The opposite leaves of Tribulus terrestris are paripinnate, i.e. there is no terminal leaflet in the compound leaf. The leaflets are also opposite like the leaf itself, sessile or stalkless and obliquely ovate in shape. The leaflets taper to acutely pointed tips, their bases rounded. Leaflets ascend from the rachis, i.e. the blades are angled up towards the leaf tip.

The soft and hairy young leaflet pairs in picture decrease in size to the leaf tip, also decreasing in distance between pairs. The uppermost pair usually remains smaller than the rest. The leaflet midribs are sunken on the upper surfaces, whitish near the leaflet base (Manning, 2009; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist).