Former Nigerian international Odion Ighalo grabbed a brace in Al-Hilal’s 2-0 win over Al-Fayha on Tuesday, which saw him go to joint top of the Golden Boot standings.
Ighalo gave the visitors the lead after finishing off a brilliant team goal on the stroke of halftime. The center forward then exhibited poise and class as he unleashed a sublime goal late in the second half for a 2-0 lead.
Scoring goals has been a walk in the park for the 33-year-old, who now has 16 league goals to his name this season. The Super Eagles icon has been terrifying defenses in Saudi Arabia since his arrival in February 2021.
His record for Al Hilal stands at 40 goals in only 47 games, a club he joined from rivals Al-Shabab last year. The former Watford FC star claimed the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot last season with 24 goals.
Can Ighalo beat Ronaldo in the golden boot race?
The defense of his accolade will be quite challenging this season following the arrival of football’s all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese international has notched an impressive 11 league goals in only nine appearances. Two of those strikes came in Al Nassr’s 5-0 decimation of Al-Adalah on Tuesday evening.
Al Nassr’s first goal of the game came from the penalty spot, which was expectedly dispatched by Cristiano Ronaldo. The enthusiastic marksman eventually completed his third brace in as many games with a ferocious strike from a tight angle.
The former Manchester United duo of Ighalo and Ronaldo are heavy favorites to claim the top scorer’s crown this season.
Sandwiched between the pair are Cristiano’s teammate Talisca, Morocco’s Abderrazak, and Brazilian star Carlos Junior, with 16, 15, and 12 goals, respectively.
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Meanwhile, Lionel Messi could rekindle his rivalry with Ronaldo while playing alongside Ighalo if he accepts the lucrative €400 million per year deal from Al-Hilal.
