Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Al Hilal’s talisman Salem Al Dawsari was crowned the top goalscorer of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 after netting 10 goals during a standout campaign that ended with his team bowing out at the semi-final stage.

Despite Al Hilal’s 3-1 defeat to eventual champions Al Ahli Saudi FC in the last four, Al Dawsari’s attacking brilliance lit up the competition from start to finish.

The Saudi international opened his account on Matchday Two with a goal in the 5-0 win over Al Shorta, before scoring a stunning hat-trick in a 5-4 thriller against Al Ain.

He followed that with a brace against Iran’s Persepolis FC and a strike versus UAE’s Al Wasl to close out the group stage with seven goals.

In the knockout rounds, Al Dawsari added three more: one in the second-leg comeback against Pakhtakor, another against Gwangju FC in the quarter-finals, and one final goal in the semi-final loss to Al Ahli.

The 33-year-old’s performances reaffirmed his status as one of Asia’s most consistent and dangerous wide attackers, earning him the tournament’s Golden Boot despite Al Hilal falling short of the title.