Youssef En-Nesyri reaches 10 Roshn Saudi League goals faster than Karim Benzema

Youssef En-Nesyri has beaten Karim Benzema to 10 goals for Al-Ittihad in the Roshn Saudi League, reaching the milestone in fewer appearances than his predecessor.

The Morocco striker scored twice as Al-Ittihad visited Al-Faisaly at Al Majma’ah Sports City Stadium on Friday in the seventh round of the competition. Both goals were set up by Nigeria forward George Ilenikhena.

En-Nesyri’s second goal extended Al-Ittihad’s advantage with a finish into the Al-Faisaly net, while his next effort completed the story of the team’s third goal.

The brace took En-Nesyri’s league total for Al-Ittihad to 10 goals in his 20th appearance. He joined the club from Besiktas during the previous winter transfer window.

That record represents a faster start than Benzema managed after the France international arrived from Real Madrid in the summer of 2023. Benzema scored his 10th Roshn Saudi League goal for Al-Ittihad in his 23rd match.

His landmark goal came during a 2-1 victory over Al-Taawoun in the second round of the 2024-2025 season.

Benzema spent two and a half seasons leading Al-Ittihad’s attack before moving to Al-Hilal in the previous winter transfer window. During his time with the club, he helped Al-Ittihad win both the Roshn Saudi League and the King’s Cup in the 2024-2025 season.

That campaign marked the first time in the club’s history that Al-Ittihad had completed the domestic double.

Al-Ittihad supporters will hope En-Nesyri’s early scoring record can develop into a similarly influential spell. For now, his 10-goal milestone has come three matches sooner than it did for Benzema, who carried the attacking responsibility for the club across his two-and-a-half-year stay.