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Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way in Saudi Golden Boot race

After a summer of lavish spending, the Saudi Pro League is in full swing and some of the high-profile arrivals are already strutting their stuff in the Middle East.

We take a look at how the division’s Golden Boot race is shaping up.

Cristiano Ronaldo (13 goals)

Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a superb start to the season with Al-Nassr, notching 13 goals in just 12 appearances.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a hat-trick against Al-Fateh in August and then bagged a match-winning brace against title rivals Al-Ahli the following month.

Ronaldo also has seven assists to his name, the joint-highest tally in the division.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (10 goals)

Aleksandar Mitrovic has taken no time to find his feet in Saudi Arabia.

The Serbian striker joined current leaders Al-Hilal from Fulham in August and has scored 10 times in 11 league appearances.

He netted a memorable hat-trick against Al-Ittihad at the start of September to secure a priceless 4-3 win.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has hit the ground running with Al-HilalEXCLUSIVE: Joleon Lescott’s Premier League stars of Matchday 12Anderson Talisca (eight goals)

Brazilian maestro Anderson Talisca missed four of Al-Nassr’s first five games of the season but has returned to full fitness with a bang.

The ex-Benfica ace has scored eight goals in eight appearances, finding the back of the net in six of his last seven outings.

Talisca boasts a superb record of 60 goals from 74 matches in all competitions since joining Al-Nassr in May 2021.

After a slow start to the season, Karim Benzema has rediscovered the scoring touch at Al-Ittihad.

The Frenchman has netted eight goals in 11 league appearances, including a hat-trick against Abha prior to the international break.

Benzema has also tallied four assists this term, the second-highest total among Al-Ittihad players.

Moussa Dembele (seven goals)

After netting on debut against Al-Nassr, Moussa Dembele has continued to shine in front of goal for Al-Ettifaq.

The Frenchman has seven goals to his name from eight matches and has struck up a nice relationship with fellow summer arrival Jordan Henderson.

If Steven Gerrard is to enjoy success in his debut season as manager, he will need Dembele to return to full fitness soon.

Moussa Dembele joined Al-Ettifaq in the summer

Mourad Batna (seven goals)

Morocco international Mourad Batna joined Al-Fateh back in 2020 and is well on the way to recording his best ever figures in a season.

After bagging 10 goals last campaign and earning a spot in the Saudi Pro League’s Team of the Season, the 33-year-old has scored seven times in 12 appearances this term.

He has also registered seven assists and his impressive form is a key reason as to why Al-Fateh sit sixth in the table.

Salem Al-Dawsari (seven goals)

Salem Al-Dawsari (seven goals)Salem Al-Dawsari has made 80 appearances for the Saudi national team

Salem Al-Dawsari has enjoyed a superb start to the campaign by bagging seven goals in 13 league appearances.

The 32-year-old — who famously scored the winner for Saudi Arabia against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup — came through Al-Hilal’s youth system and has scored 89 times in 372 matches for the club after making his senior debut in 2011.

Al-Dawsari ended his mini drought of five matches without a goal by netting in the recent 2-0 victory at Al-Fateh.

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