Yasser Al-Qahtani Individual Awards

Lore & Background

Al-Qahtani moved to Al-Hilal from Al-Qadisiyah in 2005 for a reported $5.3 million (approximately £2.9 million at the time). He won the Asian Footballer of the Year award in 2007 after leading Saudi Arabia to the AFC Asian Cup final as top scorer. He went on trial at Manchester City in December 2007. After injuries and loss of form, he joined Al Ain on loan in 2011, scoring 7 goals in 15 league appearances and helping the club win its first league title since 2004. He returned to Al-Hilal and reached the 2014 AFC Champions League final, where his team lost 1–0 on aggregate to Western Sydney Wanderers.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed above the King Fahd International Stadium as Yasser stepped up to the ball, twenty-five yards out. The crowd fell silent, holding its breath. He took a short run-up, his eyes locked on the top corner of the net. With a delicate touch, he curled the leather sphere past the diving goalkeeper, a moment that would later be etched into the club's history books as another chapter in his legendary award-winning career.

Reader's Guide

Al-Qahtani's individual honours include the AFC Asian Footballer of the Year (2007), AFC Asian Cup Top scorer (2007, shared), and selection to the AFC Asian Cup Fans' All Time Best XI (2018). He did not win the Saudi Professional League top scorer award; his highest league goal tally was 10 goals in a season (2007–08). He is not the club's all-time leader in combined goal contributions.

Did You Know?

• Al-Qahtani scored a goal against Tunisia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
• He was top scorer at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.
• He went on trial at Manchester City in December 2007.
• His loan at Al Ain in 2011–12 produced 12 goals in 26 games across all competitions.