Master Marksmen: The top 5 goalscorers in RSL history

After Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah recently became the second-highest scorer in Roshn Saudi League history, secured by a brace against Al Fateh in Matchweek 24, we take a closer look at the marksmen that make up the all-time top-five list.

Omar Al Somah - 144

The Syrian frontman leads the way in the all-time scorers list thanks to his exploits with Al Ahli from 2014. Al Somah hit the ground running in the RSL, bagging 22 goals in 22 appearances in his debut season to secure the top scorer award as Al Ahli finished second to champions Al Nassr.

Al Somah’s most prolific campaign came during the 2015-16 season, when he scored 27 goals in 22 appearances for the Jeddah giants. That included a memorable hat-trick against Al Nassr and a four-goal haul against Al Raed to wrap up Al Ahli’s third top-flight title.

Consistency is key for any striker, and the man from Deir ez-Zur certainly showed that, scoring regularly in his remaining six seasons with Al Ahli before heading to the Qatar Stars League in 2022. With 144 goals in only 180 RSL appearances, Al Somah remains the man to beat.

Abderrazak Hamdallah - 127

The only player in the top five still plying his trade in the RSL, Hamdallah made an immediate impact in the Kingdom, scoring an incredible 34 goals in 27 league appearances in his debut season as Al Nassr went on to lift the 2018-19 title.
His remaining three seasons for Al Nassr saw playing time curtailed by injury, but that still didn't prevent Hamdallah from scoring 43 goals in 48 appearances. Thus, he grabbed the top-scorer award in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

Al Ittihad secured the Moroccan’s services in December 2021, with Hamdallah ending the season with 12 goals for the club to finish runner-up that season. Hamdallah stepped up the following campaign, though, forming an incredible understanding with fellow forward Romarinho. He found the net 21 times as Al Ittihad clinched the 2022-23 league crown - and a first in nine years.

Despite a huge summer overall at Al Ittihad, Hamdallah has continued to score goals at an impressive rate, and currently has 17 to his name this campaign. At 33, he has time on his side as he chases Al Somah’s mark. It’s 17 goals to go.

Nasser Al Shamrani - 126

The first of two Saudi Arabians in the top five, Al Shamrani is considered one of the greatest strikers of his generation. After starting out at hometown club Al Wehda, the goals really started flowing at Al Shabab where he picked up the RSL top goalscorer award in four of his six seasons with the Riyadh club - along with two league titles, during the 2005-06 and 2011-12 seasons.

Al Hilal came calling in 2013, with his crowning glory for the Blue Wave arriving in the 2013-14 season. Then, Al Shamrani picked up the RSL goalscorer award yet again alongside being named the 2014 AFC Player of the year.

Al Shamrani’s latter years at Al Hilal saw the goals slow down somewhat, before he spent some time on loas with UAE side Al Ain and then a final two seasons back at Al Shabab. His total tally of 126 goals represents the highest by a Saudi player in the RSL.

Mohammed Al Sahlawi - 102

The second Saudi in the top five, Al Sahlawi began his career at Al Qadsiah in 2005, but it was a 10-year stint at Al Nassr in which the striker wrote his name in RSL goalscoring folklore.

Despite never collecting a top-scorer award, Al Sahlawi was a consistent goal threat in the yellow and blue. His honours included back-to-back RSL titles, in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, while his most productive campaign during the latter, when he notched 21 goals in 24 appearances.

Al Sahlawi’s final season with Al Nassr concluding with him lifting a third RSL crown, even if he contributed one goal in the league. Further stints at Al Shabab and Al Taawoun followed, but the veteran failed to make significant inroads into his already impressive century-plus of goals in the RSL.

Bafetimbi Gomis - 81

The charismatic French striker played only three full seasons at Al Hilal, but left an indelible mark at the Riyadh giants, with his goals helping them to six major honours. That included back-to-back RSL titles and two AFC Champions League crowns as the capital club asserted their dominance on the continental stage.

Gomis struck 21 goals in 31 league appearances to finish second behind Hamdallah in the scoring charts. It was the 2019-20 campaign that proved his standout season, with the former Lyon forward bagging 27 RSL goals to seal a first league winner’s medal.

In his last complete season with Al Hilal, Gomis won the coveted top goalscorer award with 24 goals from 30 appearances - and helped his club to the championship crown.

Despite his relatively short spell in the Kingdom, Gomis departed as the highest-scoring European in RSL history. His unique tiger celebration will live long in the memory of Al Hilal fans, after he powered them through a period of sustained success both at home and abroad.