The RSL stars lighting up international football around the world | OneFootball

Such is the global nature of the Roshn Saudi League, that when the world comes together for the international break, the fingerprints of the Saudi top flight can be found all around the globe.

With qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup nearing a conclusion in Asia, and the UEFA Nations League finals under way in Europe, there are no shortage of RSL players in international action.

Here’s just a select pick.

Otabek Shukurov - Al Fayha

The final two matchdays of Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place over the next week, with history on the line for a handful of nations.

Uzbekistan, who have never qualified for the World Cup, are one of those, where star midfielder Otabek Shukurov, who plays for Al Fayha, will be looking to create a sliver of history for his nation.

Uzbekistan currently sit second in Group A behind Iran, who are already qualified, and need just a point from their trip to Abu Dhabi to face the UAE on Thursday, or their home fixture against Qatar, to seal progression.

Ibrahim Bayesh/Youssef Amyn - Al Riyadh/Al Wehda

It’s been 40 long years since Iraq last qualified for the FIFA World Cup, with their sole appearance coming back in Mexico 1986.

Trying to end that drought are Ibrahim Bayesh and Youssef Amyn, of Al Riyadh and Al Wehda, respectively. Iraq are third in Group B, a point behind second-placed Jordan, who they will play in their final game on Tuesday in what looms as a winner-takes-all encounter.

Before then, however, they face an even bigger clash with Korea Republic at home in Basra, where three points is a must if they are to keep alive their hopes going into their clash against Jordan.

Cristiano Ronaldo/Ruben Neves - Al Nassr/Al Hilal

The UEFA Nations League Finals are now in full swing, and who else but Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero for Portugal.

The 40-year-old superstar netted the winning goal for Portugal in their 2-1 win against Germany in Munich to secure his team’s progression to the final next week, where they will face either Spain or France.

Ronaldo wasn’t the only RSL star to feature, however, with Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves also playing an important role in midfield to help Portugal reach their second showpiece in four editions of the tournament.

Ivan Toney - Al Ahli

While the UEFA Nations League finals are taking place, there are also important European World Cup qualifiers taking place across the next week, with the headline selection being that of Ivan Toney for England.

The Al Ahli striker makes his return to the Three Lions for the first time since moving to Jeddah last August and, after helping Al Ahli to continental success, he’ll be hoping to take England closer to qualification with a clash with Andorra, before a friendly against Senegal next week.

That could in fact feature fellow RSL stars Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Habib Diallo.

Koen Casteels - Al Qadsiah

The Belgian shot-stopper was outstanding for Al Qadsiah this season, forming a key part of a defence that had the league’s best defensive record and taking home the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets, with 14.

Now he’ll be hoping to take that form into Belgium’s opening matches in World Cup qualifying against North Macedonia and Wales as they eye a fourth straight World Cup appearance - and redemption for an early group stage exit in Qatar.

Florin Nita - Damac

Romania haven’t qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1998, so will be desperately hoping to break that drought this time around.

They face crunch games against group favourites, Austria, as well as Cyprus in this window and will therefore be calling upon experienced Damac goalkeeper Florin Nita to help them navigate their way through.

While it was a disappointing season for Damac – they finished 14th in the RSL – Nita was one of their best performers, keeping seven clean sheets. He will turn out for Romania with recent Damac teammate Nicolae Stanciu, who left for Italy's Genoa at the conclusion of the RSL campaign.

Jhon Duran - Al Nassr

World Cup qualifying in South America is always one of the most exciting, and with only four matches remaining there is everything still to play for.

Jhon Duran’s Colombia are in sixth place at the moment - the last of the automatic qualifying spots - and will need to pick up results against Peru and/or Argentina to further their cause.

The striker started like a house on fire with Al Nassr after joining in the winter window, with four goals in his first two games. However, he then went through a dry spell of only one goal in eight games before finishing the season with a flurry, with three goals in his final three games.

Nahitan Nandez - Al Qadsiah

Uruguay, featuring Al Qadsiah’s Nahitan Nandez, can take a giant leap towards qualification - and perhaps even secure it if results go their way - when they play Paraguay and Venezuela.

The South American side are currently third in South American qualifying with 21 points but are only one point clear of sixth-placed Colombia.

Midfielder Nandez was something of an unheralded star in midfield for Al Qadsiah this season, even managing five assists to help the newly promoted side to a fourth-placed finish and to runners-up in the King’s Cup.

Orlando Mosquera - Al Fayha

The Panamanian goalkeeper had a standout season for Al Fayha, finishing the season with eight clean sheets - and now has his eyes set on World Cup qualification.

After winning their opening two games of CONCACAF World Cup qualification, Panama face crunch games against Belize and Nicaragua to secure their progression through to the next round, where only three teams will join USA, Canada and Mexico as CONCACAF’s representatives for their “home” World Cup.

Mosquera, then, will be integral to those hopes and comes into the qualifiers having helped Al Fayha stave off relegation from the RSL – he was the league’s Goalkeeper of the Month in February.