Gulf Cup top scorers: Historic numbers defy time ahead of Gulf 27

The Arabian Gulf Cup has witnessed top scorers make history over more than 50 years, before Gulf 27 in Jeddah prepares to test numbers that have resisted change for decades.

Jeddah will host the 27th edition from September 23 to October 6, with anticipation for a new competition for the top historical goalscorer, which is held by the Kuwaiti Jassim Yaqoub with 18 goals.

Jassim Yaqoub etched his name at the summit during just three appearances, having scored three goals in the Gulf Cup 2 in Saudi Arabia in 1972, behind Saudi Arabia's Saeed Gharab, who netted five goals.

In the 1974 Gulf Cup in Kuwait, Yaqoub scored six goals to become the top scorer, and then he exploded offensively in the 1976 Gulf Cup in Doha by scoring nine goals.

Yaqoub has increased his tally to 18 goals, maintaining that record despite retiring in 1983 due to injury, continuing to hold the top spot among historical goalscorers for nearly five decades.

Iraqi Aymen Hussein and Saudi Majed Abdullah are closing in on the top with 17 goals each, but Hussein boasts an exceptional record as the highest scorer in a single edition.

Hussein Saeed scored ten goals in the Gulf Cup 5 in Iraq in 1979, followed by seven goals in the Gulf Cup 7 in Oman in 1984, and he was crowned top scorer and best player.

Majed Abdullah scored his 17 goals during 26 matches in five appearances, starting his journey with seven goals in the Gulf Cup 5 in Iraq in 1979, finishing in second place.

Majed Abdullah scored three goals in the Gulf Cup 6 in the United Arab Emirates in 1982, sharing the top scorer title with Youssef Souaid, Ibrahim Zwaid, and Salem Khalifa. He then scored a goal in Gulf Cup 7.

He scored one goal in the Gulf Cup 7 before an injury prevented him from continuing his participation, then netted four goals in the Gulf Cup 8 in Bahrain, and concluded his journey with two goals in the Gulf Cup 9 in Saudi Arabia in 1988.

Kuwait's Faisal Al-Dakhil and Jassim Al-Huwaidi share the next spot in the all-time top scorers list after both reached 14 goals in the Gulf Cup.

Faisal Al-Dakhil began his strong scoring journey in the Gulf Cup 4 in Doha in 1976, netting eight goals that placed him second behind his compatriot Jassim Yaqoub.

Al-Dakhil scored a goal in the Gulf Cup 5 in Iraq in 1979, followed by five more goals during Gulf Cup 8 in Bahrain in 1986, completing his historic tally.

Jassim Al-Huwaidi opened his scoring record with a goal in the Gulf Cup 11 in Doha in 1992, then shone in the Gulf Cup 14 in Bahrain in 1998 by scoring nine goals and winning the top scorer title.

Al-Huwaidi has become the second highest scorer in a single edition after Hussein Saeed, before adding four goals in the Gulf Cup 15 in Saudi Arabia in 2002, bringing his total to 14 goals.

Qatari Mansour Muftah and Emirati Ali Mabkhout have entered the list of notable scorers with 13 goals each, following a scoring journey that has spanned multiple editions.

Mansour Muftah participated in six editions, starting with five goals in the Gulf Cup 4 in Doha in 1976, then adding one goal in Gulf Cup 5 and another in Gulf Cup 6.

Miftah scored three goals in the Gulf Cup 7, then added one goal in the Gulf Cup 9 and two goals in the Gulf Cup 10 in Kuwait in 1990, bringing his total to 13 goals.

In contrast, Ali Mabkhout started his journey with two goals in the Gulf Cup 21, then scored five goals in the Gulf Cup 22 in 2014 and was crowned top scorer, before adding a goal in the Gulf Cup 23 in Kuwait.

Ali Mabkhout finished with five goals in the Gulf Cup 24 in Doha in 2019, becoming the top scorer for the second time and raising his total goals in the tournament to 13.

Kuwait's Youssef Suwaid and Bader Al-Mutawa finished in the next position with 12 goals each, after delivering impressive scoring figures in their Gulf competitions.

Youssef Soueid scored seven goals during the Gulf Cup 5 in Iraq, followed by three goals in Gulf Cup 6 in the United Arab Emirates, and completed his tally with two goals in Gulf Cup 8 in Bahrain in 1986.

Badr Al-Mutawa has participated in six editions, scoring two goals in the Gulf Cup 16 in 2003, and the same number in Gulf Cup 17 and Gulf Cup 18, before missing Gulf Cup 19.

Al-Mutawa was crowned top scorer of the Gulf Cup 20 in Yemen after scoring three goals, then added two goals in the following edition in 2013, and one goal in Gulf Cup 22 in Saudi Arabia in 2014.

Three players share the sixth position with ten goals each: Qatari Mahmoud Soufi, Emirati Fahad Khamis, and Saudi Yasser Al-Qahtani.

Mahmoud Soufi scored a goal in Gulf Cup 9 and another in Gulf Cup 10, before adding two goals in Gulf Cup 11 in Doha, and then crowned himself as the top scorer of Gulf Cup 12.

Sufi shared the top scorer title of Gulf Cup 12 with Saudi Arabia's Fuad Anwar after scoring four goals, and then finished his career by adding two goals in Gulf Cup 13 in 1996.

Fahad Khamis scored two goals in Gulf Cup 6 and one goal in Gulf Cup 7, before shining in Gulf Cup 8 in Bahrain with six goals and winning the top scorer award.

Khamis concluded his participation with a goal in the Gulf Cup 10 in Kuwait in 1990, while Yasser Al-Qahtani started his record with three goals in the Gulf Cup 16 in 2003.

Al-Qahtani added a goal in the Gulf Cup 17, three goals in the Gulf Cup 18 in 2007, two goals in the Gulf Cup 19, and a goal in the Gulf Cup 21 in Bahrain in 2013.

Fans of the Gulf Cup in Jeddah are eagerly anticipating the emergence of new strikers capable of approaching historic numbers and opening a new chapter in the tournament's scoring record during Gulf 27.

Feras Al-Buraikan and Abdullah Al-Hamdan stand out as key attacking names for the Saudi Arabia national team, alongside Qatar's Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, and Iraq's Aymen Hussein.

The Gulf 27 competition gives these strikers a chance to add new numbers to the tournament's history, in a championship that brings back memories of goal scorers who left their mark decades ago.

Jassim Yaqoub's record is hard to break as Hussein Saeed and Majed Abdullah chase the top spot. Al-Dakhil and Al-Huwaidi have scored 14 goals, while Mansour Muftah and Ali Mabkhout follow closely with 13 goals. Youssef Suwaid and Bader Al-Mutawa have netted 12 goals, and Sofiane, Khamis, and Al-Qahtani have each scored 10 goals. The stars of Gulf Cup 27 face a historical test.