{{Short description|Qatari association football league}} {{Infobox football league | logo = Qatar Stars League logo.svg | upright = 0.6 | country = Qatar | confed = Asian Football Confederation | founded = {{start date and age|1963}} | teams = 12 | relegation = Qatar Stars League 2 | levels = 1 | domest_cup = {{ubl|Emir Cup|Qatar Cup|Qatar FA Cup|Qatari Stars Cup|Sheikh Jassem Cup}} | confed_cup = {{ubl|AFC Champions League Elite|AFC Champions League Two|Arab Club Champions Cup}} | champions = Al-Sadd (19th title) | season = 2025–26 | most successful club = Al-Sadd (18 titles) | tv = beIN Sports<br /> Alkass Sports | website = {{URL|https://www.qsl.qa/ar|qsl.qa}} | current = 2025–26 Qatar Stars League | sponsor = Doha Bank<br/>Alkass }}
The '''Qatar Stars League''' ({{langx|ar|دوري نجوم قطر|Dawrī Nujūm Qaṭar}}; abbreviated as '''QSL'''), known as '''Doha Bank Stars League''' for sponsorship reasons, is the top level football league in Qatar. Contested by 12 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatari Second Division (QSD), with the lowest ranked club at the end of the QSL season being demoted to make room for the promotion of the highest ranked QSD club of the season. The QSL season usually runs from September to April. The league's first season was played in 1963, although the first official season occurred in 1972.
The Qatari league system provides 5 domestic cups that various clubs can compete for: the Emir of Qatar Cup, open to all teams in both the first and second divisions; the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, a postseason tournament played by the top four first division teams; the Sheikh Jassem Cup, a prelude to the first division regular season; the Qatari Stars Cup, a round-robin tournament played midseason; and the Qatar FA Cup, where the bottom 8 teams from the QSL and the entire QSD participate. The league title has been officially won by 7 clubs since its inception. The club that has won the most championships is Al-Sadd, with 18 titles.
==League structure== There are two divisions in the Qatari football structure and the league has previously seen one club promoted and relegated each year, except in expansion seasons. The Qatar Stars League, previously known as the Q-League currently features 12 teams, with the second division featuring eight teams. The top four clubs at the end of the regular league system participate in the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, which was formed in the 1994/95 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alkass.net/dev/cup2011-hair-history.aspx|title=Heir Apparent Cup finals|publisher=Al Kass|language=ar|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003193728/http://www.alkass.net/dev/cup2011-hair-history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Qatar Stars League has slowly expanded since the turn of the decade, moving from nine clubs to ten clubs, and then latest setup of 12 clubs for the Qatari League 2009-10 campaign. It was announced that in the 2013-14 season, the number of clubs in the top division would increase to 14, whereas the second division would increase to 18 clubs which includes the reserve teams of the top division clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/qsl-confirms-expansion-plans/|title=QSL confirms expansion move|publisher=Doha Stadium Plus|date=7 May 2013|access-date=7 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509163211/http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/qsl-confirms-expansion-plans/|archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight the 2008–09 Qatar Stars League season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.<ref name="2009expansion">{{cite web|url=http://mail.asiancup2011.com.qa/users/COMPETITIONSEn/QSLEn.aspx#.VbruuvlViko|title=Qatar Stars League (QSL)|website=mail.asiancup2011.com.qa|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085007/http://mail.asiancup2011.com.qa/users/COMPETITIONSEn/QSLEn.aspx#.VbruuvlViko|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> That year, the top league expanded to 12 clubs. In May 2013, the QFA again expanded the league by two more teams, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qatarsports.today/qsl-expands-to-14-teams/|title=QSL expands to 14 teams|publisher=Qatar Sports Today|date=8 May 2013|access-date=30 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024109/http://www.qatarsports.today/qsl-expands-to-14-teams/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In 2017 the number of teams moved back to 12.
