JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Al-Ahli forward Ivan Toney has moved into the lead for the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) Golden Boot, netting his 20th goal of the campaign in a 5-2 victory over Al-Shabab on Friday. Despite his prolific form, the 29-year-old remains sidelined from the England national team setup as manager Thomas Tuchel prepares for the upcoming international window.
Toney’s strike on Friday took him past Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo (18 goals) in the scoring charts. According to official league statistics, the former Brentford striker has now recorded 20 goals and 5 assists in 20 appearances this season, averaging a goal every 83.5 minutes. His performance has been instrumental in Al-Ahli’s current standing, where they sit second in the table, just points behind league leaders Al-Hilal.
Despite these figures, Toney has not received an England call-up since a brief appearance last year. In recent interviews with international media, Toney addressed the perceived barrier of playing outside of Europe. “All I can do is keep scoring goals. That gives me the best chance possible,” Toney stated. He further emphasized that his acclimatization to the Saudi climate—regularly playing in temperatures exceeding 30°C—could provide a strategic advantage for England at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has previously praised Toney’s transition to Saudi Arabia but has opted for domestic-based alternatives in recent squads. With the March international break approaching, Toney’s continued absence remains a point of contention for supporters who cite his record-breaking form and 100% penalty conversion rate (6 for 6 this season) as vital assets for the Three Lions.
Al-Ahli’s next fixture is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, against Al-Najma SC, where Toney will look to extend his lead in the race for the Golden Boot.