Sofiane Rahimi's impressive performance, scoring a hat-trick, propelled Al Ain to the top spot in the UAE Pro League standings. On February 28, 2026, Al Ain faced Khorfakan in their 18th match of the season, emerging victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Rahimi first opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but Khorfakan equalized shortly after the second half commenced through a penalty taken by Tarik Tissoudali in the 61st minute.

As the match progressed, Rahimi reclaimed the lead for Al Ain with his second goal in the 60th minute. However, Khorfakan managed to even the score again thanks to a second penalty by Adama Diallo in the 86th minute. Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, Rahimi clinched the victory for Al Ain by scoring his third and final goal in the third minute of stoppage time, solidifying his team's lead at the top of the league.

Al Ain's victory allows them to secure 44 points, placing them two points ahead of defending champions Shabab Al Ahli, who have a match in hand. This win marks a crucial moment for Al Ain as they strive for league dominance, while Khorfakan remains in ninth place with 19 points, reflecting the challenges faced in their campaign this season.