There are currently four official amateur football leagues in Qatar. Three amateur leagues are under the jurisdiction of the Qatar Community Football League (QCFL), established by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and the fourth, known as the Qatar Amateur League (QAL) is recognized by the QFA. Inaugurated in November 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=1943#.U3JeZvldVSt|title=Qatar Amateur League|publisher=Qatar Stars League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306190106/http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=1943#.VbrvnPlViko|archive-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/qatar-amateur-league-november-11/|title=Amateur League kick-off on Nov 11|date=13 November 2014|publisher=Doha Stadium Plus|access-date=4 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031339/http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/qatar-amateur-league-november-11/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History==
=== Early history === The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the 1963–64 season, three years after the formation of the QFA. Similarly, a second division was also created during this time. For many years, there was no promotion or relegation system.<ref name="leaguehistory"/> Al-Maref, a club representing the Ministry of Education, was dissolved in 1966-67 by decision of the QFA and its players distributed to other clubs.<ref name="listofchampions2">{{cite web|title=Qatar — List of Champions|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesq/qatchamp.html|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
=== First official season === In 1972–73, the first official season was played.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rayyanclub.com/ar/pages.php?pageid=history_foot|title=« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي|publisher=Al Rayyan Club|language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913140855/http://www.rayyanclub.com/ar/pages.php?pageid=history_foot|archive-date=13 September 2012}}</ref> Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/club/30806/1972_1/Al_Esteqlal_Doha.html | title=Al-Esteqlal Doha Qatar Stars League (1. League) | date= | accessdate=2022-12-12}}</ref>
The first time there was a playoff for the championship was in 1980, between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. Al Sadd won the match 1–0.<ref name="leaguehistory"/>
Although a second division had been in place for some time, there was no relegation or promotion system. However, in 1981, such a system was put in place for the first time. Five clubs participated in the second division that year.<ref name="leaguehistory"/>
In 1984–85, there was no relegation or promotion due to a lack of players, as members of the Qatar national football team were preparing for the qualification rounds of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="leaguehistory">{{cite web|url=http://mail.asiancup2011.qa/users/COMPETITIONSAr/QSLAR.aspx|script-title=ar:دوري نجوم قطر|website=mail.asiancup2011.qa|access-date=30 July 2015|language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130757/http://mail.asiancup2011.qa/users/COMPETITIONSAr/QSLAR.aspx|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1994, for one season, the QFA launched a new system where matches ending in draws would end in a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This was put in place in an effort to improve attendance.<ref name="leaguehistory"/>
Three second division clubs were dissolved in the 1990 season: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. Many of their players were distributed to first division clubs and became prominent players in Qatari football history, such as Fahad Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Hamad Al Khalifa. After the dissolution of these clubs, there was no longer any relegation or promotion for five years. In 1995/96, the second division was brought back with five clubs, while there were ten clubs participating in the first division.<ref name="leaguehistory"/>
