Twin talent: Al Ahli's Abu Al Shamat a star on rise for club and country | OneFootball

Safe to say, it’s been a whirlwind few months for Saleh Abu Al Shamat.

The exciting 23-year-old signed for reigning Asian champions Al Ahli in August and made his debut for the Saudi Arabia national team the following month. In October, Al Shamat was superb in helping Herve Renard’s side qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Then, last week, he scored again for the national team in the friendly win against Cote d’Ivoire in Jeddah, his home city.

If there’s been time to catch breath, Abu Al Shamat must still be pinching himself at how quickly his career has been catapulted into another stratosphere. Within a matter of months, he now looks at home with both his Roshn Saudi League heavyweights and the Green Falcons.

Back on domestic duty this weekend, Abu Al Shamat is presumably preparing for one of his most anticipated clashes of the season. And not just because Al Ahli meet an Al Qadsiah that is also challenging for silverware, but because in that side just happens to be his twin brother, Mohammed.

These fixtures, whichever clubs the siblings represent, is surely always hotly anticipated in the Abu Al Shamat household as brotherly love is put on hold for 90 minutes.

It’s an important game for both Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah, with each looking to keep alive their title chances this season; even though the 2025-26 RSL is only eight rounds old, lest they risk dropping further behind pace-setters Al Nassr.

As it stands, one point and one place in the standings separates Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah. Saleh and his side are fifth, eight points off the summit, while Mohammed and Al Qadsiah sit fourth having won one point more.

So Friday night’s engrossing encounter in Jeddah is a game both clubs will view as must win, although neither can really afford to lose. Adding another layer of intrigue to the match-up, it serves only to raise the stakes immensely.

But, in recent months, Saleh Abu Al Shamat has shown he is more than capable of handling the grand occasion.

Despite making his national-team bow in September, in a 2-1 friendly victory against North Macedonia, he looks already an entrenched member of Renard’s set-up as Saudi Arabia focus on next month’s FIFA Arab Cup in nearby Qatar.

And then, next summer’s FIFA World Cup, some way further away, in North America.

Far from simply announcing himself as an international player, Abu Al Shamat’s performances last month in the do-or-die play-offs against Indonesia and Iraq put his name in bright, nearly neon, lights.

Against Indonesia in particular, he was outstanding, adding a real attacking verve to this Saudi side. One of the complaints of this iteration of the Green Falcons is their inability to, not only score, but create chances.

However, the introduction of Abu Al Shamat into the starting XI - a surprise choice in the eyes of many onlookers - changed all that.

His ability to link up with those around him, namely fellow forwards Salem Al Dawsari and Feras Al Buraikan, added a fresh dimension to the way Saudi Arabia could break down their opponents.

Suddenly there was movement, intricate passing combinations, players getting in behind. And, at the heart of it all was Saleh, using his pace to create havoc and break through the Indonesian defence time and time again.

Given how involved he was, it was little surprise to see him pop up and score the equaliser that got the hosts in Jeddah back into the game midway through the first half.

What better time to score your first international goal and, were it not for the crossbar, Abu Al Shamat would’ve added a second minutes later. Still, his overall display won him - justifiably - plenty of plaudits.

It meant Abu Al Shamat returned to the camp for this window full of confidence, a belief underlined in his finish to give Saudi Arabia an important win against a Cote d’Ivoire that included Al Ahli teammate Franck Kessie.

While it was a classic poacher’s goal, capitalising on an errant pass at the back, it showcased what makes Abu Al Shamat such a threat. It reinforced why club manager Matthias Jaissle and Renard have taken such a liking to this emerging local talent.

Once more, Abu Al Shamat used his pace to close space, forcing a mistake from the Cote d’Ivoire defence and then, when presented with the chance, he calmly slotted the ball into the net.

Yet the goals have merely headlined his performances. Check through social media, and it is rife with clips of the tricks and flicks that make Abu Al Shamat a must-see rising star in the RSL.

In the space of a few short months, the attacking midfielder has grown to becoming quite possibly one of the foremost fan favourites - both for Saudi Arabia and Al Ahli.

But he can’t get ahead of himself. With a highly anticipated and hugely important league encounter against twin Mohammed on Friday, Saleh will no doubt focus his mind back on RSL matters before the league breaks for the FIFA Arab Cup.

Given his career-affirming few months, it’s there where Abu Al Shamat will once again perform a key part in Saudi Arabia’s quest for success.