Box-Office Viewing: Reasons to Watch 2025-26 RSL

The Roshn Saudi League continues to grow in profile and stature with each passing season, and as the clock ticks down to two weeks until the new campaign, anticipation is as heightened as it ever has been.

But if you need more of a reason to tune into the 2025-26 RSL, then look no further.

Save The Dates: 2025-26 RSL fixtures announced

League set for most competitive season yet

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The title tussle

The RSL is no stranger to an epic title battle, with many a race going all the way to the final day of the season. This term could be no different and with so many teams in contention for the prized piece of silverware.

Champions Al Ittihad enter as the team to beat, but they certainly won’t have it all their own way. While their transfer activity has been limited, preferring the status quo over disrupting what worked last season, elsewhere there has been a flurry of activity that could shape how this campaign unfolds.

Last season’s runners-up Al Hilal have added the likes of Darwin Nunez to their arsenal, Al Nassr likewise with Joao Felix and Inigo Martinez, while Asian champions Al Ahli have gone for Enzo Millot, and Al Qadsiah recruited Serie A golden boot winner Mateo Retegui and Musab Al Juwayr.

Meanwhile, newcomers NEOM SC could be a wildcard with an array of signings headlined by Alexandre Lacazette.

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The noisy newcomers

Having won back-to-back promotions, there is great intrigue as to how RSL debutants NEOM SC will fare in their first season in the top flight.

After comfortably securing promotion last season, they have completely overhauled their football department and squad ahead of the new campaign, and will have ambitions of breaking into the top four.

Spearheaded by former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, NEOM SC have recruited with a heavy French focus, snapping up a mix of exciting youngsters and experienced heads that should see new manager Christophe Galtier put together a side to challenge the RSL establishment.

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Ronaldo’s quest for 1000

Fresh off signing a new contract with Al Nassr, attention now turns to Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to score 1,000 career goals. While he is 62 goals shy, with 85 goals in his past two seasons for Al Nassr in all competitions, it’s well within reach for the Portuguese superstar.

A third successive RSL golden boot - last term he found the net 25 times as he broke through the 900 barrier - will go some way to him reaching the magical milestone.

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The passion in the stands

The reputation of football fans in Saudi Arabia continues to grow. From the fanaticism in Jeddah to the tribalism in Riyadh, there is no shortage of colour, noise and passion to get the juices flowing.

But it’s not just at the big clubs, either. That passion exists right across the league. Just look no further than Al Fateh. When times were tough last season, their supporters continued to pack the stands to make the intimate Al Fateh Club Stadium an intimidating place to visit.

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The golden boot race

The collection of strikers in the RSL this season is as good as there has ever been, which will make the race for top scorer one of the most intense in recent memory.

Ronaldo, who has led the scoring in each of the past two seasons, is the man to beat as he eyes a hat-trick of individual gongs, although he will face stiff competition from a host of big-name stars.

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Karim Benzema, who captained Al Ittihad to the 2024-25 title, will be hoping to go better than his 21 goals from last season, while Ivan Toney is now settled at Al Ahli and looking to improve upon his 23 in his debut campaign.

Marquee signing Darwin Nunez will spearhead Al Hilal’s attack, while 2024-25 Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui will lead the line for Al Qadsiah and Al Shabab’s Abderrazak Hamdallah chases the RSL all-time goal record. And that’s before even mentioning Alexandre Lacazette in NEOM.

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The battle for Asia

Saudi clubs are no stranger to success on the continent, but having witnessed the incredible scenes in Jeddah in May when Al Ahli were crowned Kings of Asia, many more will want the chance to live that dream.

With the top three in the RSL qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite, and the winner of the King’s Cup qualifying for the AFC Champions League Two, it will be a hot race to finish in places.

With Al Qadsiah and NEOM SC alongside the traditional “big four” of Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ahli, not to mention clubs like Al Shabab and Al Ettifaq trying to break in, there should be a plethora of clubs vying for only three positions.

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Deep-rooted rivalries

As if the Capital Derby needed any more spice, the decision by Jorge Jesus to join Al Nassr so soon after leaving Al Hilal will only add to the tension between the Riyadh clubs. In Jeddah, meanwhile, you have the Saudi champions, in Ittihad, against the Asian champions of Al Ahli, known as the Sea Derby.

But it’s not just at the top where the rivalries exist; there are derbies dotted all around the Kingdom. Take, for instance, the Eastern Derby played out between Dammam's Al Ettifaq and Al Khobar-based Al Qadsiah.

The relegation of Al Raed might’ve halted one Qassim Derby (that against Al Taawoun), but with four clubs from the region this year with the addition of Al Hazem and Al Najmah, including two from Ar Rass (Al Najmah and Al Kholood), there are plenty of other local bragging rights up for grabs.

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Fresh faces in the dugout

Al Hilal’s 2023-24 RSL-winning manager Jorge Jesus isn’t new to the league, but his move from one side of Riyadh to another adds an element of intrigue. And, across the league there are a number of fresh faces that will add a fresh tactical battle to proceedings.

Spaniard Imanol Alguacil built a reputation for his style of football at Real Sociedad and now has the challenge of taking Al Shabab back to the upper echelons of the table.

Over in Tabuk, former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has the task of leading NEOM SC on debut and, in Javier Calleja, Al Riyadh have appointed a fellow RSL first-timer.

Also, having arrived at the beginning of the summer, ex-Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi will be looking to take Al Hilal back to the summit.

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History in the making

One of the great narratives of last season was the personal battle between Omar Al Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah to be the competition’s all-time leading scorer.

Al Somah made a surprise return to the RSL in January, with Al Orobah, just as it looked inevitable that Hamdallah would break his record. From there, the two engaged in an engrossing tussle across the second half of the campaign.

As it stands, Al Somah remains in top spot, on 155 goals, with Hamdallah second, with 150. But since the Syrian having departed again, the path is now clear for the Al Shabab marksman – and three-time golden boot winner – to finally make the record his own.