===The 2003 money influx from QFA=== A successful method the QFA used to develop the league was allocating each Q-League club with a sum of $10,000,000 to buy big-name foreign players in order to increase popularity, in the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia and Gabriel Batistuta, who soon appeared and shone in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=412&pID=1148|publisher=Qatar Visitor|title=Football in Qatar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707154634/http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=412&pID=1148|archive-date=7 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://90soccer.com/when-batistuta-effenberg-guardiola-and-other-stars-played-in-qatar|title=When Effenberg, Batistuta and Guardiola played in Qatar|author=Ken Salmon|date=9 June 2022|publisher=90soccer.com}}</ref>
In addition, in 2004, the Aspire Academy was formed, which provides training facilities to young people in order to improve the footballing standard not only in Qatar, but internationally. Many notable players have graduated from the academy, including Abdelkarim Hassan, Saad Al Sheeb, and Ibrahim Majid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aspire.qa/mag/72014/index.html#8-9/z|title=Champ magazine, issue 7|publisher=Aspire Academy|page=9|date=December 2014|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317231815/http://www.aspire.qa/mag/72014/index.html#8-9/z|archive-date=17 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== 2009: Changing name to Qatar Stars League === In 2009, no clubs were relegated from the top division. Due to the recent formation of Lekhwiya and El Jaish, this meant that the second division would lose two clubs while two more clubs would enter the first division, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 12, and the second division to six.<ref name="2009expansion"/> As part of the expansion campaign, the Q-League changed its name to what it is currently known as the Qatar Stars League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/671262/matthias-krug-an-asian-armada-sets-sail-for-europe|title=An Asian armada sets sail for Europe|publisher=ESPN FC|author=Matthias Krug|date=29 August 2009|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173716/http://www.espnfc.com/story/671262/matthias-krug-an-asian-armada-sets-sail-for-europe|url-status=live}}</ref> and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the Qatari Stars Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qnb.com/cs/Satellite?c=QNBNews_C&cid=1344245057446&locale=1338474029767&p=1344243920759&pagename=QNBPrivate%2FQNBLayout|title=QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP|publisher=QNB|date=14 October 2009|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317233321/https://www.qnb.com/cs/Satellite?c=QNBNews_C&cid=1344245057446&locale=1338474029767&p=1344243920759&pagename=QNBPrivate/QNBLayout|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Clubs==
=== Champions === thumb|245px|Al Sadd are the most successful team in the league {| class="wikitable" !Club !Wins !Winning years<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesq/qatchamp.html | title=Qatar - List of Champions | date=2022-09-21 | accessdate=2022-12-12}}</ref> |- |Al Sadd | style="text-align:center" |19 |1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |- |Al Duhail | style="text-align:center" |8 |2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23 |- |Al-Rayyan | style="text-align:center" |8 |1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16 |- |Qatar SC | style="text-align:center;" |8 | 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03 |- |Al-Arabi | style="text-align:center" |7 |1982–83, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97 |- |Al-Gharafa | style="text-align:center" |7 |1991–92, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 |- |Al-Maaref | style="text-align:center"|3 |1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 |- |Al-Wakrah | style="text-align:center" |2 |1998–99, 2000–01 |}
