Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, star of Al-Shabab FC, reignited the exciting race for the title of all-time top scorer in the Saudi Professional League after scoring a crucial goal for his team against Damac in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League, dubbed the "Foundation Round." With this goal, Hamdallah narrowed the gap with Syrian Omar Al-Somah, the current leader of the list, and is now just a few steps away from achieving a historic milestone to add to his illustrious career in Saudi football.
Hamdallah, nicknamed "The Cleaver," increased his goal tally in the history of his Saudi League appearances to 152 goals, scored during his time with Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and currently Al-Shabab. In contrast, Omar Al-Somah, nicknamed "The Colonel," remains at 159 goals, all scored while playing for Al-Ahli, due to his move to the Qatari league with Al-Arabi. This means his record is currently unchanged and could be broken.
Background of the battle for the top scorer title
The title of all-time top scorer in the Saudi Professional League holds immense symbolic and historical value, as the league has seen many illustrious names leave their mark on the scoring scene. For many years, Omar Al-Somah dominated the Saudi scoring landscape since joining Al-Ahli in 2014, winning the league's top scorer title for three consecutive seasons and breaking Nasser Al-Shamrani's record to claim the title of all-time top scorer.
For his part, Hamdallah began his career in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2018, and his arrival was a unique scoring phenomenon, as he broke the record for most goals in a single season in his first year by scoring 34 goals. Hamdallah continued his brilliance with Al-Ittihad and then Al-Shabab, proving himself to be one of the best foreign strikers in the history of the competition, and he is now the most prominent and closest contender to break Al-Somah's historic record.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, this race adds significant excitement to the Roshan League matches, as Saudi fans of all affiliations eagerly anticipate every game Hamdallah plays to see if he will get closer to the record. This rivalry is not merely an individual competition; it also represents a source of pride for the fans of the clubs Hamdallah has played for.
Regionally, this rivalry between a Moroccan star and a Syrian one reflects the strength and appeal of the Saudi League as a destination for top Arab talent. The competition enjoys widespread attention across the Arab world, further solidifying the league's position as the strongest in the region. Internationally, with global attention focused on the Saudi League after attracting international stars, these record-breaking performances and individual stories lend the competition historical depth and added context for new followers, highlighting that the league was already brimming with stars and legends even before the recent transfer window. With only seven goals remaining, the question is no longer "will" Hamdallah break the record, but "when" he will do it to cement his place as the new king of Saudi League goalscorers.
