Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to win as many trophies as possible in his debut season at Al Nassr in 2023, including the individual Golden Boot award.
The Portuguese star has hit the ground running in Riyadh, as he aims to spearhead Rudi Garcia’s side in the title race, but he faces a challenge to finish as the league’s top scorer at the end of 2022/23.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate Talisca is the current frontrunner after two thirds of the campaign, with 13 league goals scored, followed by Carlos (Al Shabab) and Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al Ittihad), who are on 12 each.
Despite trailing the top scorers, Ronaldo (8 goals) will be confident of launching a late challenge with 11 league matches remaining, alongside the 2021/22 Golden Boot winner Odion Ighalo, of Al Hilal.
MORE: Watch all of Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals for Al Nassr in 2022/23
Saudi Pro League Top Scorers table (2022-2023)
The table below will be updated after each matchday of the 2022/23 season with the ranking of the Saudi Pro League top scorers. The first tiebreaker is assists and the second is minutes played as with major FIFA competitions.
Updated as of March 9.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | Assists | Matches | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Talisca | Al Nassr | 13 | 0 | 15 | 1,187 |
| 2. | Carlos | Al Shabab | 12 | 2 | 17 | 1,324 |
| Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al Ittihad | 12 | 0 | 16 | 1,419 | |
| 4. |
Firas Al-Buraikan |
Al Fateh | 10 | 3 | 19 | 1,347 |
| 5. | Odion Ighalo | Al Hilal | 9 | 1 | 14 | 1,149 |
| 6. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | 8 | 2 | 7 | 630 |
| Cristian Guanca | Al Shabab | 8 | 3 | 20 | 1,627 |
MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo salary in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Pro League Golden Boot Winners
Below are the top scorers in each season of the Saudi Pro League, dating back to 2007/08, when the league was rebranded from the Saudi Premier League.
Former Saudi Arabia international Nasser Al-Shamrani was the dominant winner in the early period of the league, with five Golden Boot triumphs in seven seasons, from 2007 to 2014.
The bar was raised by Syrian star Omar Al Somah, as he won three successive awards from 2014 to 2017, before Hamdallah set a new league record of 34 goals, in 2018/19.
| Year | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Odion Ighalo | Al Hilal | 24 |
| 2020/21 | Bafetimbi Gomis | Al Hilal | 24 |
| 2019/20 | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al Nassr | 29 |
| 2018/19 | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al Nassr | 34 |
| 2017/18 | Ronnie Fernandez | Al Fayha | 13 |
| 2016/17 | Omar Al Somah | Al Hilal | 22 |
| 2015/16 | Omar Al Somah | Al Hilal | 27 |
| 2014/15 | Omar Al Somah | Al Hilal | 24 |
| 2013/14 | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Al Shabab | 21 |
| 2012/13 | Sebastian Tagliabue | Al Shabab | 19 |
| 2011/12 | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Al Shabab | 21 |
| Victor Simoes | Al Hilal | 21 | |
| 2010/11 | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Al Shabab | 17 |
| 2009/10 | Mohammad Al-Shalhoub | Al Hilal | 12 |
| 2008/09 | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Al Shabab | 12 |
| Hicham Aboucherouane | Al Ittihad | 12 | |
| 2007/08 | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Al Shabab | 18 |
Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/saudi-pro-league-top-scorers-2023-cristiano-ronaldo-golden-boot/yk978prmeh2eojsldnvh9wby