=== Total titles won by region === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Region ! Number of titles ! Clubs |- | Doha | {{center|44}} | Al-Sadd SC (18), Qatar SC (8), Al-Duhail (8), Al-Arabi (7), Al-Maaref (3) |- | Al Rayyan | {{center|15}} | Al-Rayyan (8), Al-Gharafa (7) |- | Al Wakrah | {{center|2}} | Al-Wakrah (2) |}
==Media coverage==
=== Qatar === In 2012, Alkass Sports Channels signed a deal for the rights to broadcast the Stars League in English.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/187128/Football-is-a-powerful-marketing-tool| title='Football is a powerful marketing tool'| date=2012-11-13 | accessdate=2022-12-06}}</ref> beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast the Stars League.
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; float:center; margin-left" !Seasons !Channel |-style="font-size:100%" |rowspan="2" |2012–present |Alkass Sports |-style="font-size: 100%" |beIN Sports |}
=== International === {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; float:center; margin-left" !Seasons !Countries !Channel |- | rowspan="2" |2023–present |{{KOR}} | rowspan="2" | SPOTV |- |{{ASEAN}} |}
==Post-season awards== An award system was developed in 2006 in which the best player and coach of the footballing season are selected by a panel of journalists. Each award winner receives $100,000.<ref name="poty">{{cite web|url=http://www.qfa.com.qa/qfa-to-name-player-of-the-year-on-sunday--.aspx|title=QFA to name Player of the Year on Sunday|publisher=Qatar Football Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517044049/http://www.qfa.com.qa/qfa-to-name-player-of-the-year-on-sunday--.aspx|archive-date=17 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120728232539/http://www.dohapress.com/portal/index.php/archive/59-all-sports-news/14006-qfa-announce-100000-for-best-player QFA announce $100,000 for best player] Doha Press.</ref> There are also awards for youth players and club staff. {| class="wikitable" !'''Year''' !Best Player !Club !Best Player U23 !Club !Best Coach !Club |- |2006<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|QAT}} Sebastián Soria |Al Gharafa |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|URU}} Jorge Fossati |Al Sadd |- |2007<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|QAT}} Emerson Sheik |Al Sadd |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|URU}} Jorge Fossati |Al Sadd |- |2008<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|MAR}} Aziz Ben Askar |Umm Salal |{{flagicon|QAT}} Hassan Al Haydos |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|BRA}} Marcos Paquetá |Al Gharafa |- |2009<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|ARG}} Leonardo Pisculichi |Al Arabi |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|BRA}} Sebastião Lazaroni |Qatar SC |- |2010<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|BRA}} Juninho Pernambucano |Al Gharafa |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|BRA}} Caio Júnior |Al Gharafa |- |2011<ref name="poty" /> |{{flagicon|CIV}} Bakari Koné |Lekhwiya |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|QAT}} Abdullah Mubarak |Al Ahli |- |2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsl.com.qa/en/News/view/6441/tabata-aguirre-named-season-heroes|title=Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes|date=13 May 2012|publisher=Qatar Stars League|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202012107/http://www.qsl.com.qa/en/News/view/6441/tabata-aguirre-named-season-heroes|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> |{{flagicon|BRA}} Rodrigo Tabata |Al-Rayyan |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|URU}} Diego Aguirre |Al-Rayyan |- |2013<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/mobile//sport/192/details/353302/sadd%E2%80%99s-khalfan,-raul,-amotta--shine-at-qfa--awards-gala|title=Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala|date=20 May 2013|publisher=Gulf Times|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024623/http://www.gulf-times.com/mobile//sport/192/details/353302/sadd%E2%80%99s-khalfan%2C-raul%2C-amotta--shine-at-qfa--awards-gala|url-status=live}}</ref> |{{flagicon|QAT}} Khalfan