+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
Peter Shalulile, GFX, 2025GOAL
Dingizwe Gwala

PSL Legend in the making? Mamelodi Sundowns superstar Peter Shalulile’s goal-scoring feats stir the GOAT debate after eclipsing Siyabonga Nomvethe's record

Peter Shalulile's set the new PSL record after breaking Siyabonga Nomvethe's longstanding tally of 129 goals. We put the two side-by-side and draw comparisons on who is Mzansi's scoring GOAT.

Whenever greatness is achieved, doubt is never far behind. It’s a phenomenon as old as competition itself - the higher one climbs, the louder the whispers of scepticism become. That’s precisely the case with Peter Shalulile, whose record-breaking tally of 130 goals in the PSL has sparked widespread debate.   

Shalulile's 130th strike, calmly converted from the penalty spot against Stellenbosch, etched his name into the history books. But instead of unanimous applause, questions began swirling. Is his tally legitimate? Does it really eclipse the iconic Siyabonga Nomvethe’s mark? Join GOAL as we crucially look at how these two goal-scoring giants truly compare.

Click here to join our WhatsApp channel!

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    The shifting goalposts

    For years, Shalulile chased the shadow of Siyabonga Nomvethe, whose benchmark stood tall at 123 goals - a record that once combined league and cup goals. But as the Namibian striker inched closer to that revered number, the narrative appeared to shift. Suddenly, the criteria became murky, the goalposts figuratively moved.   

    What was once seen as an inclusive tally began being dissected, redefined, and debated. It left many asking not just whether Shalulile broke the record, but whether the record had been subtly rebranded to preserve Nomvethe’s legacy.

    • Advertisement
  • Siyabonga Nomvethe, AmaZulu FC, August 2025Backpage

    Siyabonga Nomvethe: A flying start

    Nomvethe’s journey began in the PSL with African Wanderers, where he played alongside the likes of Phumlani Mkhize and Sibusiso Zuma during an era when three-man forward lines were rare. Even then, he defied tactical norms and made waves. His debut season in 1997/98 yielded 11 league goals - an impressive feat given the defensive grit of the league at the time. 

    Kaizer Chiefs quickly came calling, and while his first season with the Glamour Boys saw him net eight goals, it was his third season that truly set him apart. That year, Nomvethe exploded with 22 goals across all competitions, followed by another 18-goal haul in 2000/01 - a run of form that ultimately opened the door to European football. 

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpage

    Peter Shalulile: From silent start to record books

    By contrast, Shalulile’s PSL career began in silence. His 2015/16 debut season passed without a single goal. In the following campaign, he managed just one. But that lone strike would prove to be the first note in what has become a symphony of goals. 

    His breakthrough came in 2019/20 with Highlands Park, where he clinched the PSL Golden Boot - a moment that signalled his arrival as a true force. The move to Mamelodi Sundowns elevated his game to new heights, and the goals kept flowing, season after season. 

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    Individual awards

    Peter Shalulile

    PSL Footballer of the Year: 2020-21

    PSL Golden Boot: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

    PSL Footballer of the Season: 2021-22

    PSL Players' Player of the Season: 2021-22

    CAF Champions League Top Goalscorer: 2023

    Siyabonga Nomvethe

    PSL Footballer of the Year: 2011–12 

    PSL Player of the Season: 2011–12

    PSL Players' Player of the Season: 2011–12

    PSL Golden Boot: 2011–12 

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi Sundowns, January 2025.BackPagePix

    The trophy cabinet doesn’t lie

    When it comes to individual accolades, both players boast impressive resumes - but Shalulile has pulled ahead in sheer volume. The Namibian has scooped the PSL Golden Boot three times, earned back-to-back Footballer of the Season honours, and was even crowned the CAF Champions League top scorer in 2023.

    Nomvethe, while brilliant, achieved most of his personal recognition in the 2011/12 season, sweeping all major awards that year. Yet it’s in team success where the gap truly widens. Shalulile has five league titles to his name with Sundowns - a feat Nomvethe never achieved.   

    While the latter did win the MTN8 and the 2012 cup with Moroka Swallows, he was never able to lift the league trophy during his 14-season PSL career. Shalulile, just entering his 11th, has already amassed more silverware than many entire clubs.

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    The ultimate team man

    Beyond the numbers and the medals, what sets Shalulile apart is his relentless work ethic and unselfish approach. Even in the thick of a Golden Boot race - notably when duelling with Bradley Grobler - Shalulile was known to forgo personal glory for the good of the team. 

    Time and again, he would pass up a shot at goal to set up a teammate. His pressing, movement off the ball, and defensive contributions are the stuff coaches dream of. And while the headlines often highlight his goals, those close to the game know just how vital his all-around play is. Whether it’s providing the assist or even the pass before the assist, Shalulile’s fingerprints are all over Sundowns' success. 

  • Peter Shalulile, Mamelodi Sundowns

    Dive deeper