Lens' Saud Abdulhamid making history in Ligue 1

Saud Abdulhamid became the first Saudi Arabian player to score in Ligue 1 McDonald's as RC Lens dispatched Metz (3-0) to reignite the title race.

Abdulhamid grows in stature at Lens

Abdulhamid was always likely to make history in Ligue 1 McDonald's. By making the move to Lens in the summer, he became the first player from Saudi Arabia to play in France's top-flight. Prior to last weekend's game, he had already become the first Saudi Arabian player to register an assist in Ligue 1 McDonald's and the first to register an assist in the Coupe de France, too.

By scoring against Metz, he has now also become the first Saudi Arabian goal-scorer in Ligue 1 McDonald's. A year earlier, he made history with AS Roma. Having made the move to the Serie A side from Al-Hilal, he became the first Saudi Arabian player to play in one of Europe's top five leagues, then the first to participate in European competition - naturally - and then the first to score in European competition.

However, he found game time hard to come by in Italy. He made only four league appearances for Roma and in all competitions, played just 10 games, accumultating less than 500 minutes of playing time.

First Saudi Arabian player to score in Ligue 1 🇸🇦

SAUD ABDULHAMID ✨ pic.twitter.com/XofWZd1qlo
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 9, 2026

He has featured more prominently this season, however. In all competitions, he has played 22 times, including 18 times in Ligue 1 McDonald's. That is despite finding himself in fierce competition with Ruben Aguilar for a starting spot in Pierre Sage's side.

"Ahead of him he has a player who has played very well since the start of the season. It is a really hard choice to make before every match. There is real competition. Ruben held the lead at the start but Saud didn't give up and he kept working," said the Lens manager.

Aguilar has also featured less regularly of late due to injury and the former Monaco full-back is currently sidelined. It has given Abdulhamid the assurance of playing and his half-volley, taken so sweetly in the win over Metz, is the sign of a player high on confidence.

Sage says Abdulhamid "fully adapted" to European football

"Today, he has fully adapted to European football, both in terms of the approach to the job and in term of managing his weeks and his matches," added Sage.

Whilst his introduction to European football was difficult, he was breaking new ground, and in his second season, he is making an impact in a side that is competing for the Ligue 1 McDonald's title. The Saudi Arabia international (48 caps, one goal) has already played in the Asian Champions League, and should he make his loan move to the Bollaert permanent, there is a good chance that he could be playing in the UEFA Champions next season.

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