Ibrahim |Al Sadd |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|MAR}} Hussein Amotta |Al Sadd |- |2014 |{{flagicon|Algeria}} Nadir Belhadj |Al Sadd |''Not held'' | |{{flagicon|Tunisia}} Sami Trabelsi |Al-Sailiya |- |2015 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Hassan Al-Haydos |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}} Abdurahman Al-Harazi |Al-Sailiya |{{flagicon|DEN}} Michael Laudrup |Lekhwiya |- |2016 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Rodrigo Tabata |Al-Rayyan |{{flagicon|QAT}} Abdelkarim Hassan |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|URU}} Jorge Fossati |Al-Rayyan |- |2017 |{{flagicon|KOR}} Nam Tae-hee |Lekhwiya |{{flagicon|QAT}} Almoez Ali |Lekhwiya |{{flagicon|POR}} Jesualdo Ferreira |Al Sadd |- |2018 |{{flagicon|TUN}} Youssef Msakni |Al-Duhail |{{flagicon|QAT}} Almoez Ali |Lekhwiya |{{flagicon|Algeria}} Djamel Belmadi |Al-Duhail |- |2019 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Akram Afif |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}} Bassam Al-Rawi |Al-Duhail |{{flagicon|POR}} Jesualdo Ferreira |Al Sadd |- |2020 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Akram Afif |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}}Tarek Salman |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|URU}} Diego Aguirre |Al-Rayyan |- |2021 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Santi Cazorla |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}} Homam Ahmed |Lekhwiya |{{flagicon|ESP}} Xavi |Al-Sadd |- |2022 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Akram Afif |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}} Homam Ahmed |Al Gharafa |{{flagicon|ESP}} Tintín Márquez |Al-Wakrah |- |2023 |{{flagicon|TUN}} Youssef Msakni |Al Arabi |{{flagicon|QAT}} Osama Al Tairy |Al-Rayyan |{{flagicon|QAT}} Younes Ali |Al Arabi |- |2024 |{{flagicon|QAT}} Akram Afif |Al Sadd |{{flagicon|QAT}} Jassem Gaber |Al Arabi |{{flagicon|POR}} Pedro Martins |Al-Gharafa |}
==Top goalscorers== {{Main article|Qatar National First Division top scorers}} <small>Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesq/qattops.html|title=Qatar - List of Topscorers|website=RSSSF|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.qsl.qa/en/news/qatar-football-association-awards-2021-2022-0 | title=Qatar Football Association Award 2021-22 | date= | accessdate=2022-12-19}}</ref></small> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ! style="width:100px;"| Year ! style="width:20px;"| ! style="width:200px;"| Best scorers ! style="width:220px;"| Team ! style="width:100px;"| Goals |- align=center | '''1972–73''' | {{flagicon|QAT}} || Awad Hassan|| Al-Esteqlal || 10 |- align=center | '''1973–74''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 15 |- align=center | '''1974–75''' | colspan="4"|''Not held'' |- align=center |'''1975–76''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Jamal Al-Khatib|| Al-Esteqlal || 8 |- align=center | '''1976–77''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 13 |- align=center | '''1977–78''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 11 |- align=center | '''1978–79''' | {{flagicon|QAT}} || Hassan Mattar || Al Sadd || 11 |- align=center | '''1979–80''' | {{flagicon|EGY}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}} || Sharif Abdul-Hamed<br>Badr Bilal<br>Hamdan Hamed<br>Mansour Muftah || Qatar SC<br>Al Sadd<br>Al Ahli<br>Al-Rayyan || 5 |- align=center |'''1980–81''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Hassan Mattar || Al Sadd || 9 |- align=center |'''1981–82''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 19 |- align=center |'''1982–83''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 10 |- align=center |'''1983–84''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 7 |- align=center |'''1984–85''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Ahmed Yaqoub|| Al-Arabi || 7 |- align=center |'''1985–86''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mansour Muftah || Al-Rayyan || 22 |- align=center |'''1986–87''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Hassan