New Delhi: Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrovic faced off in a dramatic battle for the Roshn Saudi League golden boot, with the Portuguese megastar eventually winning with a record 35 goals. The two combatants from opposite sides of the furious Riyadh divide are at it again this season, but this time they have company in the shape of Karim Benzema and possibly a slew of more competitors. In Benzema’s instance, the French striker appears to be revitalized at RSL leaders Al Ittihad since manager Laurent Blanc took over.
While those three are leading the way, there is a pursuing pack behind them that cannot be overlooked as they all compete to be the RSL’s top scorer for the 2024-25 season. Here’s a look at the main contenders for one of the top-flight season’s most important individual awards.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Hilal) – 12 goals
Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic reacts REUTERS/Stringer
Since arriving in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal in the summer of last year, the Serbian sensation has been a goal-scoring machine. The former Fulham striker’s goals helped the Riyadh giants to an unbeaten season and the RSL title in 2023-24. While Mitrovic missed a few games due to injury at the end of the season, which may have cost him a true chance at his first golden boot, he still achieved 28 goals from 28 appearances.
It’s hard to imagine that the former Fulham striker has 12 goals in 13 appearances this season, including four braces in his first six. For a player with his scoring record, Mitrovic entered the Christmas break on a brief goal drought, having failed to score in three of his last five games, including the two most recent. Surely to return reinvigorated following the mid-season sabbatical, it will most likely mean difficulty for the clubs that Al Hilal, the reigning RSL champions and currently second in the table, will face after the break.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) – 10 goals
Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the match REUTERS/Stringer
Age is clearly no obstacle for the Portuguese superstar, who will be 40 in February and is still leading the way for his Al Nassr team. It was always going to be difficult to match last season’s record-breaking haul, but with 10 goals in 12 outings, he is just about keeping up this time around. Only three games this season has the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward failed to reach the back of the net, but in all competitions, including the AFC Champions League Elite, Ronaldo scored six goals in his four games before the winter break.
It extends the club captain’s incredible scoring run from his debut with Al Nassr in January of last year, during which time he has 59 goals in 59 RSL games. Worryingly for opponent defences as Al Nassr seek to improve on their current fourth-place ranking, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down.
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) – 10 goals
Al Ittihad’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Stringer
Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema has also been sensational in this Saudi campaign but it wasn’t that easy for him to settle into the system. The French international would be the first to acknowledge the fact that his debut season in the RSL was disappointing. The Jeddah giants struggled to defend their championship from the previous season under managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Marcelo Gallardo, eventually finishing fifth. In reality, they were 42 points off first place.
While Ronaldo and Mitrovic scored 35 and 28 goals, respectively, Benzema managed only nine. He was much behind colleague Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 19. This season however, the former Ballon d’Or winner appears to be an entirely different player. Clearly wounded by last season’s experience, Benzema exudes hunger and tenacity, making him one of the league’s most dangerous strikers.
After failing to score in the first game, the 37-year-old has been on fire, scoring 10 goals in his following nine outings, including a hat-trick in a 7-1 victory over Al Wehda in the “Old Derby” in Matchweek 3. With Al Ittihad two points ahead of second placed AL Hilal, the stage is set for captain and primary contributor Benzema to lead his side to the top-flight title.
Georges-Kevin N’koudou (Damac) – 8 goals
N’koudou for Damac
While Mitrovic, Ronaldo, and Benzema appear to be in a three-way tie for individual accolades, any of the chasing pack might capture the RSL top scorer title in 2024-25. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou of Damac continues to shine for the mid-table club following an outstanding debut season in the Kingdom, in which he scored 15 goals.
Goalscoring isn’t the only thing that has been one of his main attributes this season, as he has built a reputation of being a tricky player to defend against. The Cameroon international, who normally plays out wide for his team, has eight goals this season, including four in his last five games before the break.
Abdullah Al Salem (Al Khaleej) – 7 goals
Abdullah Al Salem for Al Khaleej
Abdullah Al Salem is experiencing a late-career purple patch and is the top Saudi Arabian scorer this season with seven goals. The journeyman striker, who has previously played for Al Khaleej, Al Ettifaq, Al Fayha, and Al Nassr, has returned to his hometown club, Al Khaleej, and has secured a place at the top of the attack under manager Georges Donis. A run of six goals in three games propelled Al Salem up the golden boot standings and allowed Al Khaleej to briefly get into the top six.
In a recent fixture against the champions Al Hilal, the 32-year-old scored a brace but couldn’t help his side win the match as it ended 3-2. With seven goals this season, he is also tied with Houssem Aouar, Julian Quinones who have also turned out to be prolific for their sides.
Top players are competing for this year’s Saudi League golden boot, where players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Aleksandar Mitrovic are all in for the battle. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
