RSL Fantasy: 10 Forwards to Watch

So, with your goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders – hopefully – sorted ahead of the beginning of the 2024-25 season on August 22, it’s time to focus on the guys who do what is largely considered the most difficult aspect in football: score goals.

However, there’s more for forwards in tallying up RSL Fantasy points than simply finding the net. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of attractive candidates for any team – can you prove as handy as finding the target as they typically do?

Cristiano Ronaldo – Al Nassr (SAR 14.5M)

OK, so at comfortably the game’s most expensive player, the Al Nassr captain will take up a chunk of your budget. But, then again, it is Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar led from the front last season, with an unrivalled 170 points – a whopping 28 clear of the next best player, in the whole of 2023-24 RSL Fantasy. With a record 35 goals and another 11 assists in the top flight, and the public declaration of wanting even more in 2024-25, can you afford to leave him out?

Fashion Sakala – Al Fayha (SAR 10M)

What a season Sakala had last term: 19 goals (the joint-third best in the RSL) and six assists helped lift Al Fayha to a ninth-placed finish. And, with a full campaign in the Kingdom under his belt, surely the Zambian to be well primed to out-perform his 2023-24. In a RSL Fantasy game that began last November, Sakala ranked fourth overall for forwards, with 113 points. That success came at a price, with Sakala's price rocketing from SAR 8.5M at the start of 2023-24 to SAR 10M now, but surely he's still worth real consideration.

Abderrazak Hamdallah – Al Shabab (SAR 9M)

Want a guaranteed goal getter, but not sitting at the very sharpest end of the price scale? Well, look no further than the RSL’s second all-time leading goalscorer. Hamdallah finished sixth last season for total points, with 105, but as Al Shabab’s shiny new signing, expect that 19 goals to increase significantly – especially given he featured in only 24 matches in 2023-24. And, with Omar Al Somah’s all-time RSL record to hunt down, the mighty Moroccan will have an added bite.

Feras Al Buraikan – Al Ahli (SAR 9M)

At the same price point as Hamdallah, and even among the plethora of lead international attackers in the RSL, the Saudi Arabian more than holds his own. Al Buraikan amassed an incredible 113 points last season, to sit behind only Ronaldo and Al Hilal striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for high-scoring forwards. He's poised to shine once again.

Julian Quinones – Al Qadsiah (SAR 7M)

While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is maybe the more recognisable striking addition to promoted side Al Qadsiah, do not sleep on his fellow new arrival. The Mexican international looks set to be a key contributor to the ambitious 2023-24 First Division League champions, with 36 goals in 76 Liga MX appearances across the past two seasons. And, at only SAR 7M, Quinones could prove an astute signing to free up more cash for other options.

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou – Damac (SAR 10.5M)

A revelation in the RSL on debut last season, the winger was prolific from out wide, with 15 goals and five assists in 31 appearances. Of course, it translated to RSL Fantasy; N’Koudou finished the 2023-24 edition with a superb 111 points to rank fifth overall for forwards. He fared even better for Attacking Bonus Points, coming third, with 11. He now knows the league and could once more form Damac’s main attacking outlet.

Khaled Narey – Al Khaleej (SAR 6.5M)

Cast your eye down through the top 10 forwards for points last season and, at SAR 6.5M, the Al Khaleej attacker comes in at easily the cheapest. Narey represents such value for money, with 91 points in 2023-24 helped by the seven goals and two assists for the campaign. The Togo forward also sat second for Attacking Bonus Points (13) and top for value on form for the season.

Karim El Berkaoui – Al Raed (SAR 7M)

Right behind Narey in value for 2023-24, the Al Raed forward was ranked at an eye-watering SAR 13M for form during the campaign. That’s primarily because his total points tally of 91 was the 11th best for forwards, a consequence of part of the Moroccan’s 12 goals which made him the club's all-time top scorer, as well as two assists last season. With new manager Odair Hellman to impress, El Berkaoui should be another RSL Fantasy hit this term.

Joao Pedro – Al Taawoun (SAR 8.5M)

Arriving from the UAE a few weeks after the 2023-24 season kicked off, the Portuguese striker quickly went about collecting as many points as he could. Ultimately, he racked up a commendable 79 to sit just outside the top 10 for forwards. It’s a pretty big hint that Pedro can kick on again this campaign – he very nearly averaged a goal every two games last time out (11 in 25 RSL matches).

Odion Ighalo – Al Wehda (SAR 9M)

Of course, Al Wehda’s RSL veteran deserves a mention. At 35, Ighalo might be in the twilight of his stellar career, but age seems to be no barrier: his 15 RSL goals last season ranked seventh in the scoring charts. In fact, his output led to 94 points in the 2023-24 RSL Fantasy – the ninth best in the forward position. Perhaps some are put off by the SAR 9M price tag but, through spells at Al Wehda, Al Hilal and Al Shabab, the Nigerian has continued to display his goalscoring prowess.