Sabela|| Al Ahli || 9 |- align=center |'''1987–88''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Hassan Jawhar || Al Sadd || 11 |- align=center |'''1988–89''' |{{flagicon|IRN}} || Farshad Pious || Al Ahli || 9 |- align=center |'''1989–90''' |{{flagicon|BRA}} || Marquinho Carioca|| Al-Arabi || 10 |- align=center |'''1990–91''' |{{flagicon|QAT}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}} | Adel Khamis<br>Hassan Sabela<br>Mahmoud Soufi | Al-Ittihad<br>Al Ahli<br>Al-Ittihad | 10 |- align=center |'''1991–92''' |{{flagicon|ALG}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}} | Rabah Madjer<br>Mubarak Mustafa | Qatar SC<br>Al-Arabi | 8 |- align=center |'''1992–93''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mubarak Mustafa || Al-Arabi || 9 |- align=center |'''1993–94''' |{{flagicon|IRQ}} || Ahmed Radhi || Al-Wakra || 12 |- align=center |'''1994–95''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} | Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al-Rayyan | 9 |- align=center |'''1995–96''' |{{flagicon|NGA}} || Ricky Owubokiri || Al-Arabi || 16 |- align=center |'''1996–97''' |{{flagicon|QAT}}<br>{{flagicon|SEN}} | Mubarak Mustafa<br>Alboury Lah | Al-Arabi<br>Al Ahli | 11 |- align=center |'''1997–98''' |{{flagicon|BRA}}<br>{{flagicon|MAR}}<br>{{flagicon|SEN}} | Cláudio Prates<br>Hussein Ammouta<br>Alboury Lah | Al-Shamal<br>Al Sadd<br>Al Ahli | 10 |- align=center |'''1998–99''' |{{flagicon|ANG}} || Akwá || Al-Wakrah || 11 |- align=center |'''1999–2000''' |{{flagicon|QAT}} || Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi || Al-Rayyan || 14 |- align=center |'''2000–01''' |{{flagicon|SEN}} || Mamoun Diop|| Al-Wakrah || 14 |- align=center |'''2001–02''' |{{flagicon|ALG}} || Rachid Amrane || Al-Ittihad || 16 |- align=center |'''2002–03''' |{{flagicon|MAR}} || Rachid Rokki || Al-Khor || 15 |- align=center |'''2003–04''' | {{flagicon|ARG}} || Gabriel Batistuta || Al-Arabi || 25 |- align=center |'''2004–05''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} || Sonny Anderson || Al-Rayyan || 20 |- align=center |'''2005–06''' | {{flagicon|ECU}} || Carlos Tenorio || Al Sadd || 21 |- align=center |'''2006–07''' | {{flagicon|IRQ}} || Younis Mahmoud || Al-Gharafa || 24 |- align=center |'''2007–08''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} || Clemerson || Al-Gharafa || 27 |- align=center |'''2008–09''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} || Magno Alves || Umm Salal || 25 |- align=center |'''2009–10''' | {{flagicon|BRA}}<br>{{flagicon|IRQ}} || Caboré<br>Younis Mahmoud || Al-Arabi<br>Al-Gharafa || 21 |- align=center |'''2010–11''' | {{flagicon|IRQ}} || Younis Mahmoud || Al-Gharafa || 15 |- align=center |'''2011–12''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} || Adriano || El Jaish || 18 |- align=center |'''2012–13''' | {{flagicon|QAT}} || Sebastián Soria || Lekhwiya || 19 |- align=center |'''2013–14''' | {{flagicon|DRC}} || Dioko Kaluyituka || Al Ahli || 22 |- align=center |'''2014–15''' | {{flagicon|DRC}} || Dioko Kaluyituka || Al Ahli || 25 |- align=center |'''2015–16''' | {{flagicon|MAR}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}} | Abderrazak Hamdallah<br>Rodrigo Tabata | El Jaish<br>Al-Rayyan | 21 |- align=center |'''2016–17''' |{{flagicon|MAR}} || Youssef El-Arabi || Lekhwiya || 24 |- align=center |'''2017–18''' | | {{flagicon|MAR}} || Youssef El-Arabi ||Al-Duhail || 26 |- align=center |'''2018–19''' | | {{flagicon|ALG}} || Baghdad Bounedjah || Al Sadd || 39 |- align=center |'''2019–20''' | | {{flagicon|ALG}}<br>{{flagicon|QAT}} || Yacine Brahimi<br>Akram Afif || Al-Rayyan<br>Al Sadd || 15 |- align=center |'''2020–21''' | | {{flagicon|ALG}} || Baghdad Bounedjah || Al Sadd || 21 |- align=center |'''2021–22''' | | {{flagicon|KEN}} || Michael Olunga ||Al-Duhail || 24 |- align=center |'''2022–23''' | | {{flagicon|KEN}} ||Michael Olunga ||Al-Duhail || 22 |- align=center |'''2023–24''' | | {{flagicon|QAT}} ||Akram Afif ||Al Sadd || 26 |- align=center |'''2024–25''' | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ||Róger Guedes ||Al-Rayyan || 21 |- align=center |'''2025–26''' | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ||Róger Guedes ||Al-Rayyan || 21 |}
