Lead Man: How Al Shabab depend on Carrasco's crucial contribution | OneFootball

It’s been a frustrating season for Al Shabab, who look set for their lowest finish this century, with the only saving grace being they have stayed away from the relegation scrap - although only just.

Amid the stormy waters, however, one player has shone bright: captain Yannick Carrasco.

Even at the spritely age of 32, the former Belgian international just keeps getting better and better. Now in his third season in the capital, Carrasco has shown to be one of the league’s leading attacking threats.

His 16 goals place him inside the top eight in the 2025-26 RSL, while his 22 goal contributions rank him joint- sixth. It has Carrasco on track for the best-ever return of his professional career, which came when he scored 17 while representing Dalian Professional in China in 2019.

Carrasco’s 22 goal contributions in a team that has scored only 40 times this season is a stellar return in anyone’s language, meaning the super skipper has scored, or teed up, 55 percent of Al Shabab’s RSL goals this season.

Only Ivan Toney, thanks to his hat-trick against Al Fateh last week, has a superior record. The Englishman, who leads the race for the golden boot, has contributed to 58% of all Al Ahli’s RSL goals this term. Before his Al Fateh treble, Toney was equal with Carrasco.

Al Shabab manager Noureddine Ben Zekri leans on Yannick Carrasco's experience

And that’s with Carrasco having gone four matches before last Thursday’s history-making clash with Al Nassr without a goal or assist in the league: his longest run this campaign without a goal contribution.

It’s no coincidence that Al Shabab were without a win in that spell; six of their seven victories this season have come when Carrasco has either scored or provided an assist.

Indeed, Al Shabab have won only once in the RSL in which he didn’t contribute in that manner - and that was a game he didn’t even play, in the 4-0 win against Al Hazem at the end of January.

Of course, leadership comes in different forms. You can lead by example, or you can lead by your words. Or sometimes even both. Those are often the best: players who push and challenge teammates, and back up words with their actions on the pitch.

That is Carrasco. With his experience at the highest levels of the game, winning Spain's La Liga with Atletico Madrid and scoring in a UEFA Champions League Final, not to mention his 78 caps for Belgium and featuring at two World Cups, Carrasco has experienced it all.

In turn, he can pass that experience to those around him.

A player like Musab Al Juwayr, who spent two seasons on loan at Al Shabab, flourished alongside Carrasco. It’s no coincidence the Saudi Arabia international was last season named RSL Young Player of the Year.

While Al Juwayr has since departed to Al Qadsiah, Carrasco remains both Al Shabab’s leader and their barometer. When he plays well, good things tend to happen. But his threat is about more than just his goals.

There’s also the fact that Carrasco leads the 2025-26 RSL in both attempted and successful dribbles, as well as dribbles inside the box. Then there are his 69 chances created, which place him top six in the division, while his 96 shots sit in the top four.

When breaking down the numbers, Carrasco has had 31% of all Al Shabab’s shots this year (96 of 305). What’s more, when you remove those, he has created 69 of Al Shabab’s remaining 209 efforts on goal, at 33%.

In total, he has either taken the shot, or provided the shot assist, for 54% of Al Shabab’s efforts on goal this season. That’s incredible. Patently, it reinforces his importance.

As does the nine Man of the Match awards Carrasco has picked up through 2025-26. He has, at times, been a one-man force for Noureddine Ben Zekri’s side.

For Al Shabab fans, it probably doesn’t bear thinking about where they might be this season were it not for the veteran forward. Carrasco continues to prove crucial to their fortunes.