The Riyadh Derby Milestone: Leonardo Inches Toward a Historic Saudi League Record

Historic milestone against Al Shabab

Marcus Leonardo, the Brazilian forward for Al Hilal, stands on the edge of a historic league record after the goal he struck in the Riyadh derby versus Al Shabab. His right-foot strike clinched a 1-0 victory for Hilal on the night the Kingdom Arena roared back to life, in round seven of the Saudi Pro League.

According to the Saudi sports daily Al-Riyadhiya, Leonardo has now scored against 15 different Saudi Pro League clubs since arriving from Benfica in the summer transfer window. The goal against Shabab was a milestone moment, marking the first time he has found the net against the city’s archrivals in this competition this season, after two derby appearances last season without a tally.

Scoring spree and numbers across the Saudi Pro League

Since joining Al Hilal, the Brazilian striker has featured in 28 league matches and has popped in 23 goals, finding the back of the net against 15 different opponents. His most prolific recent runs include four goals against Al Khoud (in two meetings) and three against Al Fateh (in a single encounter).

Leonardo has also produced two-goal hauls against three teams—Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad, and Al Arabi—across multiple encounters. In addition, he has found the net once against ten other clubs, such as Al Khaleej, Al Fayha, Al Taawoun, Al Qadisiyah, Al Raed, Al Ahli, Damac, Al Wehda, and, notably, Al Shabab himself in the derby.

The Riyadh Derby curse and its reversal

The Brazilian’s derby tally helped lift a perceived “curse” in the capital, as he became the first Riyadh-based attacker to score against Al Shabab in the league. Yet the arc remains nuanced: there are two Riyadh clubs—Al Hilal and Al Nassr—against whom he has yet to open his account this league season, and those matchups still offer a chance to add to the ledger.

In parallel, Leonardo’s recent run has coincided with changes in the squad due to injuries and tactical shifts. Coach Simone Inzaghi has deployed Darwin Nunez as a winger when needed, preserving Leonardo as a central striker. Since the start of the campaign, Leonardo has appeared in nine matches across the Saudi Pro League, the King’s Cup, and the Elite Asia competition, tallying eight goals and reinforcing his value in the team’s attack.

As the campaign progresses, Leonardo sits third in the Saudi Pro League top-scorers table on six goals, level with Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) and Julian Quinones (Al Qadsiah), trailing Joao Felix (9) and Joshua King (8). With the upcoming fixtures pitting Felix against Al Hilal’s rivals and King facing a pivotal clash with a rival, Leonardo’s bid for a historical marker remains very much alive.

Attack momentum and the road ahead

From a player who was briefly sidelined during the early part of the season due to squad changes, Leonardo has emerged as a pillar of Inzaghi’s frontline. His goal tally, consistency, and ability to strike against a wide range of opponents have transformed him from a summer signing into a central figure in Hilal’s chase for silverware.

Punchline 1: If goals were rent, Leonardo would own the whole city—and still have change for a coffee. Punchline 2: He scores so often that even the net starts filing a complaint for overtime—okay, maybe just a little overtime fatigue on the goal line.