England to Call Up Ivan Toney for World Cup Despite Saudi League Stint Ivan Toney is set to be named in England’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament, despite his current status as a Saudi Pro League player. The 30-year-old striker, who previously played for Brentford, has scored 32 goals for Al-Ahli this season and is on course to win the Saudi Arabian Golden Boot. His strong performances have earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad, which will be officially announced on Friday. Tuchel included Toney after the player finished runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Saudi Golden Boot last season. The German coach highlighted Toney’s 20-goal tally for his club this season and his significant contribution to the Asian Champions League campaign, though the source does not confirm he won the title. Tuchel also mentioned that he had intended to visit Saudi Arabia but was unable to do so, which influenced his decision to bring Toney into the squad. The inclusion of Toney has sparked mixed reactions from England fans. Several social media comments expressed surprise and skepticism, with some questioning his readiness for the World Cup. Phrases like “Ivan Toney is crazy” and “No f*ing way is Ivan ‘Sunday league’ Toney going to the World Cup” reflect the divided opinions among supporters. Others remarked on the unexpected nature of his selection, with one fan writing, “Ivan Toney in the England squad My eyes are bleeding.” Toney’s inclusion appears to come at the expense of Cole Palmer, the Chelsea midfielder. Palmer, who has struggled with form this season, has been dropped from the squad. The 24-year-old scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this year, a significant drop from his previous season.#england #saudi_pro_league #thomas_tuchel #al_ahli #ivan_toney
SPL 25/26: Ronaldo Trails Behind Ivan Toney in Golden Boot Race Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr Saudi FC has reached the brink of securing the Saudi Pro League Title 2026, but the Portuguese star has fallen behind Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney in the Golden Boot race. As the 32nd matchweek of the 2025/26 season concluded, Al-Nassr led the league table with 82 points, finishing 32 matches, 27 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw, 86 goals scored, 26 goals conceded, a goal difference of 60, and 82 points. However, the team faces two crucial matches remaining: one against Al Hilal and another against Damac. A loss to Al Hilal on May 12 could prevent Al-Nassr from claiming their first league title since 2019. Al Hilal, currently second with 77 points, has three matches left, including the clash against Al-Nassr. A perfect run in those games could give Al Hilal 86 points, surpassing Al-Nassr’s total. The Golden Boot race has seen Ivan Toney of Al Ahli surge ahead. With 30 goals in 29 matches, Toney leads the league’s top scorers, outpacing Al-Qadsiah’s Julián Quiñones, who has 29 goals in 29 matches. Ronaldo, Al-Nassr’s captain, trails with 26 goals, a five-goal deficit from Toney. To reclaim the Golden Boot, Ronaldo would need to score heavily in the remaining two matches, a challenge given the competition’s intensity. Toney’s dominance extends beyond goal tallying. On May 6, he scored a hat trick against Al Fateh, propelling him to the top of the Saudi Pro League’s scoring charts. This achievement makes him the fourth player in SPL history to record four hat-tricks in a single season, joining legends like Abderrazak Hamdallah, Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema. Toney’s performance also contributed to the 2025/26 season’s record-breaking 18 hat-tricks, the highest ever in a single SPL campaign.#saudi_pro_league #cristiano_ronaldo #al_ahli #ivan_toney #al_nassr_saudi_fc
