Benrahma had a strong case for the individual honour. His penalty gave Neom an important breakthrough and helped set the tone for the match. Yet when the award was presented after the final whistle, the Algerian chose to bring Lacazette into the moment, acknowledging the striker’s role in finishing the job.
The gesture offered a public reminder that football success is rarely the work of one player alone. A penalty can change a match’s momentum, but a team still needs the composure and quality to build on that advantage. Lacazette’s goal proved crucial to the outcome, and Benrahma’s decision recognised the partnership behind Neom’s victory.
Sharing the award also gave the result a memorable post-match moment. Individual honours usually focus attention on one standout performer, but Benrahma used his recognition to highlight the collective effort that delivered three points. For Neom supporters, the scene was an encouraging sign of unity between two of the club’s most prominent attacking players.
A gesture reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo
Benrahma’s decision echoed a similar moment involving Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al-Nassr captain. The Portugal star recently handed his man of the match award to teammate Abdullah Al-Hamdan after Al-Nassr’s 3-1 victory over Al-Faisaly in the 11th round of the competition.
Ronaldo’s action attracted attention because it challenged the usual individual focus surrounding star players. Benrahma’s gesture has now added another example to the conversation, with both players choosing to recognise teammates after strong team performances. The circumstances were not identical, but the shared message was clear: a personal award can also be used to celebrate a colleague’s contribution.
Such moments can resonate with fans because they reveal something about the relationships within a dressing room. On the pitch, teammates depend on each other to create chances, defend leads and respond to pressure. Acknowledging that support publicly can reinforce a sense of togetherness, particularly during a season in which clubs are competing for position and consistency.
Debate over award-sharing in Saudi football
Not everyone has welcomed the growing visibility of these gestures. Saudi football legend Sami Al-Jaber criticised the repeated sharing of man of the match awards after Ronaldo’s decision, describing the practice as a “fashion” that should be confronted. His comments have added a debate about what individual awards are meant to represent and whether players should treat them as personal recognition or a platform to honour the team.
There are reasonable arguments on both sides. Supporters of the gesture may see it as a generous way to credit players whose work is essential but less visible. A striker’s goal, for example, may settle a match, while the build-up, pressing and defensive effort behind it can receive less attention. Sharing an award can bring some of those contributions into focus.
Others may argue that awards should remain a clear reflection of the individual judged to have performed best. If the honour is routinely passed on or shared, its meaning could become less precise. That tension is part of the broader appeal of the discussion: the award is both a sporting recognition and a public statement about how players view individual achievement within a team sport.
What the result means for Neom
For Neom, the most important outcome was the 2-1 victory. Winning a close match requires more than attacking quality; teams must also manage the game after taking the lead and stay composed when the contest remains in the balance. Benrahma’s penalty and Lacazette’s decisive finish provided the goals, while the result offered Neom an important boost in the Roshn League campaign.
The performance may also strengthen expectations around the partnership between the two forwards. Benrahma’s ability to influence a match from wide areas and the penalty spot gives Neom another route to goal, while Lacazette brings experience and a proven eye for decisive moments. If they continue to combine effectively, their connection could become a significant feature of the club’s attacking play.
Any football prediction about Neom’s next stretch of fixtures should remain cautious: one victory does not determine a season, and league form depends on consistency, fitness and results against a range of opponents. Still, a win built on contributions from two key attackers is an encouraging sign. The team will hope to carry that confidence into its upcoming matches.
More than a post-match photo
Benrahma’s choice to share the award with Lacazette transformed a routine presentation into a talking point across Saudi football. It celebrated two decisive contributions, echoed Ronaldo’s recent example and revived questions about the purpose of individual honours. Whether fans view the gesture as generosity or a growing trend, it placed the focus on a simple truth: in football, personal recognition often rests on collective work.
Neom left Riyadh with the points, Benrahma collected the match’s opening goal, and Lacazette supplied the finish that sealed the result. The shared award captured the spirit of the performance—two players, different contributions and one important team victory.