=== By player === {| class="wikitable" !Rank !Player !Country !Titles !Seasons |- |1||Mansour Muftah||{{QAT}}||7||1976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86 |- |2||Mubarak Mustafa||{{QAT}}||3||1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97 |- |2||Younis Mahmoud||{{IRQ}}||3||2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11 |- |4||Hassan Mattar||{{QAT}}||2||1977–78, 1980–81 |- |4||Hassan Sabela||{{QAT}}||2||1986–87, 1990–91 |- |4||Marquinho Carioca||{{BRA}}||2||1989–90, 1993–94 |- |4||Mahmoud Soufi||{{QAT}}||2||1990–91, 1993–94 |- |4||Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi||{{QAT}}||2||1994–95, 1999–2000 |- |4||Alboury Lah||{{SEN}}||2||1996–97, 1997–98 |- |4||Dioko Kaluyituka||{{COD}}||2||2013–14, 2014–15 |- |4||Youssef El-Arabi||{{MAR}}||2||2016–17, 2017–18 |- |4||Baghdad Bounedjah||{{ALG}}||2||2018–19, 2020–21 |- |4||Akram Afif||{{QAT}}||2|| 2019–20, 2023–24 |- |4||Michael Olunga||{{KEN}}||2||2021–22, 2022–23 |- |4||Róger Guedes||{{BRA}}||2||2024–25, 2025–26 |}
==All-time top scorers== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !width=20|Rank !width=65|Nat !width=150|Name !width=215|Club !width=70|Years !width=70|Goals !width=70|Apps !width=70|Assists |- style="text-align:center;" |1 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Sebastián Soria''' |{{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Qatar SC}}, {{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}}, {{nowrap|Al-Duhail}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}} |2004–||211||434||58 |- align=center |2 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Mansour Muftah |{{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}}, {{nowrap|Al-Wakrah}} |1973–1998||179||216||20+ |- align=center |3 |{{flagicon|ALG}} |'''Baghdad Bounedjah''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd, Al-Shamal}} | 2015– ||163||171||46 |- align=center |4 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Rodrigo Tabata''' |{{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}}, {{nowrap|Al-Sadd}} |2011–||148||282||102 |- align=center |5 |{{flagicon|IRQ}} |Younis Mahmoud |{{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Al-Sadd}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}}, {{nowrap|Al-Khor}}, {{nowrap|Al-Wakrah}} |2004–2013||131||190||4 |- align=center |6 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Meshal Abdullah |{{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Qatar SC}}, {{nowrap|Al-Wakrah}}, {{nowrap|Al-Sailiya}}, {{nowrap|Al-Ahli}} | 1999–2010 ||123||354||28 |- align=center |7 |{{flagicon|TUN}} |Youssef Msakni |{{nowrap|Al-Arabi}}, {{nowrap|Al-Duhail}} | 2013– ||111||186||60 |- align=center |8 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |align=center|'''Akram Afif''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd}} | 2018– ||107||127||69 |- align=center |9 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Hassan Al-Haydos''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd}} | 2007– ||102||336||86 |- align=center |10 |{{flagicon|KOR}} |Nam Tae-hee |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd}}, {{nowrap|Al-Duhail}} | 2012–2023 ||94||231|| 75 |- align=center |11 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Mubarak Mustafa |{{nowrap|Al-Arabi SC}}, {{nowrap|Al-Khor}}, {{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}} | 1990–2007||91+||179+||42+ |- align=center |12 |{{flagicon|DRC}} |Dioko Kaluyituka |{{nowrap|Al-Duhail}} , {{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Al-Kharaitiyat}}, {{nowrap|Muaither}}, {{nowrap|Al-Ahli}} | 2011–2017 ||84||121||12 |- align=center |13 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Khalfan Ibrahim |{{nowrap|Al-Arabi}} , {{nowrap|Al-Sadd}}, {{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}} | 2004–2020 ||83||241||49 |- align=center |14 |{{flagicon|MAR}} |Youssef El-Arabi |{{nowrap|Al-Duhail}} | 2016–2019 ||76||59||13 |- align=center |15 |{{Flagicon|KEN}} |'''Michael