Al-Bulaihi started his career at Al-Amal where he spent three years before joining Al-Nahda in 2014.[5] On 23 July 2015, he joined Al-Fateh.[6]
Al-Hilal
On 21 June 2017, Al-Hilal signed Al Bulaihi on a free transfer. He signed a three-year contract with the club.[7]
In April 2024, in a derby match against rival team Al Nassr, he gathered some controversy after being elbowed by Cristiano Ronaldo after trying to intimidate him, resulting in a red card for Ronaldo and a yellow card for Al-Bulaihi.[8]
International career
In June 2018, Al-Bulaihi was named in Saudi Arabia's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[9] He made his debut in the competition against Uruguay.[10] In November 2022, he was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[11] In the opening game, he played the whole match as his team defeated the eventual world champions Argentina 2–1.[12]
In January 2024, he drew criticism for shoving and grabbing the hair of South Korean player Son Heung-min, unprovoked, during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round of 16. Al-Bulaihi had previously similarly taunted Argentine player Lionel Messi by slapping him on the back.[13][14]
^"FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019: List of Players: Al Hilal SFC" (PDF). FIFA. 5 December 2019. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2019.
^"Ali Al-Bulaihi". Saudi Pro League. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^"علي هادي آل بليهي - Ali Al-Boleahi".
^"النجم علي البليهي من ملعب نادي البكيرية إلى الملاعب العالمية".
^""الفتح" يوقع مع "البليهي".. ويواجه "الترجي" ودياً غداً". 23 July 2015.
^"الهلال السعودي يعلن ضم مدافع الفتح". 9 July 2019.
^"Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo red-carded, he cried and get humbelded by Ronaldo , cry baby cry for elbowing Saudi Super Cup soccer foe". 9 April 2024.
^Soliman, Seif (4 June 2018). "Saudi Arabia announce final 23-man World Cup squad". kingfut.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
^"Uruguay 1–0 Saudi Arabia". FIFA. 20 June 2018.
^"Renard announces the national team list for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
^"'You won't win' - What Saudi Arabia defender Ali Al-Bulayhi said to Lionel Messi during shock victory over Argentina". Goal.com. 22 November 2022.
^"Son Heung-min involved in clash with Saudi player who has already confronted Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo". SPORTbible. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^"메시 도발했던 사우디 선수, 손흥민 머리채 잡고 황희찬 목 조르고". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^"Ali Al-Bulaihi". Soccerway.
^Ali Al-Bulaihi at National-Football-Teams.com
^"Team of the Tournament". Instagram.com. AFC Asian Cup. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.