An unprecedented summer shopping spree of European stars has catapulted the Saudi Pro League into the spotlight, making it the most eagerly anticipated football season ever in the Middle East.
The influx of superstars to the Saudi Pro League is going to make the Golden Boot race an exciting watch that fans won't want to miss throughout the 2023/24 season.
One name who has been setting the league on fire even before the lavish spending is Al-Ittihad forward Abderrazak Hamdallah, who pipped Al-Nassr duo Ronaldo and Anderson Talisca to scoop his third Golden Boot in past five seasons with 21 goals last term.
The 32-year-old Moroccan international will be bidding to defend his Kingdom’s top scorer crown this time around, but it's safe to say, he has some serious competition on his hands.
A whole host of former European strikers will be strutting their stuff out in the Middle East, with Brazilian megastar Neymar joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as one of the division's poster boys.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo | Al-Nassr | 21 goals
The icon. The legend. The GOAT? Wherever the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker ranks in the history of sporting greats, his influence on the Saudi Pro League cannot be understated.
After all, it was his transfer to Al-Nassr back in December 2022 that paved the way for other big names across the footballing world to follow suit. Ronaldo is still a match-winner for Al-Nassr, and perhaps the club's most clutch performer even in the twilight of his career.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had a productive half-season in Riyadh last term, bagging 14 goals, but the Portuguese superstar will be desperate to add personal and team awards to a packed career trophy cabinet, having led the Knights of Najd to their first-ever Arab Club Champions Cup triumph recently.
2. Aleksandar Mitrovic | Al-Hilal | 19 goals
The former Fulham striker does not have the same boasting trophy cabinet and UEFA Champions League-winning credentials as some of the players that have moved across to the Middle-East this past summer. But what he does have is a towering frame and a head for goal that bullies defenders.
Despite never reaching the heights of Champions League stardom, Al Hilal's new frontman bagged more than 40 goals in England's second tier, which could be a better comparison for Saudi Pro League defenders for the time being. He also scored 15 Premier League goals last time out, which is easy task either. The Serbian goal machine is off to a flyer, and scoring goals for fun in the Middle East.
3. Georges-Kévin N'Koudou | Damac | 14 goals
The 28-year-old winger was lured to the Saudi Pro League by Damac in the summer. N’Koudou struggled to make an impact in the Premier League with Spurs, but he hasn’t had any of those struggles in his new surroundings. After enjoying some solid seasons with Besiktas in Turkish Super Lig, N’Koudou is looking sharp in front of goal for his new club.
4. Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Ittihad | 13 goals
It's been a brilliant start to their title defence for champions Al-Ittihad. However, it hasn't been just their shiny new toys doing the damage. Nicknamed "The Executioner" for his goal scoring exploits, Abderrazak Hamdallah is the current Saudi Pro League Golden Boot holder after firing 21 goals last season, and is showing no signs of giving up the mantle easily in the new campaign.
5. Anderson Talisca | Al-Nassr | 11 goals
Anderson Talisca has been very consistent for Al-Nassr since his move from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande back in 2021, having scored 20 goals in back-to-back seasons.Â
Although Mane and Ronaldo have stole the headlines this season, the Brazilian has remained a pivotal force in Luis Castro's side's attack.
6. Firas Al Buraikan | Al-Fateh | 11 goals
Al-Fateh's talismanic young forward Firas Al Buraikan has quietly emerged as Saudi Arabia's most dangerous striker since his 2021 exit from Al-Nassr. He impressed for both club and country last term, scoring 17 league goals in the process. Needless to say, he has carried over that form into the new season.
7. Malcolm | Al-Hilal | 9 goals
Former Barcelona attacker Malcolm lifted the Russian Premier League title last season with Zenit as the top scorer (23) in the league before joining Al-Hilal for a club-record €60 million.
The 26-year-old Brazilian winger has made a fine start to his career in Saudi Pro League, scoring a fine hat-trick in Al Hilal's 3-1 win over Abha on Matchday 1, and will be hoping to spearhead Al Hilal's title-charge with his goal-scoring exploits in 2023/24.
8. Salem Al Dawsari | Al-Hilal | 9 goals
Saudi Arabia international Salem Al Dawsari, who caught global attention with his spectacular winning goal against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, has been in sparkling form for Al-Hilal, and is making full use of supply chain consisting of elite creators such as Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
9. Odion Ighalo | AL-Wehda | 9 goals
Ighalo has been playing in Saudi Arabia since February 2021, when he joined Al-Shabab in a sensational move before later making a switch to Al-Hilal. The Nigerian striker, who netted an impressive 52 goals in 71 games in the Saudi Pro League for both Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal, has continued his good run with Al Wehda this season.
10. Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad | 9 goals
After 14 years with Real Madrid, 2022-23 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema took a a new challenge in the Middle-East and joined the reigning Pro League champions Al-Ittihad with a clear remit - score goals.
His niggling injury issues aside, the Frenchman has just done that so far, and is a strong contender for the Saudi Pro League golden boot.
11. Bernard Mensah | Al-Tai | 9 goals
While their peers were busy splashing the cash for fun, Al-Tai managed to land a bargain deal last summer as Bernard Mensah joined the club on a free transfer. And the attacking midfielder has been a superb addition so far, and has been a regular contributor of goals and assists.
12. Mourad Batna | Al-Fateh | 8 goals
The 33-year-old wide forward has emerged as a prolific goal-scorer for Al-Fateh in the last couple of seasons in Saudi Arabia, and will be keen to beat his tally of 10 league goals from last term.
13. Riyad Mahrez | Al-Ahli Saudi | 8 goals
Algerian star Riyad Mahrez ended his glorious trophy-laden spell with Manchester City in the summer by heading to Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli in a £30m deal. And he has settled in the Middle East pretty well. Producing goals and assists for fun, he has been the driving force behind Al Ahli's top-four charge.
14. Moussa Dembele | Al-Ettifaq | 7 goals
Although Jordan Henderson's move to Al-Ettifaq stole the headline, the capture of 27-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele on a free transfer from Lyon was an even bigger coup for Steven Gerrard's side given he has a proven track-record for being prolific goal-scorer in both Ligue 1 and Scottish SPFL. A natural and instinctive poacher, he will now be looking to take his goal-scoring exploits to the Middle-East.
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