Saudi Pro League Team of the 2023-24 Season so far: Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrovic lead the way as Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr dominate

Bounou's departure from Sevilla to join Al-Hilal might have fallen under the radar compared to some of the other moves Saudi clubs made last summer, but there are few new arrivals who have been as impressive.

The Morocco international replaced Saudi No.1 Mohammed Al-Owais as soon as he arrived in Riyadh, and has played a key role for the leaders' league-best defence. In 17 league appearances, he has conceded just seven goals, and never conceded more than once in a match.

Many expected Alex Telles to be the primary creative force of Al-Nassr's two full-backs this season, but has instead been Saudi international Al-Ghannam who has most the caught the eye.

The right-back has provided five league assists so far this season, and has also impressed with defensive solidity throughout the campaign.

Outside of Saudi Arabia, Albulayhi is perhaps best known for his confrontation with Lionel Messi during the 2022 World Cup, and though his antics of winding up the world's best players has continued this season after he came face-to-face with Cristiano Ronaldo, he has also shone for Al-Hilal.

The 34-year-old has shown all his experience through the opening months of the season, forming a strong partnership with another member of this defence...

Questions were asked of Koulibaly during the opening weeks of the season as he struggled with a number of fitness issues after arriving from Chelsea, but he has since emerged as a rock at the back alongside Bulayhi for his new club.

Abdulhamid may have played predominantly at right-back for Al-Hilal this season, but his versatility means we can get away with putting him at left-back in our combined XI.

The 24-year-old has been ever-present for the league leaders, scoring once and providing three assists, with his combination play alongside Michel and Malcom helping make Hilal the most dangerous team in the division.

With an attack containing Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, it's not easy to become a fan favourite further back in the Al-Nassr line-up, but Brozovic has done so thanks to his tireless work-rate and pinpoint distribution.

It was felt that Nassr pulled off something of a coup when they landed the Croatia midfielder from Inter after perhaps his best-ever season, and he has been able to maintain that form in his new surroundings.

Another player who arrived from Serie A over the summer after an impressive 2022-23 campaign, there was actually some concern regarding how Milinkovic-Savic would fit in at Al-Hilal during the opening weeks of the campaign, while he was also sent-off in just his third Pro League game.

Since then, though, he has emerged as one the league's outstanding midfielders, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 16 appearances, including the opening goal in December's crucial 3-0 win over Al-Nassr.

If Milinkovic-Savic provides the attacking thrust from the Al-Hilal midfield, then Neves brings the defensive solidity alongside him, and has shown exactly why Newcastle were reportedly keen to bring him back to the Premier League this January.

The Portugal international has provided a threat in the final third at times, too, with his trademark long-range shooting providing a test for a number of opposition goalkeepers to deal with.

He may have been the Player of the Year in Portugal last season, but Al-Nassr still raised eyebrows when they agreed to pay the attacking midfielders €60 million release clause to bring him in from Porto.

The 28-year-old has proven to be an inspired signing, however, with his vision and creativity knitting together one of the league's most lethal attacks, while he has also chipped in with five league goals of his own.

No top-flight player scored more goals in 2023 than Ronaldo, and that is no large part due to the form he has shown during the first half of the current campaign. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is the run-away top scorer in the division with 20 goals from just 18 games, while he has also added nine assists.

Al-Nassr might not be sitting top of the table right now, but there is no doubt that they possess the Pro League's best player.

Al-Hilal needed someone to step up and fill the attacking burden that was left by Neymar's season-ending injury, and Mitrovic has done just that and then some. The former Fulham striker has scored 17 league goals in as many games, including a superb hat-trick against old rivals Al-Ittihad early in the season.

He is likely the only man who can challenge Ronaldo for the Golden Boot during the second half of the season, and if he maintains his current form, will likely be able to celebrate having fired Al-Hilal to the title.