Veteran Moroccan star Abderrazak Hamdallah has firmly established himself in the current edition of the Gulf Champions League, leading his Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab to a resounding 13-0 victory over Yemen's Al-Tadhamon Hadramout in the final group stage match. The Moroccan striker delivered an exceptional performance, scoring six goals (a super hat-trick) and bringing his tournament tally to seven, comfortably topping the scorers' chart.
Details of individual and group achievements
Before this match, Hamdallah had only one goal to his name in the tournament, but he exploded onto the scene in an unforgettable night, proving once again that he is one of the most prominent goalscorers in Gulf football. This performance was not just an individual effort, but part of a dazzling collective performance by Al-Shabab, as his teammates, Belgian Yannick Carrasco and Englishman Josh Brownhill, each scored a hat-trick, bringing their totals to four goals in the tournament and placing them joint second in the top scorers' list.
Historical context: The return of the Gulf Cup and Hamdallah "the executioner"
This brilliance comes at a significant juncture: the return of the Gulf Champions League, one of the region's most prestigious club competitions, after a hiatus of several years. The tournament, first launched in 1982, served for decades as a strong competitive platform for the league champions of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries before being discontinued in 2015. Its revival has revitalized regional competition, and the exceptional performance of a player like Hamdallah adds considerable prestige to this year's edition. The Moroccan striker is known as "The Executioner" for his exceptional ability to decide matches and score goals, and he boasts a rich history of scoring achievements in Saudi Arabian football, most notably winning the Saudi Professional League's top scorer title and breaking the record for the most goals in a single season.
Importance and expected impact
Hamdallah's prolific goal-scoring record at the top of the scoring charts not only strengthens his personal chances of winning the tournament's top scorer title, but also sends a strong message to all competitors that Al-Shabab, spearheaded by its potent attack, is one of the leading contenders for the Gulf title. Regionally, this performance contributes to raising media and public interest in the returning tournament and confirms that Saudi clubs still possess a formidable attacking force capable of competing strongly at all levels.
List of top scorers in the Gulf Champions League 2025/26 so far:
- 7 goals: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Shabab)
- 4 goals: Yannick Carrasco (Youth)
- 4 goals: Josh Brownhill (Youth)
- 3 goals: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Rayyan)
- 3 goals: Misuke Olumu (Renaissance)
- 3 goals: Roger Guedes (Al Rayyan)
- 3 goals: Rodrigo Moreno (Al Rayyan)
