Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick lifts Al Nassr, moves him within 15 of 1,000 career goals

Al Nassr claimed a 5-3 victory over Al Kholood at Al Awwal Park on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick in a 15-minute spell to take his career goal tally to 985.

Hat-trick turns the tide

Ronaldo struck three times between the 66th and 81st minutes, turning a tight contest into a decisive win for the defending Roshn Saudi League champions. The Portuguese forward now sits 15 goals shy of the 1,000-goal milestone.

Watching from the stands was undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, who described the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as “an alien” when asked by the Saudi Pro League about the Al Nassr captain.

“Great win, great team performance. Happy to help with a hat-trick!” Ronaldo wrote on social media after collecting another Man of the Match award.

Match summary

Al Kholood, seeking to end a four-match winless run, opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Julien Domingues. Angelo equalised for Al Nassr eight minutes later.

Sadio Mane put the hosts ahead before halftime, with Joao Felix providing assists for both goals. However, Loic Essomba restored parity in first-half stoppage time, sending the teams into the break at 2-2.

Ronaldo, who had earlier efforts ruled out, broke the deadlock in the 66th minute by converting Felix’s cutback. Six minutes later, the same combination produced a header from Felix’s cross.

Felix finished the match with four assists, becoming only the second player in Roshn Saudi League history to achieve that feat in a single game.

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute after Mane picked him out inside the penalty area, allowing the Al Nassr captain to finish clinically. It was his fourth hat-trick of the season.

Domingues converted a stoppage-time penalty for his second goal of the night, but Al Nassr had already secured the three points.

League standings and milestone chase

The victory lifted Al Nassr to 28 points from 11 matches, one behind league leaders Al Qadsiah, who maintained their advantage with a 6-0 win over Al Riyadh. Tijjani Reijnders scored a hat-trick for Al Qadsiah, while Julian Quinones also found the net as Brendan Rodgers’ side continued their impressive start to the campaign.

For Ronaldo, the latest treble marked another chapter in his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, bringing him within touching distance of a milestone never previously achieved at the highest level of professional football. Usyk, who has built his own legacy in the boxing ring, offered a simple verdict on Ronaldo’s extraordinary longevity and scoring ability: “An alien.”