When football fans talk about players who dominated SPL awards, their minds often drift toward names that not only lit up scoreboards but captured hearts. In Saudi Pro League (SPL) history, a handful of stars have risen above the pack — sweeping accolades, topping charts, and solidifying legendary status. In this article, DaoKick will escort you through the stories, statistics, and lasting legacy of players whose influence extended far beyond individual seasons — those who truly dominated SPL awards.
What Does It Mean To Dominate SPL Awards?
“Dominating” SPL awards means more than just winning Player of the Season once. It implies consistency — a player repeatedly winning top honors (Golden Boot, Best Player, Young Player, Fans’ Choice, etc.) across seasons. It means shaping narratives, influencing title races, and making their mark in the league’s history books.
In SPL’s modern era (especially since the league’s rebranding and the recent push for global talent), a few names stand out. Below, we break down their dominance, and then compare with historical legends to give full scale to the achievement.
Modern Icons in SPL Awards
Karim Benzema: The Ballon d’Or Winner Who Took Over Saudi
When Karim Benzema arrived in the SPL, expectations were sky-high. In the 2024–25 season, he didn’t just meet them — he smashed them. He was crowned Player of the Season after recording 21 goals and 9 assists, joint-highest in goal contributions in the league.
He lifted Al Ittihad to the championship, and his influence won him the SPL’s top individual honor — outshining even Cristiano Ronaldo, who took home the Top Scorer award that season.
Beyond raw numbers, Benzema became the symbol of global-class football anchoring the league’s growth.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A Legacy of Goals and Popularity
While Benzema may have won the Player of the Season award, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a towering presence in SPL honors. In 2024–25, he claimed the inaugural Fans’ Player of the Season via public vote — testament to his resonance with fans.
Even when not taking the seasonal best player award, Ronaldo has consistently been in the conversation — winning the Top Scorer award and regularly pushing for monthly honors. His name alone raises attention on the SPL and draws global eyes to its awards.
Salem Al-Dawsari: The Saudi Star Who Won Hearts & Awards
To dominate SPL awards as a homegrown talent in a league brimming with international stars is rare — and yet, Salem Al-Dawsari achieved just that in 2024–25. He was awarded Best Saudi Player, after tallying 15 goals and 15 assists.
What makes his dominance compelling is not just the numbers, but the narrative: Al-Dawsari stood tall in the face of foreign superstars, representing national pride and consistency.
Musab Al-Juwayr: The Young Star Who Swept Every Young Honor
When it comes to youth-level dominance, Musab Al-Juwayr is the benchmark. In the 2024–25 season, he dominated the Young Player of the Month awards, taking the honor every month available. That clean sweep culminated in him winning the Best Young Player of the Season.
His consistent excellence among emerging talents marks him as someone whose trajectory will continue to disrupt.
Historical Legends: Dominance Before the Modern Era
Majed Abdullah: The Arabian Pelé and Six-Time Top Scorer
Long before SPL’s modern award machinery, Majed Abdullah reigned supreme in the Saudi league. He remains the all-time top scorer of the league, and during his career he was top scorer six separate seasons.
While formal Player of the Season awards were not always present, his consistency, goal-scoring feats, and status have made him a mythic reference point for “domination” in Saudi football history.
Abderrazak Hamdallah: Foreign Striker With Record Breaks
In the more recent past, Abderrazak Hamdallah stamped his dominance into SPL’s modern history. He won the Saudi Pro League Player of the Season (2018–19), and claimed the Golden Boot multiple times (2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23).
His goal-scoring bursts, hat-tricks, and record-setting stretches make him a benchmark for attacking dominance in SPL’s global era.
Comparative Metrics: What Sets True Dominators Apart
To discern real dominance, look beyond single awards. Here are comparison metrics:
| Metric | What the Dominators Showed |
| Multiple seasonal awards | Benzema winning Player of the Season while Ronaldo grabbing Top Scorer shows overlapping dominance. |
| Consistency across years | Majed Abdullah’s repeated top scoring, Hamdallah’s multiple Golden Boots. |
| Domestic vs. foreign balance | Al-Dawsari showing that local players can compete with imports. |
| Fan vote vs expert vote | Ronaldo’s Fans’ Player award shows popular as well as technical dominance. |
| Youth sweep | Al-Juwayr’s clean sweep of Young Player monthly awards is rare even globally. |
These metrics distinguish a flash-in-the-pan star.
Why This Dominance Matters in 2025
The SPL is no longer just a regional league. It’s becoming globally relevant, attracting big names, investment, and media attention. When players dominate the SPL awards today, they aren’t just winning in Saudi — they’re writing their legacy on a global stage.
Every accolade helps:
- Sell the league internationally
- Encourage local talent development
- Heighten rivalry and narrative (which drives fan engagement)
- Raise transfer value and prestige for clubs
So when you talk about players who dominated SPL awards, you’re talking about those who shaped the SPL’s identity in its evolution.
Final Thoughts
In this article, DaoKick explored the stories behind players who dominated SPL awards — from Benzema’s dual influence, Ronaldo’s enduring star power, Al-Dawsari’s national clutch performances, to the youth sweep of Al-Juwayr, and legends like Majed Abdullah and Hamdallah.
To know a league’s heart, study its awards and the names that repeatedly win them. These players didn’t just have good seasons — they etched dynasty in their wake. Want deep dives on each season’s award winner, monthly award trackers, or comparisons with Champions League honours? Let DaoKick guide your next reading.
