Ivan Toney Leads Saudi Golden Boot Race With 23 Goals

Ivan Toney sits top of the Saudi Pro League scoring charts with 23 goals in 23 appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who has owned that position for the past two seasons, is third. Between them sits Julián Quiñones of Al-Qadsiah on 22 goals. That is the race. And that race is now a story with stakes far beyond Saudi Arabia.

For Toney, the Golden Boot is one target. The other is a seat on England’s plane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Al-Ahli striker has not been called into a full squad since June 2025. He has sent his message to manager Thomas Tuchel the only way a striker knows how: by scoring goals.

The title race itself is tight. Al-Ahli sit one point clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are in the hunt. This is not a sideshow. It is the most watched domestic league in the Middle East, and right now Toney is its loudest voice.

The Golden Boot Battle: Where It Stands

Toney reached 23 goals from 23 league appearances as of matchweek 23 of the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League season. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who claimed the league’s top scorer award in each of the two previous seasons, sits third on 21 goals from 21 games.

Ronaldo’s path to a record third consecutive Golden Boot has been complicated. He staged a brief training dispute in January over Al-Nassr’s lack of winter transfer activity, a story covered in detail by our Ronaldo Al-Nassr frustration analysis. He missed at least one fixture during that stretch. Toney kept scoring.

The numbers tell that story clearly. Toney’s rate of one goal per game is the kind of output that earns you attention at every level of the game. At 29 years old, he is in the form of his career, operating in one of the world’s highest-profile leagues.

What Toney Actually Said to talkSPORT

Speaking to talkSPORT, Toney explained how the goals have built his belief: “Every time I step onto the pitch, I feel like I’m going to score, I’ve got that confidence at the moment.”

He was direct about the Golden Boot race too. He wants to stay at the top, and he knows what staying there means for the wider conversation. “And when you’re this far through the season and you’re close to the top of the goal scoring chart, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, let me stay here now,'” he said.

That confidence is not noise. It is a striker who has found form, rhythm, and purpose in Saudi Arabia, and who refuses to let the geography of his club define the ceiling of his ambitions.

Toney’s Message to Thomas Tuchel

Toney’s last England cap came in June 2025, when he appeared as a substitute in a friendly against Senegal. Seven caps in total. No call-up since. No direct conversation with Tuchel about his standing in the squad.

“No, there’s been no conversation,” Toney confirmed. “But I don’t expect there to be, because he’s got so many other players he has to be watching.” Then came the quiet confidence: “I’m sure he’s keeping one eye on me and seeing what I’m doing. I just have to be focused on myself, keep my head down and keep scoring goals.”

That is as clear a World Cup message as a footballer can send without picking up a phone. Score. Lead the table. Be impossible to ignore.

Toney also made a case that his Saudi environment offers a strategic edge. Playing through 30-plus degree heat week to week, he argues, builds the physical conditioning that translates to a North American summer tournament. His running stats back the claim. This is not a player relaxing on a lucrative contract. The Al-Ahli Saudi FC forward is working.

Can Toney Force His Way Into England’s World Cup Squad?

Harry Kane leads England’s attack. That position is not in dispute. But tournament squads carry depth at every position, and the No. 9 role behind Kane is genuinely open.

Toney’s competitors include Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Danny Welbeck. Each has a case. Yet none of them is leading the scoring charts in a league that broadcasts globally, playing against opponents that include Ronaldo, Neymar-era calibre stars, and tactical coaches like Simone Inzaghi at Al-Hilal.

Toney reached the Euro 2024 final with England, contributing off the bench. He knows what tournament football feels like. And crucially, he knows how to perform under pressure. The Al-Ahli vs Al-Hilal fixture in February showed exactly that: a league leader under scrutiny, maintaining output when the spotlight is brightest.

“Like I said before, I know what I can bring to a team and goals is part of my game. Hopefully that’s enough,” Toney said.

If 23 goals in 23 games is not enough to at least reopen the conversation with Tuchel, then the selection criteria need explaining.

Al-Ahli’s Title Push Raises the Stakes

Toney is not just chasing personal glory. Al-Ahli Saudi FC lead the Saudi Pro League table by one point heading into the final stretch of the season. They have won eight consecutive matches. Coach Matthias Jaissle has built a side that presses with purpose and converts its chances with clinical discipline.

Toney’s goals are central to that run. Al-Ahli’s attack has conceded only 12 goals in 19 league games, but the title push is being driven by output up front. Their upcoming fixture against Al-Qadsiah will test how they handle pressure from the chasing pack, which includes Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and the title-experienced Al-Hilal.

Al-Nassr, meanwhile, are dealing with their own dynamics. The winter transfer saga and Ronaldo’s reported frustration at being outspent by Al-Hilal have been well-documented. Our full breakdown is in the Saudi Pro League winter transfer analysis. Ronaldo has since returned to form, but closing a two-goal gap on Toney with limited games remaining requires consistency he must now prove.

What Happens Next

The Saudi Pro League enters its run-in with the title, the Golden Boot, and England World Cup selection all intertwined. Every goal Toney scores adds to the narrative. Every game Ronaldo misses or draws a blank tightens the race further. The Al-Nassr vs Al-Hilal fixture earlier in the season showed how tightly contested this league is at the top.

Toney’s story is one of the most interesting subplots in global football right now. A Premier League exile proving his value in Saudi Arabia, outscoring Ronaldo, and making a quiet but unmistakable case to Thomas Tuchel. Follow the latest Saudi Pro League updates as the title race reaches its final stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ivan Toney currently outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League?

Yes. As of matchweek 23 of the 2025/26 season, Toney leads the scoring charts with 23 goals in 23 appearances. Ronaldo sits third with 21 goals in 21 games. Julián Quiñones of Al-Qadsiah is second on 22.

Has Ivan Toney spoken to Thomas Tuchel about the World Cup?

No. Toney confirmed there has been no direct conversation with the England manager. His last cap came in June 2025, as a substitute against Senegal. He has seven England caps in total.

Which team does Ivan Toney play for in Saudi Arabia?

Toney plays for Al-Ahli Saudi FC in the Saudi Pro League. He joined from Brentford in a transfer worth approximately $55 million in the summer of 2024. Al-Ahli currently lead the Saudi Pro League table. You can read more on the Al-Ahli Saudi FC team page.

Has Cristiano Ronaldo won the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot before?

Yes. Ronaldo claimed the top scorer award in both of his first two full seasons at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He is now chasing a third consecutive Golden Boot, but Toney currently leads that race with two games’ worth of goals between them.

Could Ivan Toney still play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Yes. Toney has not retired from international football and holds seven England caps. His prolific Saudi Pro League form has renewed debate about his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Selection decisions will be made closer to the tournament.

Editorial note: All statistics sourced from ESPN and World Soccer Talk coverage dated February 26-28, 2026. For RiyadhTicketsMap’s full editorial standards, see our editorial guidelines and ethics policy.