Olunga''' |Al-Duhail, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}} |2021–||75||80||6 |- align=center |16 |{{flagicon|BKF}} |Moumouni Dagano |Al-Sailiya, Qatar SC, Al-Shamal, Al-Duhail, Al-Khor | 2008–2015 ||72||158||20 |- align=center |17 |{{flagicon|ANG}} |Akwá |Qatar SC, Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah | 1998–2006 ||70||123|| |- align=center |18 |{{flagicon|BRA}} |Clemerson Araújo |Al-Gharafa | 2007–2010 ||68||84|| |- align=center |19 |{{flagicon|MAR}} |align=center|Rachid Rokki |Al-Khor, Umm Salal | 2000–2008 ||65||118|| |- align=center |20 |{{flagicon|ECU}} |Carlos Tenorio |Al-Sadd | 2003–2008 ||63||88|| |- align=center |21 |{{flagicon|ARG}} |Leonardo Pisculichi |Al-Arabi | 2007–2012 ||63||112||15 |- align=center |22 |{{flagicon|BKF}} |Yahia Kébé |Al-Kharaitiyat | 2009–2016 ||58||132||21 |- align=center |23 |{{flagicon|CRO}} |align=center|Wagner Ribeiro |{{nowrap|Al-Sailiya}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}}, {{nowrap|El Jaish}}, {{nowrap|Al-Ahli}} | 2009–2018 ||57||174||29 |- align=center |24 |{{flagicon|BRA}} |Cabore |{{nowrap|Umm Salal}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}} | 2009–2014 ||57||90||15 |- align=center |25 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Mirghani Al Zain |{{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Al-Wakrah}}, {{nowrap|Al-Sailiya}} | 1996–2019 ||57||420|| |- align=center |26 |{{flagicon|ALG}} |'''Yacine Brahimi''' |{{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}}, {{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}} | 2019–||57||101||30 |- align=center |27 |{{flagicon|BRA}} |Júlio César |{{nowrap|Al-Khor}}, {{nowrap|Al-Ahli}} | 2009–2016 ||56||117||13 |- align=center |28 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Almoez Ali''' |{{nowrap|Al-Duhail}} | 2016–||56||161|| |- align=center |29 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Abdulgadir Ilyas Bakur''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sailiya}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}}, {{nowrap|El Jaish}}, {{nowrap|Umm Salal}}, {{nowrap|Al-Markhiya}} | 2008– ||55||184||39
|- align=center |30 |{{flagicon|OMA}} |Amad Al-Hosni |{{nowrap|Qatar SC}}, {{nowrap|Al-Rayyan}} | 2005–2010||52||100||6 |- align=center |31 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |Mohammed Muntari |{{nowrap|El Jaish}}, {{nowrap|Al-Duhail}}, {{nowrap|Al Ahli}}, {{nowrap|Al-Gharafa}} | 2012–||52||152|| |- align=center |32 |{{flagicon|CIV}} |Yannick Sagbo |{{nowrap|Umm Salal}} | 2015–2020||51||98||12 |- align=center |33 |{{flagicon|ALG}} |Mohamed Benyettou |{{nowrap|Al-Wakrah}} | 2019–||51||103|| |- align=center |34 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Ali Afif''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd}}, {{nowrap|Al-Duhail}}, {{nowrap|Umm Salal}} | 2015–||50||286||34 |- align=center |35 |{{flagicon|QAT}} |'''Boualem Khoukhi''' |{{nowrap|Al-Sadd}}, {{nowrap|Al-Arabi}} | 2009–||50||268||25 |- |}
==See also== *Football in Qatar *Qatar national football team
==References== {{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->
==External links== * [https://www.qsl.qa/ QSL Official website] * [https://www.qfa.qa/en/ QFA Official website] * [https://www.worldfootball.net/competition/co833/ Qatar Stars League] – worldfootball.net (multilingual) * [http://www.goal.com/en-us/results-standings/307/qatar-stars-league/table Qatar Stars League] – goal.com * [http://hailoosport.com/league?lang=ar&comp_id=eca1668948599735ee97b683445dbdd4®ion=Middle%20East Qatar Stars League]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} – hailoosport.com {{in lang|ar}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150211053815/http://hailoosport.com/league?comp_id=eca1668948599735ee97b683445dbdd4&lang=en®ion=middle%20east Qatar Stars League]}} – hailoosport.com * [https://twitter.com/QatariFootball Qatari Football] on Twitter
{{Football in Qatar}} {{Qatari Sport leagues}} {{Qatari League}} {{AFC Leagues}}
Category:Qatar Stars League 1 Category:Top-level domestic association football leagues in Asia Category:Sports leagues established in 1963