logo
logo
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr

The Saudi Pro League assists chart has blown our minds: Ronaldo, Henderson…

Ben Stewart •

The Saudi Pro League is now filled with former Premier League stars and plenty of the big names that were on the move in the summer make an appearance on this list.

With record funding currently being pumped into football in Saudi Arabia, the level of the Saudi Pro League has dramatically risen across the last 12 months.

We’ve already checked out the top scorers’ chart and we’ve now taken a closer look at the top 10 assisters in the Saudi Pro League during 2023-24 so far.

Note: If two players are tied on assists, we’ve put them in order of who has the better assists-per-minute ratio.

10. Nicolae Stanciu – 3 assists

The Romanian playmaker joined Saudi outfit Damac this summer and it’s not taken long for him to make an impact at his new club. With three assists in his first five matches, it’s worth keeping an eye on Stanciu this season.

9. Faycal Fajr – 4 assists

The 35-year-old Moroccan international still has the creative magic in his boots. Fajr spent most of his professional career playing in France and Spain before deciding to join Al-Wehda last summer.

He regularly grabs the eye with his trickery in midfield and he’s also produced the goods so far with four assists in 2023-24. We’re sure he’ll add plenty more before the end of the season too.

8. Mateus Castro – 4 assists

Al Taawoun have enjoyed an excellent start to the 2023-24 campaign as they currently sit second in the table above the likes of Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad. Brazilian winger Mateus has been their main creative threat so far with four assists.

7. Jordan Henderson – 4 assists

The former Liverpool captain ditched the Premier League this summer to reunite with former teammate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq. Given Henderson’s credentials, it’s no surprise he’s been breezing it in Saudi Arabia.

Now playing alongside the likes of Moussa Dembele, Demarai Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum, Henderson has produced four assists so far.

6. Abdulrahman Ghareeb – 4 assists

Ghareeb has spent his entire professional career playing in the Saudi Pro League and the winger has impressed for Al-Nassr of late. Now providing assists for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, Ghareeb will no doubt be enjoying life right now.

5. Yannick Carrasco – 4 assists

The former Atletico Madrid winger has been a hit in Saudi Arabia so far with four assists in his first five league matches. Al-Shabab struck a deal for the 30-year-old this summer, paying a fee of around €15million.

Given Carrasco’s excellent pedigree in European football, we’re not surprised that he has taken to the Saudi Pro League like a duck to water. We’re expecting double-digits by Carrasco come the end of the season.

4. Riyad Mahrez – 5 assists

In one of the biggest signings the Saudi Pro League made this summer, Mahrez made his move to Al-Ahli after five memorable seasons with Man City.

The Premier League isn’t quite the same without Mahrez and it’s not taken long for the Algerian winger to impact things at his new club. The 32-year-old has nine goal contributions in his first 10 matches for Al-Ahli with four goals and five assists. Impressive stuff.

3. Mourad Batna – 5 assists

The Al-Fateh winger has a tremendous record in Saudi Arabia with 36 goals in 85 matches since joining in 2020–21. Along with having an eye for goal, Batna is also an excellent creative outlet with five assists to his name already this season.

2. Alvaro Medran – 5 assists

The former Real Madrid academy graduate is loving life in Saudi Arabia right now. Medran joined Al Taawoun last summer and he’s played an integral part in their impressive start this season.

With five assists to his name, Medran has assisted a quarter of the goals that Al Taawoun have scored so far. If they are going to be in with a shot of the title, the Spanish playmaker will have a crucial role to play.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 assists

Who else? Along with being the top scorer in the league, Ronaldo has also been one of the most creative players. The Portuguese icon has reimagined himself in his thirties as one of the best goalscorers the game has ever seen, but he still has time to set up his team-mates.

Ronaldo set the trend for superstars from Europe to make the jump to Saudi Arabia and there can be little doubt that he is the league’s biggest pull at this moment in time.

READ NEXT: How the Saudi Pro League’s biggest signings of the summer have fared so far

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name Portugal’s XI from Cristiano Ronaldo’s competitive debut, 2004?

Jordan Henderson Cristiano Ronaldo Riyad Mahrez Quick Reads