FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers: Top 10 goalscorers

#2 Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia) - 16 goals in 14 matches

Saudi Arabia striker Mohammad Al-Sahlawi is the top scorer in the Asian region

Saudi Arabia returned to the global stage after an absence of 12 years, on the back of a highly successful qualifying campaign that saw them finish just a point behind leaders Japan, but ahead of the 2015 Asian champions Australia in the second round, having topped their group in the first.

Mohammad Al-Sahlawi struck 16 times for his country in 14 out of a possible 18 games and finished as the joint top-scorer. The Al-Nassar striker's impressive scoring spree includes a hattrick against minnows Timor-Leste at home, and a five-goal haul in the return, becoming the only player to strike five times in this qualifications in a single game.

However, therein lies a majority of his contributions. His only other notable performance was a brace against UAE that sealed all the three points for his side, and the last-gasp winner over a resolute Palestine.

The 30-year old receded a bit in the second round, bagging only two strikes - against Thailand and Australia, both of which eventually proved to be inconsequential.

At the 2019 Asia Cup, where Saudi next play, the stakes will be far higher than this, and Al-Sahlawi's goals would only count if they help the Green Falcons win some points and hold them in a good stead to claim the prize.