Five of the Best: RSL stars make mark in FIFA World Cup groups

Even with Saudi Arabia's unfortunate exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Roshn Saudi League representation lives on as the tournament entered the knockout rounds, beginning with the Last 32.

The group stages saw plenty of RSL-related action, with our reigning golden boot creating history on the opening day, while stars from the likes of champions Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad have been lighting up the pitches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

So, here’s only a selection of those to have made their mark thus far.

RSL most represented league at FIFA World Cup outside 'Big 5'

48 of our stars to compete at this month's finals

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Julian Quinones (Mexico)

Co-hosts Mexico topped Group A with three wins from as many matches – the first time they’ve ever gone perfect in the opening stage – thanks in large part to the efforts of last season’s RSL golden boot winner, Julian Quinones.

Carrying his form from Al Qadsiah into the World Cup, Quinones scored twice during the group stage, first in the opening-day triumph against South Africa – the first goal of this expanded 2026 edition.

Quinones then netted again in the final game against Czechia to continue the form that saw him land a first RSL top-scorer award, with 33 goals through 2025-26.

Mexico now face a Last-32 clash with Ecuador in Mexico City as they look to win only the second World Cup knockout match in their history, their most recent coming back in 1986 when they last hosted the tournament.

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Yassine Bono (Morocco)

After their heroics in 2022, Morocco are back on the global stage, and their No.1 is doing what he does best – making incredible stops.

It was after the last World Cup that Bono made the switch from Spain to Saudi Arabia and, if anything, his form has gone to an even higher level while at Al Hilal.

Transferring that prowess to the international game, the current CAF Goalkeeper of the Year remains as important as ever to this Moroccan side: in the opening draw with Brazil, Bono made four important saves.

Morocco now take on the Netherlands in Monterrey, where once again the 2023-24 RSL Goalkeeper of the Season can expect to prove pivotal to the Africans’ hopes.

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Franck Kessie (Cote d’Ivoire)

As we profiled earlier in the tournament, in a time of need, the Al Ahli star is always the man to deliver for club or country – and that’s exactly what he did for Cote d’Ivoire this tournament.

The West African side advanced after finishing second in Group E behind Germany, and it was against the Germans that Kessie had arguably his best performance of the tournament.

In the high-stakes clash in Toronto, he opened the scoring to give Cote d'Ivoire an unexpected lead, even if they were cruelly defeated courtesy of Deniz Undav's injury-time goal.

However, as long as Cote d’Ivoire have Kessie, they’ll always have a chance. No doubt their hugely experienced captain will be needed with a formidable Norway side next up, in Arlington.

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Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

After coming off the bench in Algeria’s opening defeat to Argentina, the standout Al Ahli winger has been his team’s best player since, culminating in his brace in the dramatic 3-3 draw with Austria on the final day of the group stage.

While the share of the spoils was enough to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, Algeria’s fortunes had been looking bleak after falling behind to Jordan on Matchday Two.

Then Mahrez inspired his team to a 2-1 victory, playing protagonist with an assist, six crosses and 16 forced turnovers – the latter two both registering as game-high contributions.

With Switzerland to come in the Last 32, and Mahrez in this vein of form, this could still constitute an historic run for the North Africans.

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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Write off the 41-year-old at your peril. The Al Nassr superstar silenced the doubters with a superb performance on the second Group K matchday against Uzbekistan, scoring a brace and only narrowly missing a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout.

It was the type of performance that reminded everyone that, even now into his 40s, Al Nassr’s title-winning skipper still belongs at this level. The opener against debutants Uzbekistan saw Ronaldo become the first player to score at six separate global finals, while his overall tally at the World Cup sits at 10 goals.

With a Round of 32 clash with Croatia to come, the record goalscorer in men’s international football surely isn’t done re-writing history quite yet.

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FIFA Players of the Match

Julian Quinones (Mexico v South Africa)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal v Uzbekistan)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria v Austria)

Original Article