Football
Top International SPL Stars: Ronaldo, Benzema & Legends Ranked
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has undergone a seismic transformation in recent years, evolving from a regional competition into a global stage that attracts some of football’s most illustrious names. With heavy investment and strategic vision, the league has become a magnet for international superstars, blending their world-class talents with the grit and brilliance of long-standing league legends. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, whose names resonate across the globe, now share the pitch with prolific scorers like Omar Al-Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah, who have etched their names into SPL history.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrating after scoring goal
This fusion of global fame and local dominance creates a captivating narrative, raising the question: who truly stands out as the top international star in the SPL? Using the SB Market Index, we rank these players based on their statistical prowess and global media presence.
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate the Top International SPL Stars
The SB Market Index ranks top international stars in the Saudi Pro League by combining goalscoring efficiency (SB Score) with global media visibility (Industry Insights), offering a balanced view of each player’s on-field performance and worldwide reputation.
Industry Insights
To gauge global perception, we analysed seven leading football and sports media sources, assessing how often each player is featured in discussions about the world’s top talents. The table below summarizes mentions across key rankings and lists:
| Source Name | Cristiano Ronaldo | Karim Benzema | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Omar Al-Somah | Abderrazak Hamdallah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| talkSPORT – Goal involvements | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ESPN – Top 25 players of the 21st century | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IFFHS World’s Best Top Goal Scorer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FourFourTwo – Greatest XI & European rankings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wikipedia UEFA Champions League records | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sporting News India – Best SPL players | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Mentions | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
SB Score
The SB Score is derived exclusively from each player’s goals-per-game ratio in the SPL, providing a purely statistical measure of their league impact. The table below details their performance:
| Player | Nationality | SPL Goals | SPL Appearances | Goals Per Game | SB Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omar Al-Somah | Syria | 197 | 155 | 1.27 | 1.000 |
| Abderrazak Hamdallah | Morocco | 163 | 150 | 1.09 | 0.858 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 74 | 77 | 0.96 | 0.756 |
| Karim Benzema | France | 30 | 50 | 0.60 | 0.472 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Gabon | 17 | 32 | 0.53 | 0.417 |
Al-Somah leads with an extraordinary 1.27 goals per game, followed closely by Hamdallah. Ronaldo’s 0.96 goals per game is impressive, while Benzema and Aubameyang trail with lower ratios.
SB Market Index
The final SB Market Index combines the SB Score with Industry Insights to produce a definitive ranking:
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 0.756 | 6 | 4.951 |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | 0.472 | 5 | 4.094 |
| 3 | Omar Al-Somah | 1.000 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 4 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 0.417 | 1 | 0.883 |
| 5 | Abderrazak Hamdallah | 0.858 | 0 | 0.172 |
The Global Icons: Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema top the SB Market Index, driven by their towering global profiles. Ronaldo, with an SB Market Index of 4.951, is the undisputed leader, thanks to his six Industry Insights mentions and a strong SB Score of 0.756, reflecting his 74 goals in 77 SPL appearances.
His record-breaking 35 goals in the 2023-24 season, earning him the Golden Boot, underscores his relentless scoring ability. Benzema, with an SB Market Index of 4.094, follows closely, bolstered by five Industry Insights mentions and a respectable SB Score of 0.472 (30 goals in 50 appearances). His 21 goals and nine assists in the 2024-25 season were pivotal in Al-Ittihad’s championship win, earning him the SPL Player of the Year award.
Their global achievements, Ronaldo’s five Ballon d’Ors and Benzema’s 2022 Ballon d’Or, cement their status as the Saudi Pro League’s most high-profile international stars.
The League Legends: Al-Somah and Hamdallah
Omar Al-Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah dominate the SB Score with their remarkable goalscoring records in the SPL. Al-Somah’s 197 goals in 155 appearances yield a staggering 1.27 goals-per-game ratio, earning him the top SB Score of 1.000. His three consecutive Golden Boots from 2014 to 2017 highlight his consistency.
Hamdallah, with 163 goals in 150 appearances and a 1.09 goals-per-game ratio, holds an SB Score of 0.858. His 21 goals in the 2022-23 season secured a Golden Boot, showcasing his enduring prowess. However, their lower Industry Insights scores—Al-Somah with one mention and Hamdallah with none—reflect their limited global media presence, which significantly lowers their SB Market Index rankings to third and fifth, respectively.
The "Superstar" vs. "SPL Legend" Dynamic
The SB Market Index highlights a fascinating tension: does global superstardom outweigh sustained league dominance? Ronaldo and Benzema, with their massive media profiles, top the rankings despite Al-Somah and Hamdallah’s superior goalscoring efficiency in the SPL. The model’s heavy weighting of Industry Insights favors players with worldwide recognition, reflecting their ability to elevate the league’s global appeal.
Ronaldo’s arrival in 2022 sparked a wave of high-profile transfers, putting the SPL on the map. Benzema’s leadership in Al-Ittihad’s title-winning campaign further underscores the impact of global stars. Conversely, Al-Somah and Hamdallah, while statistically superior, lack the international spotlight, limiting their rankings. This suggests that in the SPL’s current era, global perception significantly enhances a player’s perceived value.
Conclusion on the SPL’s International Stars
The Saudi Pro League’s transformation into a global football hub has brought together an extraordinary mix of talent, with Cristiano Ronaldo emerging as the top international superstar per the SB Market Index.
His unparalleled global profile, combined with prolific scoring, makes him the league’s brightest star. Karim Benzema follows closely, his on-field leadership and off-field aura cementing his status.
Yet, the phenomenal contributions of Omar Al-Somah and Abderrazak Hamdallah cannot be overlooked. Their record-breaking goal tallies make them undisputed legends of Saudi football, even if their global recognition lags. As the SPL continues to grow, the interplay between global superstars and local icons will define its legacy, creating a league where brilliance shines in many forms.
With a decade of sports writing expertise, Nigel Naicker has crafted compelling content across football leagues like the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as cricket and UFC. A passionate storyteller since 2014, Nigel joins the SportsBoom team, ready to deliver insightful narratives across various sports disciplines.